SYDNEY - Bushfires threatened dozens of rural towns in southeast Australia on Friday, firefighters said as hot winds fanned "hectic" conditions in the tinder-dry countryside.

LAS VEGAS - Exoskeletons are shedding their bulky, sci-fi image to become lightweight, AI-powered consumer devices that manufacturers hope will become as commonplace as smartwatches, targeting everyone from hikers to seniors seeking to stay active.

AMSTERDAM - ‍Airline KLM will cancel 80 flights ‌to ​and from Amsterdam Schiphol airport on Friday as snowfall is expected to ‌return to the Netherlands, the Dutch arm of ‌airline group Air France KLM said on Thursday.

KINSHASA - An endangered mountain gorilla has given birth to twins in the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, whose remarkable biodiversity has long been threatened by the region's litany of conflicts.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is expected to regain a key role as the largest power supplier, surpassing private companies as it supports the country's transition to clean energy.

The countdown for the PT Grand Prix of Thailand 2026 has begun as the Kingdom is set to host the opening race of the 2026 MotoGP season next month.

Democrat Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Abhisit Vejjajiva has underscored the decisive importance of winning constituency seats, warning that party-list votes alone are insufficient to shape the country's political future or form a government.

The Election Commission (EC) has instructed political parties to submit details of their campaign policies involving expenditure by Jan 19, while warning that late submissions will be subject to fines of up to 500,000 baht, with an additional daily fine of 10,000 baht until compliance.

Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon Naowarat said on Thursday that more than 10 politicians and former MPs are under investigation for suspected links to scam operations, online gambling networks and drug trafficking, with arrests potentially imminent.

Thailand has unveiled a national strategy to increase semiconductor investment to 2.5 trillion baht by 2050, aiming to develop more than 230,000 skilled workers and establish a fully integrated semiconductor system.