The discussion on the bloody conflict raging in Myanmar, which has been ongoing since a coup in 2021, is set to take place just before ASEAN gathers in Laos for a leaders’ summit on Oct. 6 to 11.

"Many fear that today's Ukraine could be tomorrow's East Asia. Why did deterrence not work in Ukraine?" Ishiba told parliament.

From Lockheed Martin of the United States to Sweden's Saab, Israel's Rafael, and the India-Russia joint venture BrahMos, a total of 291 firms showcased military technology and weapons systems at an exhibition in Manila last week.

Xi said China was "ready to join Putin to constantly expand all-round pragmatic cooperation between (our) two countries", state news agency Xinhua said.

The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted combat readiness patrols in efforts to improve combat capabilities and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region, according to state media reports. 

The poll, which will come a year early and ahead of the US presidential election in November, will decide which party controls parliament's lower house. Lawmakers there will meet tomorrow to confirm him as the country's next prime minister.

The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. China has repeatedly demanded Washington stop selling weapons to Taipei, which it claims as its territory.

Monsoon rains from June to September bring widespread death and destruction every year across South Asia, but the number of fatal floods and landslides has increased in recent years.

Pakistan's military said on Thursday that the country has signed a contract to sell JF-17 Thunder Block III jet fighters to Azerbaijan.

The 67-year-old train lover beat arch-nationalist Sanae Takaichi -- who would have been the country's first-ever woman leader -- 215 votes to 194 in a run-off.

Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, US Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander, noted on a call with regional reporters while visiting Japan that his country and Russia share a maritime boundary line between Alaska and the Russian Far East 

Indonesia is the world's biggest nickel producer, a product that is vital in the production of electric vehicles (EV), and has increased domestic processing of the metal.

The scramble to replace current premier Fumio Kishida was sparked in August when he announced his intention to step down over a series of scandals that plunged the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) ratings to record lows.

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the reports at a regular briefing because they concerned military operations.

China had announced the rare trial on Wednesday, saying that the missile was carrying a dummy warhead.

Economic relationships remain India’s weak point, and it again lost a ranking in its score, being overtaken by Indonesia.

The US Army said in April it had deployed the Typhon mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines for annual joint military exercises, but did not pull it out after the war games. The two countries are bound by a mutual defence pact.

Beijing has stepped up its nuclear development in recent years, with the Pentagon last October warning China was developing its arsenal more quickly than the United States had anticipated.

Lashio is the largest urban center to fall to any of Myanmar's myriad ethnic minority armed groups -- who have been fighting the central authorities on and off for decades -- since the military first seized power in 1962. 

Among other middle powers in Asia, Indonesia saw an increase in its diplomatic influence in the region despite the limited resources it has, a recent report by think tank the Lowy Institute has found.

Ex-transport minister S. Iswaran, known for helping bring Formula One to the financial hub, was earlier this year hit with 35 charges mostly related to graft in a nation often cited as one of the world's least corrupt.

S. Iswaran, known for helping bring Formula 1 to the financial hub, resigned in January after being hit with dozens of charges as part of a corruption probe, including accepting gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In 2022, the Quad security framework, which is comprised of the four countries, agreed to establish the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) framework for detecting suspicious vessels in the Indo-Pacific, among other purposes.

The election was a referendum on Wickremesinghe, who led the heavily indebted nation's fragile economic recovery from an economic meltdown but the austerity measures that were key to this recovery angered voters.

In 2023, 1,670 majors were cancelled, while 1,673 new majors were added, according to official data.

Despite challenging conditions such as intense heat, no electricity and no phone signal, about 150 people, including police, military personnel and voluntary rescue teams, have been working tirelessly to assist the villagers.

The new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), designed to attract remote workers, offers extended stays and simplified visa application procedures.

AUKUS, formed in 2021 to address shared worries about China's growing power, is designed to allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines and other advanced weapons such as hypersonic missiles.

Campaigners against the death penalty have long argued that the practice, carried out by shooting an inmate in the heart from behind as they lie face-down on the ground, is an inhumane method of punishment.

During the meeting, which took place at the Malacanang Palace, Prabowo expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome for him and the Philippines’ role in the region as Indonesia’s strategic partner, especially in defense.