Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours

PM Modi’s state visit to further solidify US-India ties: Blinken

Washington: Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the trajectory of the Indo-US partnership is “unmistakable and filled with promise”, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic state visit to the US will further solidify the defining relationship of the 21st century. ****

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**** Biden family to host intimate dinner for Modi on June 21; hot ticket state dinner on June 22

Washington: The Biden family is planning to host an intimate dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 21, a day before the much-in-demand State Dinner at the White House, a senior administration official has said. ****

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**** US has ‘significant’ defence partnership with India, ‘terrific cooperation’ inside Quad: White House

Washington: The US has a “significant” defence partnership with India and “terrific cooperation” inside the Quad, the White House has said. ****

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**** UK’s public inquiry into government’s handling of COVID-19 pandemic begins hearings

London: The UK’s public inquiry into the country’s preparedness and handling of COVID-19 opened for hearings in London on Tuesday amid a vigil by some bereaved families who lost loved ones during the pandemic. ****

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**** Russia seeks expansion in ties with Pakistan: Foreign Minister Lavrov

Islamabad: Russia is keen to expand and deepen bilateral ties with Pakistan as the first shipment carrying discounted Russian oil reached Karachi Port at the weekend, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. ****FGN36

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**** Attack on Pakistani military installations “pre-planned” to launch operation against his party, says Imran Khan

Lahore: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday that the attack on military installations in the country last month following his arrest was all “pre-planned” to launch a crackdown against his party with “mind-boggling precision”. ****

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**** ‘Biden believes there is no better partner than India in this challenging 21st century’: Senior administration official

Washington: President Joe Biden believes that there can be no better partner than India which plays an increasingly important role in every element of global politics, a senior official has said, giving an insight into the decision-making process of the administration to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a State Visit. ****

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**** Tremendous excitement for PM Modi’s historic state visit, says top presidential aide

Washington: There is tremendous excitement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State Visit here which will highlight many elements in the US-India strategic relationship, a top US presidential aide has said. ****

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**** Pakistan deploys Army & Navy personnel to help authorities to evacuate people as Cyclone Biparjoy moves closer to Karachi

Karachi: Authorities in Pakistan’s Sindh province have enlisted the help of the Army and Navy as they stepped up the evacuation of more than 80,000 residents living near the coastline as Cyclone Biparjoy moved closer to the country’s commercial hub, Karachi. ****

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**** India, US realising equitable bilateral partnership a win-win for both: USISPF chief

New York: India and the US are realising that an equitable bilateral partnership is a win-win for both countries and their people, USISPF President and CEO Mukesh Aghi said. ****

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**** 5.6-magnitude quake jolts Pakistan

Islamabad: A moderate 5.6-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday jolted parts of Pakistan, including the country’s capital Islamabad, spreading panic and forcing people to run out of their homes. ****

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**** Tech the ‘master key’ to unlocking real potential of Indo-US relationship, says Ambassador Sandhu

Washington: Describing technology as the force multiplier for the Indo-US partnership, India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said tech is the “master key” to unlocking the real potential of the relationship.