Following are the foreign stories at 2015 hours

FGN18 DAY-LD FOREIGN

Indians abroad celebrate Independence Day with zeal and fervour Beijing/Melbourne/Islamabad: Thousands of Indians across the world on Thursday proudly celebrated India's 73rd Independence Day with the tricolour fluttering high and the national anthem reverberating at Indian missions abroad.

FGN28 CHINA-UN-3RDLD KASHMIR

China asks for 'close door' UNSC meeting to discuss Kashmir after Pak writes letter to UN United Nations/Islamabad: China, an all-weather ally of Pakistan, has asked for "closed consultations" in the UN Security Council to discuss India revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir after Islamabad wrote a letter seeking a meeting, according to a top UN diplomat. By Yoshita Singh & Sajjad Hussain

FGN16 DAY-PAK

Pak observes 'Black Day' on India's I-Day to protest New Delhi's move on Kashmir Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday observed 'Black Day' on the occasion of India's Independence Day to protest New Delhi's move to revoke the special status to Jammu and Kashmir. By Sajjad Hussain

FGN9 US-2NDLD SHOOTING

At least 6 Philadelphia policemen shot at by gunman Washington: A gunman who wounded six police officers in a shooting incident that triggered a tense, hours-long standoff in the US State of Philadelphia has been taken into custody, police said on Thursday. By Lalit K Jha

FGN3 US-INDIA-LD IDAY

India-US friendship flourished into strategic partnership in 2 decades: Pompeo Washington: The friendship between India and the US has flourished into a strategic partnership in the last two decades and the two countries now cooperate on many important issues from defence and counter-terrorism to freedom of navigation, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said. By Lalit K Jha

FGN35 UK-TANKER-LD INDIANS

Indian crew aboard Iranian oil tanker released in Gibraltar London: The police proceedings against four Indian crew members, including the captain, aboard an Iranian oil supertanker has ended and they were released by authorities in Gibraltar on Thursday, even as the US Department of Justice made a last-minute claim on the vessel. By Aditi Khanna

FGN32 UK-ARTEFACTS

Stolen artefacts repatriated to India on I-Day in UK London: Two ancient artefacts stolen from India many years ago were repatriated by a joint US-UK investigation team to coincide with the 73rd Independence Day celebrations at the Indian High Commission here on Thursday. By Aditi Khanna

FES13 PAK-PILOTS-AWARD

Pak to give top military awards to two pilots for downing Indian jet Islamabad: Pakistan will confer top military awards to two of its Air Force officers for showing valour during an aerial combat with India in February, President Arif Alvi has announced. By Sajjad Hussain

FES12 UK-INDIA-SHOOTING

We want India at Commonwealth Games, no question: UK minister London: The UK government has stepped in to back India in an ongoing row over Shooting being dropped from the Commonwealth Games to be held in the British city of Birmingham in 2022. By Aditi Khanna IND

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