News brief: Big stories of the day

UK plays a hardball with 'stubborn' European Union, pound tumbles to a 28-month low on Brexit woes

Sterling hit a two-year low on Monday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government said it now assumed there would be a no-deal Brexit because a "stubborn" European Union was refusing to renegotiate their divorce.

China makes foray inside Vietnamese water

China’s latest move in the South China Sea has further riled up tense atmosphere prevailing in the region. 

Don't put your life in danger: Iran publishes exchange with British warship during tanker seizure

Iranian forces warned a British warship's crew against putting their "life in danger" during the seizure of a tanker this month, in a new recording of the incident released Monday.

Priyanka Gandhi perfect choice for Congress president, CWC to take final call: Amarinder Singh

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said Congress leaders will extend all the support if Priyanka Gandhi is chosen to take over as the party president. 

Huang Qi, China's first 'cyber-dissident', given 12-year jail term

China's first "cyber-dissident", whose website reported on sensitive topics including human rights, was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday for leaking state secrets, a court said.