North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited several regional factories ahead of their official opening, stressing the construction of such facilities is a "gigantic revolution" designed to improve people's livelihoods, state media reported Friday.

Kim inspected regional-industrial factories in several counties of South Phyongan Province, including the Sinyang and Pukchang counties, on Wednesday, as their official openings are nearing, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

President Donald Trump cast China as a central factor in his administration's economic and national security strategy, arguing that tariffs, tightened technology rules, and new domestic manufacturing incentives had put the United States "in the hottest country anywhere in the world."

As he rolled back Biden-era auto-efficiency regulations at an Oval Office event, Trump on Wednesday (local time) repeatedly cited China in the context of trade, artificial intelligence, semiconductor controls and lawsuits targeting his tariff program.

At least three civilians were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, amid a growing wave of enforced disappearance across the province, a leading human rights organisation said on Thursday.

Expressing grave concern, Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, mentioned that three residents of the Tijaban Singabad region in Kech district of the province were abducted in separate incidents on December 1.

 US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin "would like to end the war" in Ukraine, citing what he described as a "very good meeting" between Putin and two close Trump allies, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, in Moscow.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday (local time) that he had spoken with Kushner and Witkoff following their talks with Putin. "Their impression was that he would like to see the war ended," Trump said. "I think he'd like to get back to a more normal life. I think he'd like to be trading with the United States of America, frankly, instead of losing thousands of soldiers a week."

Trump added, "I thought they had a very good meeting yesterday with President Putin. We'll see what happens. It's a war that should never have been started. It's a war if I were president… that war would have never happened."

The South Korean unification ministry said on Thursday that it is seeking to repatriate elderly "unconverted long-term" North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) but not considering linking the issue with efforts to win the release of six South Koreans detained in the North.

Citing Seoul's national security adviser, NK News, a US news outlet centered on North Korea, reported that South Korea is willing to discuss the repatriation of unconverted, long-term North Korean POWs in an effort to bring home South Korean nationals detained in the North.

The report came after during a press conference with foreign media Wednesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he had never heard of South Korean detainees in North Korea and lacks information on individual cases, when asked about the government's plan to secure their release.

A man died and two others were hospitalised following a shooting at a property in eastern Australia on Wednesday afternoon.

Police in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said in a statement that emergency services were alerted to the shooting in the small town of Eungella, over 640 km northeast of Sydney near the border with the state of Queensland, at around 1:25 pm local time on Wednesday, News Agency reported.

Officers arrived and were told that two men, aged 38 and 41, had been shot by another man who subsequently fled the scene with a fourth man.

Over 5,000 Afghan refugees were forcibly repatriated from Pakistan and Iran in a single day, local media reported, quoting a Taliban official on Wednesday.

Sharing a report from the High Commission for Addressing Migrants' Issues on X, Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat stated that 689 families, comprising 5,496 people, returned to Afghanistan on Tuesday, Pajhwok Afghan News reported.

Afghan refugees returned home through Bahramcha in Helmand, Torkham crossing in Nangarhar, Islam Qala crossing in Herat, Pul-i-Abresham in Nimroz and Spin Boldak in Kandahar.

The Australian government on Tuesday released a national plan to give guidance to industry, researchers, governments and the public on how to safely and beneficially use artificial intelligence (AI).

Under the National AI Plan, the government says it will prioritise supporting and reskilling workers whose roles are affected by AI, boost investment in data centers and share the productivity benefits of AI across the economy.

Tim Ayres, the minister for industry and innovation and minister for science, said that the plan would keep Australians safe as AI technology continues to evolve, News Agency reported.

A court began the first hearing of a trial of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja on Monday over allegations that she bribed former first lady Kim Keon Hee and Representative Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party in exchange for favours.

Han is currently standing trial on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the anti-graft law for her alleged involvement in gifting a luxury necklace and Chanel bags to Kim, the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

She is also accused of colluding with a former church official, Yun Young-ho, to hand 100 million won (USD 68,000) to Kweon in 2022 in exchange for gaining favours for the church, News Agency reported.

Sri Lanka continues to struggle with the severe aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, as the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) confirmed that the death toll has climbed to 123 over the past few days, according to local media reports on Saturday.

Authorities have also stated that 130 people remain missing, with rescue and relief operations ongoing, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

The Kandy District has recorded the highest number of casualties, reporting 51 deaths, while 67 individuals are still unaccounted for. In Badulla District, 35 deaths have been confirmed, with 27 people reported missing.

The Indian Consulate General in Toronto expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of Indian nationals in a devastating fire in Brampton, Canada. The mission said it has reached out to the affected families and is providing all necessary assistance to them.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives of Indian nationals in the devastating fire incident in Brampton. The Consulate conveys its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and stands with them in this moment of immense grief. We have reached out to the family, and all required assistance is being extended to them,” the Indian Consulate General in Toronto, on Friday, posted on X.

The incident occurred on November 20 in Banas Way in Brampton, where a rapidly spreading blaze trapped several family members inside, according to local media reports.

Former US President Barack Obama has condemned the Washington shooting, stating that "violence has no place in America".

Two National Guardsmen were shot in downtown Washington and remain in critical condition. US media identified the alleged shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the country in 2021.

In a post on X, Obama said, "Violence has no place in America. Michelle and I are praying for the servicemembers shot in Washington, DC today, and send our love to their families as they enter this holiday season under the most tragic of circumstances."

South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said on Wednesday the government seeks to implement the North Korea policy in a peaceful and gradual manner, dismissing concerns about the possibility of any radical policy toward Pyongyang.

Chung made the remarks during his meeting with Kim Jong-hyuk, president of the United Christian Churches of Korea, an association of Protestant churches in South Korea.

"We could not imagine (taking) shocking or radical methods (in terms of North Korea policy)," Chung said, addressing concerns raised by the Protestant church circle that the administration of liberal President Lee Jae Myung may be too tolerant toward North Korea, News Agency reported.

The number of evacuees rose to over 21,000 in Malaysia on Wednesday, with 10 states affected across the country due to the current northeast monsoon season, according to authorities.

Kelantan remains the hardest hit, with 9,642 flood evacuees housed in 52 flood relief centres as of 9 a.m. local time.

Other badly affected areas include Perak state with 4,331 evacuees, Selangor state with 2,909, and another 2,837 in Kedah state, with the remainder spread across the country.

Selangor state chief minister Amirudin Shari said flood mitigation measures in parts of the state were unable to cope with the surge in water and extraordinary weather conditions, reports news agency.

Senior officials from Japan and China held talks in Beijing on Tuesday amid rising tensions triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent comments on Taiwan, which have strained the bilateral relationship.

Citing Japanese government sources, Kyodo News reported that Masaaki Kanai, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, met with his Chinese counterpart Liu Jinsong on Tuesday to discuss bilateral issues.

Reports suggest that through the discussions, Tokyo aims to defuse the diplomatic spat that is impacting tourism, education and entertainment exchanges between the two neighbouring countries.

More than 70 schools in the Australian capital of Canberra were ordered to close on Monday due to growing concerns about possible asbestos contamination from decorative sand products.

The government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) said that 71 of 94 public schools in Canberra and surrounding suburbs would be closed on Monday after an audit found widespread use of sand products in which asbestos had been detected.

It comes after 24 ACT schools and preschools were fully or partially closed on Friday, with two reopening on Monday.

US President Donald Trump has cut tariffs on food imports as “affordability” is emerging as a potential political force, and India’s mango, pomegranate, and tea exports may benefit.

Tropical fruits and juices, tea, and spices were among the imports that won’t be hit by reciprocal tariffs, the White House announced on Friday.

The other items mentioned in the White House Factsheet were coffee and tea, cocoa, oranges, tomatoes, and beef.

Trump imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on imports from India and added a punitive 25 per cent for buying Russian oil.

The administration of US President Donald Trump on Thursday, US time, moved to block California's new congressional map by suing the state and joining a Republican lawsuit against Proposition 50 (Prop 50), a voter-approved measure that could shift several US House seats in the 2026 mid-term elections, according to federal court filings and official statements.

In a complaint filed in federal court, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged that the map enacted under Prop 50 is

The longest government shutdown has ended with President Donald Trump signing the legislation passed by Congress to temporarily fund federal operations.

The standoff between the Republicans and the Democrats that paralysed the government for 42 days broke on Wednesday when the House of Representatives voted to approve the legislation passed by the Senate to end the stalemate.

It was a setback for the Democrats whose demands about extending subsidies for the health insurance programme passed during former President Barack Obama’s tenure and is popularly known as Obamacare was not at accepted.

South Korea's biotechnology industry output grew nearly 10 per cent in 2024 from a year earlier despite persistent global trade uncertainties, industry data showed on Tuesday.

The country's biotechnology industry production came to 22.92 trillion won (US$15.7 billion) last year, up from 20.87 trillion won in 2023, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) said, citing a survey by the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO).

The figure marked a recovery following a 12 percent on-year decline in 2023, signaling renewed growth momentum in the sector, reports news agency.

 At least six civilians, including women and children, were killed, and five others injured after the Pakistani military struck three residential homes in Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province, local media reported on Saturday.

The latest attack came amid the third round of peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Istanbul, which reportedly ended in a deadlock.

Afghan citizen Hayatullah, whose mother was killed and daughter injured, said, “Two or three mortar shells hit our home. My mother was martyred, and this child was injured in the arm."

Meanwhile, another resident, Abdul Manan, said that two artillery shells struck his home, killing his young son and grandson and injuring two other family members

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will travel to Canada next week to attend the expanded foreign ministerial meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) major countries, his office said on Friday.

Cho will make a four-day trip starting on Tuesday at the invitation of Canada, the host for the G7 meetings this year, and plans to deliver remarks in two expanded sessions of top diplomats, the ministry said in a release.

He plans to address maritime security and prosperity, energy security and critical minerals, areas closely related to South Korea's national interests, News Agency reported.

North Korea on Thursday denounced the latest US sanctions on Pyongyang over cybercrime-related money laundering, vowing to respond in a corresponding manner.

The North's reaction came as the US announced on Tuesday that it had imposed sanctions on eight North Korean individuals and two entities for their involvement in laundering money stolen through illicit cyber activities.

The sanctions came even as US President Donald Trump has expressed his wish to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume stalled diplomacy with Pyongyang.

 At least three people were killed and 11 were injured when a cargo plane crashed shortly after taking off from Louisville International Airport in the US state of Kentucky, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said.

"We believe we have at least three fatalities. I believe that number is going to get larger," Beshear said at a press briefing.

"UPS Flight 2976 crashed around 5:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, after departing from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was headed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and will provide all updates. This information is preliminary and subject to change., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on X.

A special counsel team said Tuesday it has summoned former President Yoon Suk Yeol to appear for questioning this weekend over his alleged interference in a military probe into the 2023 death of a young Marine.

Special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team sent the notice to Yoon on Monday, ordering him to appear for questioning at 10 am Saturday, assistant special counsel Choung Min-young said during a press briefing.

Yoon, who is in custody over his failed bid to impose martial law in December, is separately accused of abusing his power and aiding a criminal's flight in connection with the Marine's case, News Agency reported.

शुक्रवार तड़के ब्रिस्बेन के दक्षिण में एक कार से हुई गोलीबारी में दो लोगों को गोली लगने से घायल होने के बाद अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया है।

ऑस्ट्रेलियाई राज्य क्वींसलैंड की पुलिस सेवा ने एक बयान में कहा कि आपातकालीन सेवाओं को सूचित किया गया था कि ब्रिस्बेन से 26 किलोमीटर दक्षिण में पार्क रिज उपनगर में शुक्रवार सुबह लगभग 1:20 बजे हुई गोलीबारी में दो लोग घायल हो गए हैं।

एक 18 वर्षीय व्यक्ति को गंभीर लेकिन स्थिर हालत में अस्पताल ले जाया गया, और एक 20 वर्षीय महिला को ऐसी चोटों के साथ अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया, जिन्हें जानलेवा नहीं माना गया।

Two people have been hospitalised with gunshot wounds following a drive-by shooting south of Brisbane in the early hours of Friday morning.

The police service in the Australian state of Queensland said in a statement that emergency services were alerted that two people had been injured in a shooting in the suburb of Park Ridge, 26 km south of Brisbane, at around 1:20 am on Friday.

An 18-year-old man was transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition, and a 20-year-old woman was hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening.

The Queensland Police Service said the pair were injured when gunshots were fired from a passing vehicle into a residence and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

 A helicopter that had flown to pick up trekkers from the base camp of Mt. Lobuche, a neighbouring peak of Mt. Everest, met with an accident early Wednesday morning, a senior police official said.

"The helicopter belonging to Altitude Air met with an accident at 7.50 a.m. when it skidded while landing at a helipad in Lobuche," said Deputy Superintendent of Police Manojit Kunwar, chief of Solukhumbu District Police.

"The only occupant of the helicopter, the pilot, was rescued and brought to Lukla Airport, near the mountain," he said.

At least 19 people were injured after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey's western province of Balikesir late Monday, authorities announced on Tuesday.

Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said on X that the injuries primarily resulted from panic and people jumping from high elevations. He said that 15 of the wounded remain in hospitals for treatment.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that a total of 504 reports had been received by emergency call centers, including 25 concerning building damage. "Each report is being assessed individually," he added.

At least 50 students were injured in Bangladesh early on Monday following a violent clash between students of Daffodil International University and City University in the Ashulia area of Dhaka district, according to local media reports.

Reports suggest that repeated attacks, vandalism, and arson caused major damage, with City University bearing the brunt. The students accused the law enforcement agencies of failing to provide assistance amid the unrest.

Citing witnesses, Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reported that tensions began on Sunday evening when a City University student spat from his motorcycle, accidentally hitting a Daffodil student and sparking an argument between students of both universities.

The United States is keen to "nail down" a trade deal with South Korea as soon as Seoul is willing to take "appropriate" commitments, a senior U.S. official said, as the two countries strive to bridge differences over how to implement Korea's $350 billion investment pledge under the framework deal.

The official made the remarks during an online press briefing amid uncertainty over whether Seoul and Washington could reach a breakthrough to finalise details of the trade deal before or during a summit between Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, set for Wednesday in Korea.

Trump is set to pay a two-day state visit to Korea on Wednesday and Thursday, as Korea will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, reports news agency.

At the invitation of President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju and pay a state visit to the ROK from October 30 to November 1, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on Friday.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a daily news briefing that APEC is the most important economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region, and President Xi's attendance reflects China's high regard for economic cooperation in the region, News Agency reported.

According to Guo, President Xi will deliver important speeches and have bilateral meetings with leaders of relevant countries.

South Korea launched its first 3,600-ton-class naval submarine on Wednesday, in a bid to bolster its underwater deterrence against North Korean threats.

The first of the three Changbogo-III Batch-II class submarines under construction was unveiled in a launch ceremony at shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean Co.'s dockyard in Geoje, about 330 kilometres southeast of Seoul, on Wednesday afternoon, News Agency reported.

Named after iconic Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) engineer Jang Yeong-sil, the 89-meter-long Batch-II submarine is part of the military's Changbogo-III or KSS-III program to acquire advanced diesel-electric attack submarines.

At least five Afghans were killed and dozens of others were injured in recent Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul, local media reported on Saturday.

Several of the injured are reportedly undergoing treatment at Emergency Hospital in the Afghan capital, where doctors said nearly 40 wounded people were brought in following the airstrikes.

According to Zabiullah, one of the doctors at Emergency Hospital, some patients were in critical condition and receiving intensive care.

South African Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said that a preliminary investigation into the recent bus crash in Limpopo Province found that excessive speed and the bus's unroadworthy condition were key contributing factors.

The investigation into the crash, which killed 43 people and injured more than 30 passengers, was conducted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation.

"A major contributing factor to the cause of the bus crash was the driver of the bus, who drove at a speed too high for the conditions down the mountain pass," the transport department said in a statement.