South Korea will work to achieve the "best possible" outcome in the ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States in terms of national interest, the country's new industry minister said on Monday, with less than two weeks left until the August 1 deadline for trade talks with the Donald Trump administration.

"We are in a very serious situation with all possibilities on the table in the ongoing tariff negotiations with the U.S.," Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said, reports news agency.

"The industry ministry is currently refining its negotiation strategy in close collaboration with other relevant ministries and will put in all-out efforts to ensure the trade talks are concluded smoothly."

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it killed a militant from Hezbollah's elite Radwan Forces in southern Lebanon on Saturday, using a military aircraft.

The IDF stated that the militant was involved in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's militant infrastructure in the town of Al-Khiam, located in southern Lebanon.

It claimed that his activities constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.

Eight people were killed and two injured in an accident on the northern Philippines' National Road in Barangay San Pedro-San Pablo, Isabela on Saturday.

The acting spokesperson of Isabela, Captain Terrence Thomas said that the accident involved three vehicles, including a six-wheeler truck and two passenger vans, resulting in the death of eight people and injuries to two other, one still being in coma.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported on Saturday that dozens of Israeli Druze civilians forcibly crossed the border into Syria overnight, amid escalating tensions following recent clashes in Syria's southern Sweida province.

Deadly fighting erupted last week in Syria between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes, and forces of Syria's interim government.

The border incident occurred near Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where Israeli soldiers and Border Police attempted to disperse a violent gathering of civilians. Despite their efforts, dozens managed to cross into Syrian territory, according to the IDF.

Laos' Hin Nam No National Protected Area was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sparking excitement across Lao society, with many seeing it as a major milestone in showcasing Laos' rich natural heritage and commitment to protect valuable natural resources.

"For a small country like ours, this is a huge moment. It shows the world that Laos has something truly special to offer, not just in culture, but also in natural beauty and biodiversity. I think every Lao person should feel proud of this achievement," Jenchila said on Saturday.

The Syrian authorities on Saturday declared an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, marking a significant turning point in the deadly sectarian clashes in southern Syria, which prompted a recent Israeli intervention with massive airstrikes.

In a statement issued Saturday, the Syrian authorities said the truce aimed to preserve national unity and ensure the safety of civilians amid "critical circumstances," describing the move as a national and humanitarian obligation.

The authorities called on all parties to cease hostilities and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, news agency reported.

Over 123 people have been killed and more than 462 injured in Pakistan's Punjab province since late June as record torrential monsoon rains inundated residential areas, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of the country said on Saturday.

As many as 10 people died across Punjab in the last 48 hours, and reportedly more than half of the deaths were due to rain-triggered incidents in the province.

The Fiji Police Force is preparing to embark on a major transformation, with a wave of reforms aimed at strengthening visibility, accountability, and public trust.

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu confirmed this week that the force is set to introduce body-worn cameras, roll out major station upgrades, and begin the recruitment of 1,000 new officers.

Tudravu said the body camera initiative will be a cornerstone of the Force's strategy to improve transparency and operational conduct. But, he stressed, it is not a simple matter of handing out cameras to officers on patrol.

"It's not just about issuing equipment. It's a system that needs to be built from the ground up," he said.

Afghanistan's capital Kabul is facing one of the worst water crises in its history, affecting the lives of millions of residents in the city, local media reported on Saturday.

The recent data revealed that the water levels have declined sharply in central and western parts of the city, according to a report.

"Everything depends on water. Without it, life becomes extremely difficult. If these petrol stations stop giving water, people will die of hunger and thirst," said Mohammad Agha, a Kabul resident.

"Children and women wander day and night with buckets, but there's no water," said another resident.

Residents of the city have appealed to the Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan to address their concerns by expanding water supply infrastructure and digging deeper wells.

Earlier on Thursday, the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) in Afghanistan described the water crisis as "unprecedented."

South China's Guangdong Province has activated a Level IV emergency response at 6 pm Friday as Typhoon Wipha moves closer, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

The provincial meteorological observatory noted that Wipha is advancing west-northwest at 20 to 25 kilometres per hour while gaining strength. It is expected to enter the South China Sea early Saturday and is likely to make landfall between western Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta on July 20.