The annual "Super Garuda Shield" drills will take place in the capital Jakarta and several locations on the western island of Sumatra and the Riau archipelago until September 4.

Japan's role as a stable partner for Africa, a key region for its economic security, has grown increasingly important amid concerns over China's aid programs and the US recent inward-looking policies.

Israeli planes and tanks pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City overnight Saturday to Sunday, destroying buildings and homes, residents said, as Israeli leaders vowed to press on with a planned offensive on the city.

Russia on Saturday said its forces had taken two villages in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, increasing the military pressure as world leaders struggle to broker an end to the conflict.

Convicted criminals could face being banned from going to the pub, music concerts and sports events such as soccer matches under new plans by the British government as it seeks ways to address the country's overflowing prison crisis.

Hundreds of National Guard soldiers in military fatigues and combat boots mingled with tourists, posed for selfies, and treated themselves to ice cream from food trucks on Thursday along Washington's National Mall, one of the safest parts of America's capital.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed on Saturday to closer security and economic ties ahead of Lee's planned summit with US President Donald Trump on Monday.

Desperate Palestinians clutching pots and plastic buckets scrambled for rice at a charity kitchen in Gaza City on Saturday, a day after the United Nations declared a famine in the war-battered territory.

Despite their differences, the two US allies rely heavily on Washington to counter China's growing regional influence.

Carney noted that the US had recently made clear that it would not impose tariffs on Canadian goods that were compliant with the three-nation US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, something he called a positive development.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Russia was doing everything it could to prevent a meeting between him and Putin, while Russia's foreign minister said the agenda for such a meeting was not ready.

US President Donald Trump raised expectations for a swift summit between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents by saying they had both agreed to meet after Zelensky, Rutte and Kyiv's European allies visited the White House on Monday.

During his two-day visit to Seoul, Foreign Minister Sugiono met with South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun to talk about advancing cooperation between both countries, including advancing their special strategic partnership.

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the famine was entirely preventable, saying food could not get through to the Palestinian territory "because of systematic obstruction by Israel".

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wooed countries in the Indo-Pacific to deepen cooperation with Germany and uphold free and rule-based trade and diplomacy during his two-day visit to Jakarta.

Caterham was due to mark the occasion quietly with her family, taking the day "at her own pace", the care home where she lives said.

They will reportedly move into Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom mansion dating to the late 18th century, larger than their current four-bedroom home on the estate, west of London.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has signalled openness to German participation in a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine while emphasizing that such a decision would require coordination with European partners and his own coalition.

Diplomatic ties between Australia and Israel have soured since Albanese's centre-left Labor government last week announced it would conditionally recognize Palestinian statehood, following similar moves by France, Britain and Canada. 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed an "economic zone" encompassing the Indian Ocean region and Africa during a major aid conference for African nations on Wednesday, seeking to tap into the economic potential of a continent where China is increasing its clout.

Any escalation in the Indo-Pacific region would have unforeseeable consequences that would threaten global prosperity and security as well as Germany and Europe’s interests in general, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during his visit to Jakarta.

An Indonesian Military (TNI) humanitarian mission dropped 10 tonnes of aid of food and other basic necessities over Gaza on Aug. 19, marking the second airdrop of humanitarian support in the war-torn enclave.

The call-up notices could be sent in the coming days, with reservists to report for duty in September, the military official said.

The embattled junta plans to hold elections in areas it controls starting on December 28 and has been pressing a series of counter-offensives to expand its territorial holdings.

A row between Israel and France over Paris's plan to recognize a Palestinian state next month escalated to crisis level on Tuesday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused President Emmanuel Macron of fomenting "antisemitism".

China will stage a massive military parade next month in the heart of Beijing to commemorate 80 years since the end of World War Two following the surrender of Japan, mobilizing tens of thousands of people and showcasing never-seen-before weapons.

Netanyahu's comment followed Israel's revocation of the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority on Monday, after a decision by Canberra to recognise a Palestinian state and cancel the visa of an Israeli lawmaker.