News brief: Big stories of the day

Asean, Beijing hail progress in South China Sea talks laud it as ‘milestone’

Southeast Asia and China have agreed on a working text to continue long, drawn-out negotiations over a code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea, with officials from both sides on Thursday lauding it as a “milestone”.

Seventeen parties to approach EC demanding 2019 polls be held using ballot papers

Seventeen opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, are planning to approach the Election Commission, demanding that ballot papers be used to conduct the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

TMC planning to bring privilege motion in Lok Sabha after its MPs stopped at Silchar airport

The Trinamool Congress is planning to move a privilege motion in Lok Sabha tomorrow against the detention of its members of parliament in Silchar in Assam on Thursday.

Kapil, Gavaskar yet to receive formal invitation for Imran Khan's oath ceremony

Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev on Thursday said they are yet to receive any formal invitation received for former cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. 

India’s GDP growth may rise to 7.5% this fiscal: Report

India's economic growth momentum is likely to pick up further in the April-June period and the country is expected to clock GDP growth of 7.5 per cent in this financial year, says a Morgan Stanley report.