TOP FOREIGN STORIES AT 1830 HOURS

Following are the top foreign stories at 1830 hours:

FGN10 PAK-WTO-DIPLOMATS

Islamabad: Pakistan decides to stay away from the World Trade Organisation meet in New Delhi next week in protest against alleged harassment of its diplomats in India. (By Sajjad Hussain)

FGN7 CHINA-2NDLD XI

Beijing: Xi Jinping re-elected as president for a second five-year tenure by China's rubber-stamp parliament, days after it scrapped the two-term rule for the presidency and allowed him to have a life-long tenure. (By K J M Varma)

FGN23 US-INDIA-LD TRADE

Washington: The US shares very strong ties with India and is in favour of free, fair and reciprocal trade with it, a senior White House official says even as he asserted that the bilateral trade remained one aspect of the relationship where "the most friction" is experienced. (By Lalit K Jha)

FGN12 US-MCCABE-2NDLD FIRED

Washington: The Trump administration fires the number two official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accusing him of making an unauthorised disclosure to the media. (By Lalit K Jha)

FGN24 PAK-ATTACK-ARREST

Lahore: Police in Pakistan arrest four suspected militants who allegedly facilitated a suicide attack on a police check-post near the residence of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. (By M Zulqernain)

FGN20 RUSSIA-UK-2NDLD ENVOY

Moscow: Russia expels 23 British diplomats and threatened further measures in retaliation in a growing diplomatic dispute over a nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain. (AP)

FGN21 US-INDIA-ROHINGYA

Washington: The Trump administration is looking for ways to work with India in terms of providing for the needs of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and also to put pressure on Myanmar to create conditions for their safe and voluntary return, a senior US official says. (By Lalit K Jha)

FGN19 AFGHAN-2NDLD ATTACK

Kabul: A car bomb explosion claimed by the Taliban in Kabul today killed at least two civilians, as the militants maintain pressure on the capital amid growing calls for peace talks.

 

FGN13 LANKA-PM-RAJAPAKSA

Colombo: Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa-backed Joint Opposition moves a no confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who was recently replaced as law and order minister after clashes erupted in the central Kandy district.