Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has finalized the much-anticipated Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with Australia as he prepares to take office as Indonesia’s next president in October. 

China and the Philippines have had repeated confrontations in the waters over the past year, including around a warship, grounded in 1999 by Manila on the contested Second Thomas Shoal, which hosts a garrison.

The pact -- which includes provisions for joint drills and deployments to each country -- was unveiled during defence minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto's visit to Canberra.

The pact  -- which includes provisions for joint drills and each military operating in the other country -- was unveiled as Indonesian defence minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto visited Canberra.  

Statistics New Zealand reported that population growth was a modest 0.1 percent in the second quarter, with the population of 5.3 million growing by a meagre 7,000. 

The patient was a 33-year-old Filipino male who had no travel history outside the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said. 

"Despite multiple warnings from the Chinese side, the Philippine vessel 4410 deliberately collided with China's 21551 vessel," state broadcaster CCTV said, citing China Coast Guard spokesperson Geng Yu.

Plantations and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani also pledged to halt deforestation in Malaysia, saying 54 percent of the country was forested and that the level would not fall below 50 percent.

Japan is expected to present its policy recommendations as well as a list of project areas for decarbonization efforts under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) umbrella in the upcoming ministerial meeting in Jakarta on Aug. 20 to 21.

The discovery of the 31-year-old doctor's bloodied body at a state-run hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata on August 9 sparked furious protests in several cities across the country.

The 37-year-old accepted King Maha Vajiralongkorn's command to form a government on Sunday, barely two years after she entered politics.

India's government introduced sweeping changes to the criminal justice system, including tougher sentences, after the Delhi gang-rape, but campaigners say little has changed.

Hindu-majority India has strong cultural and business ties with its neighbor and Modi's government has expressed concern over the spate of attacks on Hindus.

Two senior US officials met virtually with the shadow National Unity Government, which consists mostly of lawmakers ousted in a 2021 coup, as well as key ethnic rebel groups including the Karen National Union.

"I take a cold shower before bed and tie freezer packs around my electric fan to cool the air," Lee Ji-soo told AFP Friday.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whose father and aunt have served as premier, would become the youngest leader in Thailand's history as a constitutional monarchy if elected.

The deal follows a flurry of behind-the-scenes talks in the 24 hours since a court dismissed Srettha Thavisin as premier, as his Pheu Thai Party rushed to secure backing from its 11-party alliance in a bid to form the next government.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on Wednesday during a visit to the capital Naypyitaw where they held discussions to conduct an "all-inclusive election", Global New Light Of Myanmar newspaper said.

China is a major ally and arms supplier to the junta, but analysts say it also maintains ties with ethnic groups fighting the military in Myanmar's northern Shan state.

The AIM-174B, developed from the readily available Raytheon SM-6 air defence missile, is the longest-range such missile the United States has ever fielded and was officially acknowledged in July.

The judges were reading a verdict in a case seeking Srettha's dismissal. They had yet to announce whether he would remain in office. He denies wrongdoing.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has faced public criticism from military supporters in recent weeks as government troops lose territory to ethnic minority armed groups and other opponents battling to overturn its 2021 coup.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed almost uninterrupted since 1945, is due to hold a leadership contest next month, with the winner to become prime minister.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed Japan almost uninterrupted since 1945, is due to hold an internal leadership contest next month.

"Wang Yi will visit Myanmar and travel to Thailand to co-chair the ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

Taiwanese news channel Formosa News reported the incident happened during meal service about two hours into the flight.

Three of the witnesses told Reuters on Friday that the Arakan Army was responsible, allegations the group denied.

It was the first time the Philippines has complained of dangerous actions by Chinese aircraft, as opposed to navy or coast guard vessels, since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022.

About 300 people, many of them university and college students, were killed in the demonstrations that began in July with students demonstrating against quotas in government jobs before spiraling into violent protests to oust Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh for 20 of the last 30 years.

The SEC in 2018 rescinded the operating license of Rappler for violating foreign equity restrictions on domestic media when it sold depositary rights to a foreign entity; a decision upheld in 2022.