The United States has begun withdrawing some military personnel from bases in Qatar. This is due to Iran's threats to strike American bases in the region.
The US State Department is suspending visa processing for 75 countries, including Russia and Iran, starting January 21. This is due to a review of applicant screening procedures that could lead to a public charge.
In Thailand, 22 people died and 80 were injured when a construction crane fell onto a train traveling from Bangkok. Among the injured is a one-year-old child.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that the government is considering response measures to the mortar shelling of the country's territory by Cambodian troops. The incident occurred after the signing of a ceasefire agreement and the repatriation of prisoners, as a result of which one Thai serviceman was wounded.
The first to welcome 2026 were Oceania and Asia, where celebrations are accompanied by pyrotechnic shows and traditional rituals. New Zealand greeted the year with a five-minute fireworks display over Sky Tower, while Sydney honored the victims of the terrorist attack with a minute of silence and projections on the Harbour Bridge.
New Year is already being celebrated in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. An hour before that, Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan welcomed the holiday.
Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers on December 31 after 155 days in captivity, signaling a warming of relations. The repatriation was facilitated by ASEAN and the ICRC.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to rebuild trust and strengthen a ceasefire following border clashes. The talks took place in China, where foreign ministers discussed the border situation.
US President Donald Trump accused the UN of inaction on global conflicts, including the Russian-Ukrainian war. He emphasized that the US plays a key role in resolving conflicts, while the UN has failed to deal with the war between Russia and Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees on synchronizing sanctions with Great Britain against 8 individuals and 40 legal entities involved in the deportation of children and the supply of components for Russian weapons. Ukraine also imposed sanctions against 8 military leaders of South Sudan in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed on a ceasefire regime, which is to take effect on December 27. After three days of negotiations, the secretariats of the General Border Committees agreed on the parameters of the initial silence regime.
Thai Defense Minister Nakphanit flies to Cambodia for truce talks. The conflict has lasted three weeks, causing 98 deaths and half a million refugees.
Cambodia reports shelling by Thailand from December 25-26, hitting villages and temples. Cambodian Prime Minister appeals to the US to facilitate a ceasefire.
The militaries of Thailand and Cambodia have begun three-day talks to end a 16-day armed standoff that has killed at least 86 people. The goal of the meeting is to restore the truce previously brokered by Malaysia and the United States.
Thailand and Cambodia will resume talks this week to develop detailed measures for lasting peace after border clashes. The Thai Foreign Minister criticized the October agreement, calling it vague and concluded for the sake of the American leader's presence.
ASEAN foreign ministers are meeting in Malaysia to stop the fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, which has claimed 40 lives and displaced more than 500,000 people. Malaysia and the Donald Trump administration are trying to restore the July truce using US satellite monitoring.
A record harvest of sugar beets in Belarus, about 5 million tons, has become a risk factor due to the oversupply in the Russian market. This leads to a drop in sugar prices and a deterioration of the economy for farmers and processors.
Over 25% of new cars sold globally in 2025 are electric, according to an Ember analysis. This growth is driven by emerging markets, which are now leading the transition to electromobility.
US President Donald Trump has classified fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, giving the government additional powers in the fight against illicit trafficking. This move will allow the US to use military force against drug traffickers, particularly in Venezuela.
Thailand halted fuel shipments to Laos via the Chong Mek border crossing, fearing diversion to Cambodia. This decision is linked to the border conflict and intelligence reports of fuel supplies to Cambodian troops.
Thailand said a rocket attack from Cambodia caused the first confirmed civilian death in border fighting. A 63-year-old villager died on Sunday in a shelling in Kantaralak district of Sisaket province.
Thailand has imposed a curfew in Trat province, bordering Cambodia, due to the spread of fighting. Residents are prohibited from leaving their homes between 7:00 PM and 5:00 AM without permission from the military or local authorities.
Donald Trump stated that the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to cease all hostilities and return to the peace agreement concluded in Malaysia. This followed Trump's conversation with the prime ministers of both countries, who are ready for peace and trade with the United States.
Thailand's prime minister has dissolved parliament three months after taking office, paving the way for a general election early next year. The move comes amid new deadly clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.
Thai law enforcement detained two brothers, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, after a fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in the Indian state of Goa on December 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 20 people. India also arrested six other individuals, including five employees of the establishment, and offered compensation to the victims' families.
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel advisories for Cuba, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Guangdong Province due to outbreaks of chikungunya. This incurable mosquito-borne disease causes symptoms of fever and joint pain, and in severe cases can lead to hospitalization and death.
Cambodia and Thailand continue to fight for two days after a fragile truce broke down. Thousands of residents of border regions are forced to leave their homes and evacuate.
Fighting has flared up again between Thailand and Cambodia, disrupting the truce. Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodia, accusing it of mobilizing heavy weapons, while Cambodia called these actions aggression.
Thailand carried out airstrikes on Cambodian military targets after the death of a Thai soldier. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement brokered by Trump.
Over 900 people have died in Indonesia due to a massive flood caused by a cyclone, with hundreds missing. The natural disaster destroyed over 100,000 homes, and prisoners were released from a flooded prison.
