Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, the prime minister’s former senior political secretary and mining boss Albert Tei Jiann Cheng, were charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Thursday (Dec 4).

It follows six arrests and the launch of a criminal probe into the Wang Fuk Court fire, said to be Hong Kong’s worst in decades, which has claimed at least 159 lives.

Following Yoon Suk Yeol’s surprise announcement on Dec 3 last year, hundreds of South Koreans rushed to the National Assembly in an effort to stop the martial law order from taking effect.

The announcement comes after authorities across Asia, Europe and the United States targeted Cambodia's Prince Holding Group and its global business network with asset seizures and freezes worth billions of dollars.

Experts are also urging governments to prioritise early warning systems, after flood survivors described terrifying waves of water that arrived without warning.

The toll may still be revised as officers found "suspected human bones" that require forensic testing.

Albert Tei purportedly channelled over US$150,000 to Anwar’s former senior political secretary Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, which was allegedly spent on home renovations, cigars and tailored suits.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung also said he felt an apology was due to North Korea over his predecessor's alleged order to send drones and propaganda leaflets across the border.

China's first domestically developed reusable orbital rocket, if successfully brought to market, would accelerate Beijing's growth in space, allowing for a quicker cadence of missions and lower launch costs.

Erra Fazira revealed her wedding plans during a press conference for the remake of her iconic song, Cinta Abadi, on Tuesday (Dec 2).

Sri Lankan authorities said they would need around US$7 billion to rebuild homes, industries and roads destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah.

The death toll from catastrophic flooding and landslides across Southeast Asia has topped 1,300.