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SYDNEY: Thousands of firefighters on Saturday toiled in Australia’s Victoria state to get the upper hand on bushfires that have razed homes, cut power to tens of thousands and burned vast swathes of bushland. The blazes, mostly sparking at midweek amid an intense heatwave in Australia’s southeast, have torn through more than 300,000 hectares (741,316 acres) of bushland, authorities said on Saturday morning, adding that 10 major fires were still burning statewide. More than 130 structures, including homes, have been destroyed and around 38,000 residences and businesses were without power due to the fires, the authorities said. They said the…

SEOUL: North Korea said on Saturday that South Korea flew another drone into its airspace on January 4, infringing on its sovereignty, according to state media KCNA. The announcement, which comes before North Korea holds a key party congress that will lay out policies for the next five years, sets the stage for cementing leader Kim Jong Un’s rhetoric that South Korea is a foreign and hostile nation, an analyst said. The drone, which originated from an island in the South Korean city of Incheon, flew 8 km (5 miles) before it was shot down inside North Korean airspace, KCNA said, citing a…

BRUSSELS: The EU gave Friday a long-delayed go ahead to a huge trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur championed by business groups but loathed by many European farmers — overriding opposition led by France. A majority of the European Union’s 27 nations backed the pact at an ambassadors’ meeting in Brussels, diplomatic sources told AFP, paving the way for it to be inked in Paraguay next week. More than 25 years in the making, supporters see the deal as crucial to boost exports, support the continent’s ailing economy and foster diplomatic ties at a time of global uncertainty. German Chancellor…

The joint maritime exercise “Will for Peace 2026” is set to be held from early to mid January in waters and airspace off the Port of Simon’s Town, South Africa, with participation from BRICS member states including China, Russia and South Africa, according to a written statement released by China’s Ministry of National Defense on Friday. Under the theme of “Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Key Shipping Lanes and Maritime Economic Activities,” participants will conduct counter-terrorism and rescue operations, anti-sea strikes, and other activities such as professional exchanges and on-board tours, read the statement. The exercise aims to…

The inheritance of China-Africa friendship, the stability of China’s Africa policy, and the solidarity of developing countries together are the reasons why Africa has been the destination of Chinese foreign minister’s first overseas visit each year for 36 years, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while co-chairing the ninth China-African Union (AU) Strategic Dialogue with AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Wang said that this year marks the…

KARACHI : The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday recorded a mixed trading activity as investors seem to be cautious on last day of the business week. The current index stands at 185,594.71 point, showing an increase of 51.70 points or 0.03% as investors have adopted a wait-and-see approach ahead of the weekend. The market reached a high of 186,180.32 points and a low of 184,987.26 points during the session, reflecting mixed investor sentiment. The previous close was recorded at 185,543.01, indicating only a slight change in overall performance. In previous session, the benchmark KSE-100 index closed bearish, losing 975.70…

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced holding a public gathering at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on January 11 as part of its street movement ahead of the Feb 8 protest call, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said in a statement on Friday. “I will hold a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi at 4:30pm on Sunday,” said CM Afridi in a message ahead of his Sindh visit set to commence today. The KP chief minister said he will spread the message of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to every nook and corner of Sindh. He also urged the people of…

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has directed a strict crackdown against mafia networks, beggar rings, and patrons involved in illegal immigration, stressing that no activity should denigrate Pakistan’s name. The order follows a detailed review of the FIA Immigration Wing’s ongoing operations. The interior minister chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad to assess efforts targeting illegal immigration, human trafficking, and organized begging syndicates. Participants included the Federal Secretary Interior, Additional Secretary Interior, DG FIA, and other senior officials. Mohsin Naqvi instructed authorities to continue indiscriminate operations against criminal networks without granting concessions to those involved in human trafficking or illegal migration.…

The Punjab Assembly Standing Committee has approved key legislative amendments aimed at speeding up the appeal process for acquitted accused and extending accountability inquiries against retired government officers. The bills, once sent to the Governor, will come into immediate effect. The Punjab Assembly approved the Criminal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025, which modifies Section 417 of the Criminal Code 1898. The amendment shifts the power to approve appeals against acquittals from the provincial government to the Secretary of the Public Prosecution Department. Under the new law, the Secretary can directly order the Public Prosecutor to file an appeal against an…

The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to advance a resolution restricting President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. The move comes as Trump said U.S. oversight of the country could continue for years and highlighted upcoming meetings with oil executives and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. The Senate voted 52 to 47 on a procedural measure to move forward with a war powers resolution aimed at limiting Trump’s authority to act militarily in Venezuela. A handful of Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the motion, signaling rare congressional pushback against the White House. Trump criticized…