MANILA -- More than 16,700 Philippine and U.S. troops started their largest-ever annual joint military drills on Monday amid criticisms that the drills threaten regional peace and stability.

According to the Philippine military, the 19-day exercises, dubbed "Balikatan 2024," will involve around 5,000 Philippine and 11,000 U.S. troops, making it the largest iteration of the Philippines-U.S. joint drills conducted in decades. (Philippines-U.S.-Joint Drills)

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN -- The Brunei's economy is projected to grow 2.4 percent in 2024 and 2.5 percent next year, according to the latest report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Brunei's economy is expected to maintain a positive growth trend, with the economy projected to reach a growth rate of 3.1 percent by 2029. The sultanate experienced negative growth in 2021 and 2022, but successfully achieved positive growth in 2023, local daily Borneo Bulletin quoted the IMF report on Sunday. (Brunei-Economy)

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QUITO -- Ecuadorians went to the polls to vote on President Daniel Noboa's proposed constitutional referendum and other reforms on issues of security, justice, employment and international arbitration, with voting going smoothly, electoral officials said Sunday.

In an initial televised report, the National Electoral Council's president, Diana Atamaint, said that voting was taking place in a "peaceful, calm and safe" manner, thanks to the support of the armed forces and the national police. (Ecuador-Referendum)

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BAGHDAD -- Five rockets were fired Sunday from Iraq toward a U.S. military base in neighboring Syria, a security source said.

The rockets were launched by unidentified fighters from a village near the town of Zummar, some 60 km northwest of Mosul, the capital city of Iraqi Nineveh Governorate, toward the Syrian territories, the source from the provincial police told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Iraq-U.S. Base-Rockets) Enditem

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