Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours

FGN15 US-2NDLD GREENCARD

US Congress to vote on bill to remove 7% country-cap on Green Card, Indians may benefit Washington: US lawmakers will vote on Tuesday on lifting the seven per cent country-cap on issuing the Green Card, a move which may benefit thousands of highly-skilled Indian IT professionals waiting in the queue for decades.By Lalit K Jha

FGN24 US-UK-2NDLD TRUMP

Trump launches unprecedented tirade against UK PM May; says her impending departure "good news" Washington/London: In rare public disdain for a British Prime Minister, US President Donald Trump assailed premier Theresa May for the "mess" she created over her handling of the crucial Brexit negotiations with the EU and even welcomed her impending departure from office.

FGN26 UN-INDIA-HOMICIDE

Overall homicide rate declines in India, increases 'noticeably' in some northern states: UN report New York: The overall homicide rate in India has decreased by 10 per cent over a period of six years till 2015 but the trend increased "noticeably" in some northern states, according to a UN report.

FGN23 LANKA-ATTACKS-BAIL

Sri Lankan court grants bail to ex-police chief and former defence secretary Colombo: Sri Lanka's former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando and suspended police chief Pujith Jayasundera were granted bail on Tuesday by a local court, which ruled that there was no basis for their arrests.

FGN25 CHINA-US-HK

China lodges diplomatic protest with US over Pence meeting HK's publisher to discuss protests Beijing: China on Tuesday lodged a diplomatic protest with the US over Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meeting a prominent Hong Kong media publisher during which they discussed the situation in the former British colony in the light of massive anti-Beijing protests.By K J M Varma

FGN18 US-LD ENVIRONMENT

Trump targets Paris climate accord, says 'ineffective' global pacts favour worst-polluting countries Washington: President Donald Trump has accused the previous Obama administration of waging a "relentless war" on American energy by reaching "ineffective" global agreements that he alleged allowed the world's worst-polluting countries to continue their practices. By Lalit K Jha

FGN16 IMF-PAK-LD ECONOMY

Pakistan's economy at 'critical juncture', needs bold reforms: IMF Washington: Pakistan's economy is at a "critical juncture" where it needs an ambitious and bold set of reforms, the IMF has said, days after the global lender agreed to give a USD 6 billion bailout package to the cash-strapped country. By Lalit K Jha

FGN22 CHINA-US-LDALL TAIWAN

China demands US cancel arms sale to Taiwan Beijing: China demanded Tuesday that the United States "immediately cancel" a potential sale of USD 2.2 billion in arms to self-ruled Taiwan, including battle tanks and anti-aircraft missiles, adding fuel to tensions between the two powers. (AFP)

FGN20 AFGHAN-TALIBAN-LD TALKS

All-Afghan conference brings country closer to peace Kabul: All-Afghan talks that brought together Afghanistan's warring sides ended Tuesday with a statement that appeared to push the country a step closer to peace, by laying down the outlines of a roadmap for the country's future and ending nearly 18 years of war. (AP)

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