News brief: Big stories of the day
Missile
The United States believes thatHamza bin Laden, a son of slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and himself a notable figure in the militant group, is dead, a USofficial said on Wednesday.
The United States on Wednesdayimposed sanctionson Iranian Foreign MinisterMohammad Javad Zarif, targeting the country's top spokesman and potentially hurting chances of diplomatic talks amid rising tensions between the two countries.
The United States will officially withdraw from theIntermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty on Friday, clearing the way for a new arms race with Russia -and throwing China into the mix.
US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday North Korea's recent missile tests did not violate a pledge its leader Kim Jong-un made to President Donald Trump, but Pyongyang had yet to say when working-level talks on denuclearisation would resume.
North Korea has tested a new rocket system in launches conducted on Wednesday under leader Kim Jong-un`s supervision, state media reported on Thursday.