Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours

    
     FGN33 PAK-BLAST-LD ARREST
     Peshawar mosque blast: 17 suspects arrested as Pak Army chief directs generals to eliminate threat of militancy
     Peshawar/Islamabad: Pakistan's security agencies arrested 17 suspects in connection with the suicide blast in a high-security zone mosque in Peshawar that killed 101 people, including 97 policemen, as Army chief Gen Asim Munir vowed zero tolerance for terror groups and directed his generals to eliminate the threat of militancy.

     FGN32 LANKA-TAMILS-US
     * US keen to see Lanka govt's talks with minority Tamils produce 'real results': US official
     Colombo: The US is keen to see the ongoing talks between the Sri Lankan government and the minority Tamil leaders produce "real results", a top official from the Biden administration said here on Wednesday. *

              
     FGN26 US-DOVAL-HICKS-LD DEFENCE
     * Building alliances and partnerships top priority: top Pentagon official tells NSA Doval
     Washington: US Deputy Defence Secretary Dr Kathleen Hicks told National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that building alliances and partnerships are a "top priority" for her department, the Pentagon has said, amidst the Indo-Pacific region's increasingly contested strategic environment and China's aggressive behaviour. *

    
     FGN2 US-INDIA-ICET
     * India, US launch iCET, elevate strategic partnership: White House
     Washington: India and the United States have elevated their strategic partnership with the launch of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology or iCET, the White House said as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his US counterpart Jake Sullivan here. *


     FGN11 US-INDIA-ICET-LD DOVAL
     * Discussions during Doval’s visit form the basis for intensifying Indo-US cooperation in cutting-edge sectors: Indian embassy
     Washington: The discussions held during the visit of National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval form the basis for intensifying India-US cooperation in cutting-edge sectors and are truly reflective of the maturity of a comprehensive and global strategic partnership, the Indian embassy here has said. *


     FGN4 US-BIDEN-MODI-VISIT
     * Biden believed to have invited PM Modi for state visit to US
     Washington, Feb 1 (PTI) US President Joe Biden is understood to have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit this summer, PTI has learnt. *

    
     FGN28 UAE-BUD-REAX
     * Green economy, energy focus in budget please UAE-based NRI businesses
     Dubai: The provision for green growth in India’s first 'Amrit Kaal' budget announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday pleased UAE-based NRI businesspeople. *


     FGN27 PAK-FAWAD-BAIL
     * Pak court grants bail to Fawad Chaudhry in sedition case
     Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Wednesday granted bail to former information minister and senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry in a sedition case and ordered his release. *

    
     FGN23 UK-STRIKE
     * Biggest day of industrial action in Britain as teachers, workers strike over pay
     London: Britain on Wednesday faced what has been dubbed the biggest industrial action in a decade as teachers, university lecturers, train and bus drivers and public sector workers went on a strike to demand better pay conditions. *

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)