News brief: Big stories of the day

Following a request from China, theUnited Nations Security Council(UNSC) will hold closed-door talks on Kashmir on Friday. All 15 members of the UNSC will be present when the issue is taken up.

NorthKorealaunched at least two projectiles into the sea on Friday, SouthKorea's military said, shortly after Pyongyang described SouthKorea's president as "impudent" and vowed that inter-Korean talks are over.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he supports meaningful background checks for gun buyers, but he told reporters that those responsible for recent mass shootings were mentally ill and the United States should build more mental institutions.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that US and Chinese negotiators were holding "productive" trade talks and expected them to meet in September despite US tariffs on over $125 billion worth of Chinese imports taking effect September 1.

Britain's Mediterranean territory Gibraltar decided on Thursday to free a seizedIranian oil tanker, but did not immediately indicate when or if the ship would set sail after the United States launched a new, last-minute legal bid to hold it.