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A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia has come into effect along the border, where almost three weeks of deadly clashes have forced nearly one million people from their homes, BBC reported. 

In a joint statement, the defence ministers of the two countries agreed to freeze the front lines where they are now, ban reinforcements and allow civilians living in border areas to return as soon as possible.

The ceasefire took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday. Once it has been in place for 72 hours, 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand since July will be released, the statement said, according to BBC. 

Myanmar is going to the polls in an election widely dismissed as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, many of their leaders jailed and as much as half the country unlikely to vote because of an ongoing civil war, BBC reported. 

The military government is holding a phased ballot nearly five years after it seized power in a coup, which sparked widespread opposition and spiralled into a civil war.

Observers say the junta, with China's support, is seeking to legitimise and entrench its power as it seeks a way out of the devastating stalemate, according to BBC. 

Former Nepal Army Lieutenant General Balananda Sharma has been appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs on Friday. 

Sharma took the oath of office and secrecy before President Ram Chandra Paudel at a special ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas this afternoon.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and other distinguished officials were present in the oath-taking ceremony.

The interim government is giving continuity to holding consultations with the top leaders of the key political parties to create an enabling environment for the March 5 elections.

Towards this, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel held a meeting with CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli at the latter's residence at Gundu, Bhaktapur today.

Minister Kharel is a member of the Political Dialogue Committee formed by the interim government to engage with political parties and stakeholders to create a favorable atmosphere for the election to the House of Representatives.

Earlier today, Minister Kharel consulted with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba regarding the impending election. 

The government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki has been effortful to successfully conduct the fresh election on March 5, 2026 by forging a national consensus.

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the party has already prepared for engaging in the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) announced for March 5. 

During his meeting with Minister for Communications and Technology, Jagadish Kharel, who also serves as the Government Spokesperson today, the NC President said the party has already decided to take part in the elections which is its key priority of the hour. 

The meeting was held at the residence of Deuba in Maharajgunj. 

Minister Kharel after the meeting said that the NC President advised the government to ensure the building of an atmosphere conducive for holding the election in a free and impartial manner. 

The Minister met with the NC President as a member of the government political talks committee. 

He is scheduled to hold a separate meeting with CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal today itself. 

Myanmar will hold a third phase of voting for its general election on January ​25, according to an announcement on state ‌media on Friday, outlining ⁠a poll plan that comes amid a raging civil war in the Southeast Asian nation, Reuters reported. 

The first two phases of voting are set to take ​place on December 28 and January 11, covering a total of 202 townships out of a total of ‌330.

The third phase will be held in 63 townships, the ⁠ruling junta said in an announcement by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, according to Reuters. 

The White House will unveil new details on President Donald Trump's planned East Wing ballroom during a hearing early next month, according to a federal commission tasked with reviewing the project, Reuters reported. 

The new ballroom, which Trump has said would cost $400 million and would dwarf the adjacent White House building, has been challenged in court by preservationists, while Democratic lawmakers have called it an abuse of power and are investigating which donors are supporting it.

The National Capital Planning Commission, chartered by Congress to manage planning for Washington-area federal lands, said on its website that the White House will provide an "information presentation" on plans to rebuild the East Wing during a commission meeting on January 8, according to Reuters. 

Coach Hugo Broos said South Africa do not fear Egypt's Premier League contingent, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, ahead of their Group B clash in the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, Reuters reported. 

Manchester City forward Marmoush scored the equalizer against Zimbabwe, before a late strike from Liverpool's Salah secured a 2-1 win in their opening game in Morocco on Monday.

South Africa beat Angola by the same score in their Group B opener thanks to Lyle Foster's screamer, according to Reuters.