News brief: Big stories of the day

US President Donald Trump on Monday warned Syria against launching an attack on the country's last rebel stronghold with the help of Russia and Iran, saying the offensive could trigger a "human tragedy."

NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar's comment on former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan has landed him in trouble. In his defence on Monday, the vice chairman clarified that he did not target any individual but the policies that were framed and undertaken.

The aftermath of the destructive deluge in Kerala is not just the loss of property but also an outbreak of a disease that has claimed twelve lives so far. According to reports, as many as 12 people have died from Leptospirosis, news agency ANI reported. Nearly 372 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported since August 1. 

As newly elected government in Pakistan headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan is willing to pursue an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, a group of United States Senators have asserted that Islamabad is at risk of debt distress due to rising current-account deficit and external debt obligations caused by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Too much debt has made the world's financial system as vulnerable as it was 10 years ago, Europe's top central banker during the 2008 global meltdown has warned as he looks back on the crisis.