ADELAIDE, Australia -- Chinese and Australian filmmakers upgraded their cooperation during the Australia China International Film Festival, which closed on Thursday in Adelaide, saying they will "make their storytelling intertwined better."

"To be even stronger, we have the potential to grow our industry enormously by working with China," Tony Coombs, CEO of Australia's Harvest Pictures Group, who has been engaged in film and television exchanges between the two countries for more than 10 years, told Xinhua on Thursday. (Australia-China-Film-Cooperation)

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TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet is set to approve a 39 trillion yen (about 252 billion U.S. dollars) economic package to support consumer spending, as a measure to tackle surging prices, local media reported Thursday.

The package will include subsidies to cushion high electricity, gas and gasoline prices and deliver cash handouts to low-income households, Kyodo News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. (Japan-Economic Package)

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DHAKA -- Moody's Ratings (Moody's) has downgraded Bangladesh's banking sector to "very weak" from "weak," citing worsening client confidence, limited transparency and inadequate financial safeguards over the past year.

According to Moody's latest positions on Bangladesh's banking sector following a recent review, the risks include increased financial instability, poorer growth prospects and higher default risks, all of which could negatively impact the creditworthiness and profitability of banks. (Bangladesh-Moody's-Banking)

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VIENTIANE -- The 14th China-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Informal Meeting was held in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on Thursday.

The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath. Laos is the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2024. (China-ASEAN-Defense Minister)