Top foreign stories at 2000 hours

New Delhi, Mar 26 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours: FGN28 US-RUSSIA-LD EXPELUS expels 60 Russian intelligence officials; orders closure of Seattle Consulate Washington: In a

New Delhi, Mar 26 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours: FGN28 US-RUSSIA-LD EXPEL

US expels 60 Russian intelligence officials; orders closure of Seattle Consulate Washington: In a decision reminiscent of the Cold War era, the US expels 60 Russian diplomats, describing them as “intelligence officers” and ordered closure of the country’s consulate in Seattle over the use of nerve agent allegedly by Moscow against a former Russian spy in the UK. By Lalit K Jha FGN20 PAK-BHAGATSINGH

Pak displays Bhagat Singh’s case file for the first time Lahore: Eighty-seven years after Bhagat Singh was hanged for the murder of a British police officer, Pakistan for the first time displays some records of the legendary freedom fighter’s case file including his execution certificate. By M Zulqernain FGN22 EGYPT-3RDLD POLLS

Egyptians vote in prez polls, incumbent Sisi set for landslide Cairo: Egyptians begin voting in a three-day presidential election set to deliver an easy victory for incumbent Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, firmly in power since 2013, when he led a coup against the largest Arab nation’s first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi. By Youssra El-Sharkawy FGN26 EU-RUSSIA-EXPEL

14 EU states expelling Russian diplomats over UK spy attack: Tusk Varna (Bulgaria): Fourteen EU states are expelling Russian diplomats in a coordinated response to the nerve agent attack on a former spy in the British city of Salisbury, EU President Donald Tusk says. (AFP) FGN30 RUSSIA-EXPEL-REAX

Russia vows to react to ‘provocative’ expulsions of diplomats Moscow: The Russian foreign ministry vows to retaliate against the expulsions of its diplomats by the United States and Canada, as well as 14 European Union countries and Ukraine over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain. (AFP) FGN29 PAK-RAPE-ARREST

12 arrested for ordering a ‘revenge rape’ in Pak Lahore: In a bizarre incident, at least 12 persons have been arrested for ‘sanctioning’ revenge rape to settle a dispute among themselves in Pakistan’s Punjab province, police say. By M Zulqernain FGN17 CHINA-INDIA-2NDLD DOKALAM

India should have ‘learnt lessons’ from Dokalam stand-off: China Beijing: China asserted that Dokalam belongs to it and India should have “learnt lessons” from the stand-off last year, after India’s envoy blamed China for the face-off, saying it happened because Beijing tried to alter the “status quo” in the disputed area. By K J M Varma FGN16 PAK-US-FIRMS

7 Pak firms listed by US for posing risk to national security Islamabad/Washington: The US government has added seven Pakistani firms to a list of foreign entities that pose a “significant risk” to its national security and interests by allegedly engaging in nuclear trade, denting Islamabad’s bid to join the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). By Sajjad Hussain FGN13 PAK-MUSHARRAF

Pak defence ministry rejects Musharraf’s security plea Islamabad: The Pakistan government has rejected former dictator Pervez Musharraf’s request for security on returning to the country to face a special court trying him on treason charges, according to a media report.

FGN14 RUSSIA-3RDLD FIRE

Russian shopping mall fire kills 64; no alarms reported Moscow: With the fire alarms silent and staff reportedly nowhere to be seen, a fire at a shopping mall packed with children and their parents on the first weekend of the school recess killed 64 people in eastern Russia. (AP) FGN10 US-ACTRESS-LD TRUMP

Porn actress says she was threatened to keep silent on Trump fling Washington: Porn actress Stormy Daniels said she was threatened in a bid to keep her silent about her alleged fling with Donald Trump, which she detailed in a highly-anticipated primetime TV interview broadcast. (AFP)

This is published unedited from the PTI feed.