News brief: Big stories of the day

China and the United States are discussing the next round of face-to-face trade talks scheduled in September, but hopes for progress hinge on whether Washington can create favourable conditions, China's commerce ministry said on Thursday.

Ministry of External Affairs' spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Thursday briefed media and stated that Pakistan, by its activities, is portraying that the situation with India is very sensitive.

A Sikh priest's family has lodged an FIR in Pakistan after their daughter went missing for three days and returned after marrying a Muslim man.

In a move likely to boost its dwindling fighter squadron strength, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is pushing a proposal for acquiring 33 new combat aircraft including 21 MiG-29s and 12 Sukhoi 30s.

Italy's president asked Giuseppe Conte to head up a coalition of the 5-Star Movement and opposition Democratic Party (PD) on Thursday, a move could that could improve in Italy's fractious relations with the European Union.