PAKISTAN: Authorities in Pakistan have restored around 70 per cent of electricity and reopened damaged roads in the country’s north and north west after flash floods killed more than 300 people, officials said today.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told a news conference that engineers were working to fully restore the electricity system that was knocked out by flooding last week.

SPAIN: Spain tackled several major wildfires today in one of the country’s most destructive fire seasons in recent decades, despite temperatures dropping across the Iberian Peninsula.

Thousands of firefighters aided by soldiers continued to fight fires tearing through parched woodland that were especially severe in north-western Spain, where the country’s weather agency Aemet reported a still “very high or extreme” fire risk.

NORTH KOREA: Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, condemned South Korean-United States military drills and vowed a rapid expansion of his nuclear forces to counter rivals, local media said today, as he inspected his most advanced warship being fitted with nuclear-capable systems.

The 11-day so-called Ulchi Freedom Shield, which the allies describe as defensive, will mobilise 21,000 troops, including 18,000 South Koreans.

NEW ZEALAND: A New Zealand soldier who tried to spy for a foreign power has admitted to attempted espionage in a military court.

Monday’s conviction was the first for spying in New Zealand’s history. The soldier’s name was suppressed, as was what country he sought to pass secrets to.

Each of the three charges he admitted carries a maximum prison term of either seven or 10 years in New Zealand and is expected to be set within days.