Fresh evacuation orders in place for Australia's capital city Canberra over new bushfire threats.
People have been urged to move out from the suburbs east of Canberra, with authorities blocking some roads as a precaution.
There were no reports of injuries or damage yet.
It comes as Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne experienced poor air quality due to thick bushfire smoke despite the rain last week.
Since September, at least 29 people and 1 billion animals killed in the bushfires.
India inspects spice makers over alleged contamination
India is inspecting facilities of spice makers MDH and Everest for compliance with quality standards after sales of some of their products were halted in Hong Kong and Singapore for allegedly containing high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide.
Israeli media predict offensive in Gaza's Rafah soon
Israel is poised to send troops into Rafah, the Gazan city it sees as the last bastion of Hamas, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, saying preparations were under way to evacuate war-displaced Palestinian civilians who have been sheltering there.
Russia detains ally of Defence Minister Shoigu for corruption
A Russian court on Wednesday ordered one of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu's deputies be kept in custody on suspicion of taking bribes, the highest-profile corruption case since President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022.
Trump meets with Japan's former prime minister Aso
Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, a senior figure in the country's ruling party, met with Donald Trump on Tuesday, becoming the latest US ally seeking to establish ties with the Republican presidential candidate.
Russian attack injures six people in Ukraine's Kharkiv
Russian missiles damaged residential buildings and injured six people in Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, early on Wednesday, Governor Oleh Synehubov said on Telegram.
