News brief: Big stories of the day

Tough sanctions will remain on North Korea until its complete denuclearisation, the US Secretary of StateMikePompeo said on Thursday, apparently contradicting the North's view that the process agreed at this week's summit would be phased and reciprocal.

In a development that can further deteriorate the already fractured relationship between India and Maldives, Male has imposed an informal ban on work permits to Indians.The ban was imposed three months ago.

India today rejected theUnited Nations report which calledfor an inquiry into abuses in "Indian-administered Kashmir" as well as "Pakistan-administered Kashmir".

Terrorists have abducted an Indian Army soldier fromKalampora area in Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).The soldier namedAurangzeb belongs to4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was postedto44 Rashtriya Rifles.

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday withdrew a conditional permission for former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to contest elections after he failed to appear in court.