News brief: Big stories of the day

India's GDP growth falls to 5 per cent in April-June 2019

India's GDP growth slowed down to 5 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year FY20 indicating that that slowdown in the Indian economy persists.

Mega bank reforms: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces 4 state-run banks mergers

Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman on Friday announced four state-run banks mergers. India will now have 12 Public Sector Banks from 27.

Brexit endgame: It's PM Boris Johnson versus parliament in historic showdown

After more than 1,000 days of political brawling, hordes of headlines and dizzying lurches in sterling, the battle of Brexit enters the endgame.

Warsaw, Washington agree on locations for new US troops in Poland: Defence minister

Warsaw and Washington have agreed on six locations for new US troops to be stationed in Poland, the country's Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Friday, a day after Donald Trump cancelled a trip to the eastern European nation.

Hong Kong: Mass rally called-off as pro-democracy lawmaker arrested in protest crackdown

Prominent Hong Kong democracy activists including a lawmaker were arrested Friday in a protest crackdown -- a move described by rights groups as a well-worn tactic deployed by China to suffocate dissent ahead of key political events.