Meteorologists said the conditions were at their worst in six years, when catastrophic bushfires destroyed wide swathes of southeastern Australia, killing 33 people, in what became known as the Black Summer.

Violence between the UAE-supported STC and pro-Saudi forces has spiked in recent weeks around Aden, home to Yemen's internationally recognized government since it was ousted from Sanaa by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in 2014.

Mahathir has suffered health problems in recent years and was previously hospitalised for fatigue after a picnic celebration for his centenary in July.

In a speech to civil servants, Anwar said his administration will table a parliamentary bill to limit the tenure of prime ministers to a maximum of 10 years, a measure that was part of his ruling coalition's election pledges in 2022. 

China is gravely concerned over the US capture of Maduro and his wife and is closely following the security situation, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular press briefing. 

Cambodia says that during a period of ceasefire based on a truce agreed on Dec. 27, Thailand seized several areas across four border provinces.

Takaichi's plan to make her first visit to the United States since taking office in October, confirmed during their phone call, comes at a time of strained relations between Japan and China.

Partial results from Myanmar's first election since 2020, released by the Union Election Commission (UEC) for 56 constituencies, showed the junta-backed party winning by a wide margin as expected, despite thin turnout.

Prosecutors indicted Yoon in November on several charges of aiding the enemy, alleging that he ordered drone flights over North Korea to strengthen his effort to declare military rule.

Xi's invitation to Lee for a state visit from Sunday is a calculated move aimed at deepening bilateral relations especially before the South Korean leader visits Japan, analysts say.

South Korea's spy agency said last year Kim Ju Ae was now understood to be next in line to rule North Korea after accompanying her father on a high-profile visit to Beijing.

The Cambodian Ministry of Interior reported that 5,192 displaced persons returned home during the latest reporting period, but large populations remain in temporary shelters or host communities, particularly in Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te says 2026 a crucial year for Taiwan, while Chinese President Xi Jinping says 'reunification' cannot be stopped

In Indonesia, major cities like Jakarta and Denpasar in Bali opted for muted celebrations in honor of the 1,154 people killed and nearly 400,000 displaced in the Sumatra floods and landslides.

Saturday's pact will not impact any border demarcation activities under way between both countries, leaving the task of resolving disputed areas along the frontier to existing bilateral mechanisms.

Following the initial phase on Sunday, two rounds of voting will be held on Jan. 11 and Jan. 25, covering 265 of Myanmar's 330 townships.

The requested 10-year sentence was the first jail term sought by special prosecutors over the multiple charges Yoon faces.

Sequerah convicted the 72-year-old former leader on all four counts of abuse of power as well as all 21 counts of money laundering, involving around 2.28 billion ringgit (US$554 million) from the fund.

The judge had yet to announce sentencing of Najib over his role in massive embezzlement from 1MDB, after finding him guilty on four counts of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering.

For the Rohingya minority, violence began well before the 2021 coup, with a military crackdown in 2017 sending legions of the mostly Muslim group fleeing Myanmar's Rakhine state to neighboring Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

A Malaysian high court will decide whether to convict Najib of four more charges of corruption and 21 counts of money laundering involving the illegal transfer of about US$539 million from 1MDB.

The third phase of voting will be held in 63 townships, the ruling junta announced in a state-run media outlet, although dates for the counting of votes have not yet been declared.

Six parties are competing nationwide, including the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party that is tipped to win the polls, creating conditions for members of the junta regime to take a civilian role.

More than 80 people have been killed and 600,000 others are displaced from their homes in Cambodia and Thailand since the fighting.

The New South Wales state parliament passed the terrorism and other legislation amendment bill early morning after the upper house approved the bill by 18 votes to eight.

China supports ASEAN's mediation efforts and is willing to once again create conditions and provide a platform for dialogue and negotiations between the two sides, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Just hours after the regional crisis talks were held in Malaysia, Cambodia's defense ministry said the Thai military deployed fighter jets to bomb areas of Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces.

The two countries agreed to hold talks using their General Border Committee, an established bilateral mechanism, with Thailand proposing that it takes place at the border line in the Thai province of Chanthaburi, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told a briefing in Kuala Lumpur.

The ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will seek to revive a short-lived ceasefire brokered by Malaysia, this year's ASEAN chair, and US President Donald Trump.

A 27-year-old suspect set off smoke bombs in Taipei's main metro station during the Friday evening rush hour before launching into a stabbing rampage, according to authorities.