Following are the top foreign stories at 2030 hours

FGN34 CHINA-UNSC-KASHMIR

China defends raising Kashmir issue at UNSC to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions Beijing: Stoutly defending its decision to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council as an attempt to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions and out of "good will", China on Friday claimed that "most of the members" of the Council have voiced their concern over the situation in the Valley. By K J M Varma

FGN14 PAK-QURESHI-INDIA

Not ready for peace with India without resolving Kashmir issue in just manner: Pak FM Washington: Pakistan is not prepared to pay any price for peace with India and certainly not without resolving the Kashmir issue in a just manner, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said. By Lalit K Jha

FGN42 US-PAK-NUKE-INDICTMENT

US charges 5 over illegal exports for Pakistan's nuclear programme; Islamabad says no information Washington/Islamabad: The indictment of five men in the US for allegedly running an international network that purchased sensitive goods for Pakistan's nuclear programme not only posed a threat to America's national security interests but also to the delicate balance of power in the region, according to a senior US law enforcement official.

FGN35 CHINA-LDALL GDP

China's economy slumps to 6.1 per cent in 2019; lowest in 29 years Beijing: China's GDP grew by 6.1 per cent last year, the lowest in 29 years, the government said on Friday, as sluggish domestic demand and the bruising 18-month trade war with the US seriously impacted the world's second-largest economy. By K J M Varma

FGN18 US-INDIAN-WOMAN

Indian-origin woman missing since New Year's Day found dead in trunk of her car in US New York: A 34-year-old Indian-origin woman who was reported missing two weeks ago has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in the trunk of her car in the US state of Illinois, according to media reports.

FGN32 NEPAL-INDIA-SANDALWOOD

Nepal to handover 173,072 kg of red sandalwood to India confiscated while being supplied to China Kathmandu: Nepal will allow India to take home 173,072 kgs of red sandalwood that it had confiscated during the last 10 years while it was being smuggled to China from India through the Nepalese territory, according to a media report.

FGN37 MYANMAR-XI-3RDLD VISIT

China's Xi vows 'new era' of Myanmar ties after red carpet welcome Naypyidaw: Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to usher in a "new era" of ties with Myanmar after a red carpet welcome Friday on a state visit aimed at buttressing the embattled government of Aung San Suu Kyi and driving through multi-billion-dollar infrastructure deals. (AFP)

FGN38 IRAN-KHAMENEI-2NDLD US

Top Iran leader: Trump is a 'clown' who will betray Iranians Tehran: Iran's supreme leader said President Donald Trump is a "clown" who only pretends to support the Iranian people but will "push a poisonous dagger" into their backs, as he struck a defiant tone in his first Friday sermon in Tehran in eight years. (AP)

FGN41 UKRAINE-PM-3RDLD RESIGN

Ukraine PM offers to resign after leaked recording Kiev: Ukraine's prime minister offered his resignation on Friday after audio was leaked of him questioning President Volodymyr Zelensky's grasp of economics, in the first major political test for the inexperienced leader. (AFP) RUP