Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours

FGN11 US-INDIA-SHRINGLA

India-US relationship on very sound footing: Shringla New York: The India-US relationship is on a very sound footing with both nations working closely to take the momentum forward and propel bilateral ties to the next level, India's Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla said. By Yoshita Singh

FGN28 PAK-LD AIRSPACE

Pak suffers over USD 50 million losses due to airspace closure after Balakot strikes by IAF Karachi: Pakistan suffered a whopping USD 50 million loss after it closed its airspace with India for nearly five months following the Balakot air strikes in February, according to the country's aviation minister, who underlined that Islamabad's action hit New Delhi "harder."

FGN29 CHINA-LD SPACE LAB

China's experimental space lab to re-enter earth's atmosphere tonight Beijing: China's experimental space lab Tiangong-2 will have a "controlled re-entry" into the earth's atmosphere and a small amount of its debris is expected to fall into the South Pacific Ocean on Friday night, the country's space agency said.By K J M Varma

FGN35 UK-SIKHS

British Sikh group begins legal action over UK census London: A British Sikh group lobbying for Sikhism to be added as a separate ethnicity tick box in the next UK census in 2021 said it has begun its legal action against the UK government over its rejection of such a categorisation. By Aditi Khanna

FGN8 PAK-JADHAV

Pak to grant consular access to Kulbushan Jadhav: Foreign Ministry Islamabad: Pakistan will grant consular access to Indian national Kulbushan Jadhav according to the Pakistani laws, for which the modalities are being worked out, the Foreign Ministry has said.

FGN39 US-SHERIN-FATHER-LD APPEAL

Indian-American adoptive father of Sherin Mathews challenges life term, seeks new trial Houston: The Indian-American foster father of 3-year-old Sherin Mathews, sentenced to life after the toddler was found dead in a culvert in 2017, has filed a motion for a new trial, US media reported, less than a month after he said he would accept any punishment jurors chose.

FGN21 UK-INDIA-COUPLE-EXTRADITION

India files appeal in UK High Court against couple for extradition in murder case London: The Indian government has lodged an appeal in the UK High Court after its extradition request for a couple, wanted for the murder of their adopted child, was turned down by a London court recently.By Aditi Khanna

FGN15 US-INDIAN-SENTENCE

Indian-origin woman sentenced for smuggling hundreds of illegal aliens into US New York: A 51-year old Indian-origin woman was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and ordered to forfeit more than USD 7 million for her role in smuggling hundreds of undocumented people, primarily from India, into the US in exchange for fees ranging from approximately USD 28,000 to USD 60,000 per person.By Yoshita Singh

FGN31 PAK-ABBASI

NAB gets 13-day remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Friday sent former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on a 13-day remand to the country's anti-graft body, probing a case of alleged corruption of multi-billion-rupees in awarding an import contract of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar.By Sajjad Hussain

FGN12 US-PAKISTAN-LD AID

US security aid to Pak to remain suspended pending decisive action against terror groups: Report Washington: America's security assistance to Pakistan will remain suspended pending "decisive and irreversible" action by the country against externally-focused militant groups like the LeT and Al Qaeda operating from its territory, a US congressional report has said ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit here.By Lalit K Jha

FGN30 PAK-ZARDARI

Pak's anti-graft body files new graft case against former president Zardari Islamabad: Pakistan's anti-graft body on Friday filed a new case of corruption against former president Asif Ali Zardari for allegedly being involved in transfer of billions of rupees to a company, co-owned by him and his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, through fake bank accounts. By Sajjad Hussain

FGN26 NEPAL-INDIA-LD PIPELINE

Motihari-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline to start commercial operation next month Kathmandu: India and Nepal have successfully concluded the 'testing transfer' of the Rs 325 crore Motihari-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline and the strategically important project is set to start commercial operation next month, officials said here Friday. By Shirish B Pradhan

FGN3 US-TRUMP-TURKEY

No decision yet on sanctions against Turkey: Trump Washington: United States President Donald Trump has said no decision had been taken yet on imposing sanctions against Turkey for the purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia. By Lalit K Jha

FGN6 US-CHINA-HUMAN RIGHTS

China home to one of worst human rights crisis: Pompeo Washington: United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said China was home to one of the worst human rights crisis of the present times, slamming Beijing for violations against ethnic and religious minorities. By Lalit K Jha

FGN19 IRAN-2NDLD DRONE

Gulf tensions rise as US downs Iranian drone Washington: Tensions in the Gulf region mounted Friday as Washington said an Iranian drone was destroyed after threatening an American naval vessel at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz.

FGN37 CHINA-US-LD IRAN

China calls on US to 'correct' Iran sanctions Beijing: China urged Washington on Friday to "correct" sanctions imposed on Chinese companies accused of helping Iran acquire materials for its nuclear program. (AP)

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