Australia's annual rate of inflation rose slightly in the year to November, new official figures have revealed.

According to the new data, which was published on Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the consumer price index (CPI) -- the headline measure of inflation -- rose by 2.3 per cent in the 12 months to November 2024.

It marks a slight acceleration from the 2.1 per cent CPI increase reported in the year to October 2024.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics identified spending on food and drink, alcohol and tobacco and recreation as the major drivers of inflation over the 12 months to November.

The Indonesian government has announced plans to send 25 doctors to China and two doctors to Japan to enhance their skills in treating cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in Indonesia.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Monday that cardiovascular diseases claim around 500,000 lives each year in the country. One reason for the high mortality rate is the shortage of heart specialists trained in interventional cardiology, reports news agency.

"There are only 30 to 50 training positions available each year in Indonesia. That is why we are sending doctors abroad," Budi said.

He emphasised that this initiative is a crucial step toward reducing the number of deaths caused by these diseases. "Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death. We need to quickly prepare services to save hundreds of thousands of patients," he said.

The United States has extended condolences to all those affected by the January 7 earthquake in southern Tibet.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to respond to requests for US government assistance," wrote State Department's spokesperson Matthew Miller on X on Wednesday (IST).

Extending heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of those killed, injured, or displaced by the earthquake in southern Tibet, where temperatures have dropped below freezing, US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Uzra Zeya, said, "We stand with Tibetan and other communities who were impacted and wish them a speedy recovery."

South Korea will invest 86.2 billion won ($59.3 million) this year for the development of technologies that will help tackle climate change, the science ministry said on Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, with the investment, the country will work to develop technologies that will help respond to global warming, along with those related to carbon-free energy and climate prediction using artificial intelligence (AI), news agency reported.

In detail, the government will funnel 5.7 billion won into developing carbon-free energy technology and 4.3 billion won into advancing carbon capture and utilisation technology.

It will also invest 3.1 billion won in creating a climate prediction model based on AI, which will help predict climate disasters and minimize potential damage.

At least 126 people were killed, 188 were injured and over 1000 houses collapsed after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Nepal-Tibet border region, according to media reports.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed that the earthquake occurred at 6:35 a.m. (IST) on Tuesday morning, with its epicentre at latitude 28.86°N and longitude 87.51°E, at a depth of 10 km. The location was identified as Xizang (Tibet Autonomous Region), near Nepal's border.

News agency reported that the fatalities were concentrated in the city of Xizang, with many injuries and structural damage also recorded.

In Tonglai Village, Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze (Shigatse), several houses have reportedly collapsed.

The earthquake also sent tremors across northern India, affecting areas such as Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Delhi-NCR, causing panic as residents rushed out of their homes. Fortunately, no casualties or property damage have been reported in India so far.

Pakistan's critical trade route with China remained blocked for the fifth day on Tuesday as thousands of people continued their protests over chronic and prolonged power outages in the mountainous region of Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, media reported.

The organisers of the sit-in demonstration in Hunza, a picturesque city with a population of more than 70,000 in Gilgit Baltistan, have vowed to continue protesting until their demands are met.

Rally leaders emphasised the town's persistent inadequate power supply, noting that residents endure up to 23-hour electricity outages amid a harsh winter season.

Both men and women participated in the protest, braving average daytime temperatures of -4 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures of -10 degrees Celsius, as reported by rally participants to a media outlet via phone.

Iran's armed forces began a large-scale joint air defence exercise near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Isfahan province on Tuesday, state television reported.

The 'Eqtedar' (Power) 1403 exercise was launched on the orders of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defence Base Commander Qader Rahimzadeh, 

Mount Ibu, located in Indonesia's eastern North Maluku province, erupted on Tuesday, prompting the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation to issue a flight alert.

The volcano, situated in West Halmahera regency, expelled a column of ash that reached up to 3 km into the sky, and the resulting brown cloud drifted northwest of the volcano.

Residents living on the slopes of the mountain, as well as tourists, have been banned from entering a 4-km radius around the crater. Additionally, the danger zone has been extended to 5.5 km in the northern areas. During ashfall, communities engaging in outdoor activities are advised to wear face masks, sunglasses, and nose protectors.

To safeguard flights from the risks associated with volcanic materials released during the eruption, a Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation has been issued at the orange level, which is the second-highest warning.

The notice prohibits aircraft from flying at altitudes within 5 km of the volcano. Pilots must also be prepared for the possibility of ash clouds that could disrupt flights.

At least 95 people were killed and 130 injured after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Nepal-Tibet border region on Tuesday morning, according to media reports.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed that the earthquake occurred at 6:35 a.m. (IST), with its epicentre at latitude 28.86°N and longitude 87.51°E, at a depth of 10 km. The location was identified (Tibet Autonomous Region), near Nepal's border.

In Tonglai Village, Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze (Shigatse), several houses have reportedly collapsed.

Cooler conditions and rain have allowed authorities in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria to contain a major bushfire that has been burning since mid-December.

Victorian authorities on Monday downgraded emergency warnings for the bushfire in the Grampians National Park, about 230 km west of Melbourne, and allowed evacuated residents of nearby towns to return home.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire after temperatures dropped from a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius (C) on Sunday to under 15C on Monday, with the cool change bringing rainfall.

The fire, which was sparked by lightning on December 16, has burned through more than 76,000 hectares of land in the national park and surrounding areas.