US drone strikes overnight targetted a suspected al-Qaeda hideout in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, killing at least six people, a Yemeni military official told news agency on Saturday.

The strikes hit the mountainous Marakisha area in eastern Abyan late Friday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. All those killed were believed to be members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Yemen-based branch of the militant network.

The operation was carried out in coordination with Yemeni government forces, the official added.

In growing political turmoil in Bangladesh, the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday demanded that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus announce a clear roadmap for upcoming national elections. Additionally, the party called for the immediate declaration of the July manifesto and the trial of the July mass killing, local media reported.

“A clear roadmap on justice, reforms, and elections is essential. That way, the uncertainties and confusions in the minds of the people and political parties will be dispelled,” NCP Convenor Nahid Islam said addressing a press conference in Dhaka.

“The Chief Advisor had promised fundamental reforms and justice before holding elections. However, he expressed dissatisfaction with movements like the one at Jamuna and stated he did not want to remain in his position unless a controlled election could be ensured," he added.

Emergency service authority of Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Saturday that early estimates suggest more than 10,000 properties have been damaged in floodwaters in the state's eastern regions.

The State Emergency Service (SES) Chief Superintendent Paul McQueen told reporters on Saturday morning that crews would be "out in force" to start the damage assessment process.

"I reiterate this is still a dangerous situation where significant impacts to infrastructure and properties are likely to have occurred," he said.

"Unfortunately, it is not possible to let people return to their homes until water further subsides and we're sure they can access their homes and communities safely."

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to conduct the next funding review for Pakistan in the second half of 2025.

According to an official IMF statement, it would maintain ongoing discussions with Pakistani authorities to reach an agreement on the 2026 fiscal year budget terms.

"The next mission associated with the next Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) reviews is expected in the second half of 2025," according to the IMF.

An IMF mission, led by Nathan Porter, has concluded its staff visit, which focused on recent economic developments, programme implementation, and the budget strategy for fiscal year (FY) 2026.

"We held constructive discussions with the authorities on their FY2026 budget proposals and broader economic policy, and reform agenda supported by the 2024 EFF and the 2025 RSF," said Porter.

उत्तर कोरिया दशकों में अपनी "सबसे मजबूत रणनीतिक स्थिति" में है, एक अमेरिकी खुफिया रिपोर्ट से पता चला है, क्योंकि विद्रोही शासन उन्नत हथियारों की अपनी खोज को दोगुना कर रहा है जो उत्तर पूर्व एशिया और अमेरिकी मुख्य भूमि में अमेरिकी सेना और सहयोगियों को खतरा पहुंचा सकते हैं।

अमेरिकी रक्षा विभाग के तहत रक्षा खुफिया एजेंसी (DIA) ने शुक्रवार को '2025 विश्वव्यापी खतरा आकलन' में विश्लेषण पेश किया, जिसमें उत्तर कोरिया, चीन, रूस, ईरान और अन्य राज्य और गैर-राज्य अभिनेताओं से सुरक्षा चुनौतियों की एक विस्तृत श्रृंखला शामिल थी।

North Korea stands in its "strongest strategic position" in decades, a US intelligence report showed, as the recalcitrant regime has been doubling down on its pursuit of advanced weapons that can threaten US forces and allies in Northeast Asia, and the US mainland.

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) under the US Department of Defense on Friday offered the analysis in the '2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment' that covered a wide range of security challenges from North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, and other state and non-state actors.

The assessment came amid deepening concerns over North Korea's evolving nuclear and ballistic missile threats and its military alignment with Russia based on the two countries' "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty signed in June last year.

US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened a 25 per cent tariff on iPhones imported to the US, including from India, ratcheting up pressure on Apple to bring manufacturing back to the US from its international operations.

"I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their Phones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25 per cent must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

The US President has targetted Apple's Indian operations in recent weeks, opening a new front even as the US and India are negotiating a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement under Trump's reciprocal tariffs announced in April, but put on pause for 90 days.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday strongly condemned the United States for slapping new sanctions on individuals or entities providing Iran with certain construction-related materials.

He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X after the US Department of State claimed in a statement on Wednesday that it had found out that Iran's construction sector was being controlled "directly or indirectly" by the country's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and identified "10 additional strategic materials that Iran is using in connection with its nuclear, military, or ballistic missile programs".

According to the US State Department, the newly identified materials include austenitic nickel-chromium alloy, magnesium ingots, sodium perchlorate, tungsten copper, and certain aluminium sheets and tubes.

Baghaei called the US move "outrageous, unlawful and inhuman", stressing: "The US multi-layered sanctions and coercive measures against Iran have all been calibrated to deprive each and every Iranian citizen of their basic human rights, and as such, these sanctions are no less than crimes against humanity."

The Indian all-party parliamentary delegation led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha interacted with the Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League in Tokyo on Friday, conveying India's resolute stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism under the global outreach campaign of Operation Sindoor.

During the talks, the Japanese side, led by league chairman Yasutoshi Nishimura, expressed full support for India's resolve to counter cross border terrorism.

The Indian delegation also held a meeting with Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, continuing with the momentum of Nukaga's recent visit to India, during which he voiced Japan's unwavering support for India in its fight against terrorism.

A Norwegian man had a narrow escape as a huge container ship ran aground onto his garden, missing his bedroom where he was sleeping by scant metres, reports said on Friday.

The incident occurred in Byneset, near Trondheim city, and Johan Helberg was asleep throughout the arrival of his unexpected visitor - the 135-metre, Cypriot-flagged cargo ship, the NCL Salten.

Helberg only woke to find the ship when his neighbour, who had witnessed the ship heading for the shore, rushed to his house to alert him, reported.

"The doorbell rang at a time of day when I don't like to open," Helberg told Norwegian television channel.