Following are the top foreign stories at 1700

FGN40 CHINA-3RDLD VIRUS-TOLL China to build second new hospital to treat coronavirus cases as death toll rises to 41

Beijing: China on Saturday announced plans to build a second hospital within half a month to treat more cases of the deadly coronavirus as the fast spreading virus continues to wreak havoc in the country and abroad with 41 people dead and more than 1,300 infected, dampening the Chinese New Year celebrations. By K J M Varma

FGN22 US-IMPEACHMENT-TRIAL Democrats conclude opening arguments in Senate impeachment trial

Washington: House impeachment managers on Friday night concluded their argument before the Senate to remove US President Donald Trump from office, saying he misused his position and indulged in obstruction to the Congress. By Lalit K Jha

FGN37 NEPAL-LD INDOPAK Nepal offers to play role of mediator between India and Pakistan

Kathmandu: Nepal on Saturday became the first South Asian nation to offer to "mediate" between India and Pakistan over Kashmir and cross-border terrorism with a Nepal government source underlining the importance of dialogue between the two arch-rivals to resolve their differences that could also lead to the revival of the SAARC. By Anil K Joseph

FGN21 NEPAL-CLIMATE-MINISTER Nepal facing brunt of global warming: Foreign Minister Gyawali

Kathmandu: Nepal is facing the brunt of global warming with the melting of ice and shrinking glaciers in the Hindukush Himalaya region which provides water, ecosystem services for some 240 million people and a business as usual approach will not work in addressing the impending disaster, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has warned. By Anil K Joseph

FGN18 US-INDIA India's 'passive' foreign policy yielding to one advancing its interests: US official

Washington: India is moving away from having a passive foreign policy to the one vigorously advancing its interests, a top American diplomat said Friday, attributing the trend to New Delhi’s "broadening strategic horizons" over the past two decades. By Lalit K Jha

FGN38 US-CAA US stresses equal protection under India's new citizenship law

Washington: Amid protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act in India, a top American diplomat has underscored the importance of the principle of equal protection under the law. By Lalit K Jha IND IND