Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the Kremlin stands for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict on the condition that its root causes are removed, describing the conflict as complex and demanding a "careful approach."

"We are for resolving all these issues by peaceful means. Yet with removing the original causes that triggered the current situation," Putin said during a meeting with the Russian Navy.

Putin further stated that Moscow is ready to work on the Ukrainian settlement with Europe as well but will not make any mistakes in excessively trusting the West, local media reported.

"We are also ready to work with Europe, it is just that they are acting inconsistently, constantly trying to fool us. But it's ok, we have gotten used to it already. I hope we will make no mistakes based on excessive trust in our so-called partners," Russian state-run news agency TASS reported on Friday, quoting Putin as saying.

The United States expressed condolences to South Korea on Friday for the loss of life and the destruction caused by devastating wildfires in the southern region, pledging to provide all support needed.

"The United States offers our sincere condolences to the people of the Republic of Korea for the tragic loss of life and the extensive damage caused by ongoing wildfires in the southeastern region," Tammy Bruce, spokesperson of the US State Department, said in a press statement, referring to South Korea by its official name.

"America stands with its ally during this difficult time. United States Forces Korea also stands ready to provide assistance to help combat the fires and support the affected communities," she said.

"We mourn the loss of the brave firefighters and many others who have died. Our thoughts are with their families, the displaced individuals, and all those seeking refuge during this tragic time," the spokesperson added.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that he will have a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the trade disputes in the next day or two.

The Prime Minister said on Thursday in a press conference that Trump's office reached out to him Wednesday night to schedule a call.

If it takes place, it will be the first between the two leaders, news agency reported.

Carney, after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-US Relations and National Security, said Canada will respond to the US auto tariffs with retaliatory trade actions.

The response will "have maximum impacts in the US" and minimum impacts in Canada, said Carney, adding that nothing is off the table to defend Canada and its workers against the US tariffs.

Preparations are underway for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia this year, a Russian Minister said on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists in Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Russia is preparing for Kim's visit to the country, Russian news agencies TASS and Ria Novosti reported, though they did not specify the exact timing of the visit.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also planning to visit Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, to continue strategic dialogue with North Korea, according to the reports.

The news came amid growing speculation about Kim's potential visit to Russia on the occasion of Russia's 80th Victory Day anniversary on May 9, potentially as a reciprocation for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in June last year.

Wildfires sweeping through the US states of North and South Carolina have forced evacuations and prompted a state of emergency.

In North Carolina's Polk County, the hardest-hit area, about 250 households have been evacuated, and at least 20 homes and outbuildings destroyed, according to Kellie Cannon, public information officer of the county.

Firefighters have managed to save most of the structures near the fires. Only one injury has been reported — a firefighter in North Carolina got his leg caught under a tree, officials said.

The fires, fueled by dry conditions, strong winds, and downed trees from Hurricane Helene, continue to spread. The hurricane, which struck North Carolina in late September 2024, left a trail of destruction and claimed hundreds of lives.

US President Donald Trump's recent announcement to levy 25 per cent tariffs on all imported vehicles next month is expected to deal a heavy blow to South Korean carmakers, which largely depend on shipments to the United States, analysts said on Thursday.

Trump signed a proclamation to impose the new tariffs on foreign-made cars, light trucks and key auto parts, set to take effect from next Wednesday.

South Korea exported US$34.7 billion worth of vehicles to the U.S. last year, accounting for nearly half of the country's total car exports in the year at $70.8 billion, reports news agency.

Under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), Korean-made cars have been exempt from tariffs in the U.S.

The government will hold an emergency meeting with local automotive companies on Thursday to discuss the possible impact of the US administration's plan to start imposing auto tariffs next week, the industry ministry said.

The meeting, to be chaired by Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, will be held later in the day with the attendance of officials from major automobile companies here, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The planned meeting comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration will start imposing 25 percent tariffs on all imported cars, light trucks and key parts, such as engines and transmissions, on April 2 and begin collecting them the next day, reports news agency.

The move is expected to deal a major blow to the South Korean car manufacturers and the global automotive industry in general.

Pakistan's ruling coalition party Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has joined ongoing demonstrations and rallies across Sindh province in protest against the government's plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River.

Addressing a rally, PPP's Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro stated that sit-in demonstrations will be held in all talukas of the province in the next phase of their protest. Khuhro threatened to block the National Highway if the Centre does not scrap the project.

“The protest movement will continue until the federal government withdraws the plan to build Cholistan and other canals,” Khuhro was quoted as saying by Pakistan's leading newspaper, The Express Tribune.

Amid rising internal conflicts in the coalition and contradicting stances, PPP-Sindh President also criticised the Pakistani government, labelling it as a “dictatorial federal government”.

China presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat to the national security of the United States, a US intelligence report revealed on Tuesday.

The report spotlighted that China poses an active and persistent cyber threat to the US government, private sector, and critical infrastructure networks with Beijing's nuclear weapons and advanced delivery systems - capable of delivering catastrophic damage - posing a direct threat to the US and threatening its military forces at home and abroad.

The Annual Threat Assessment done by the intelligence authority cites that a major portion of China's military modernisation efforts is focused on developing counter-intervention capabilities tailored against all aspects of US and allied military operations in the Pacific.

Yemen's Houthi group said on Wednesday that it had launched fresh attacks on a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea and "military targets" in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.

"Our forces launched missile and drone attacks over the past few hours, targeting American warships in the Red Sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, from which the aggression against our country is launched," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

"The confrontation and engagement continued for several hours," he said, vowing to confront the ongoing US airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in northern Yemen.

There was no comment yet from the US military, news agency reported.