Fertiliser plant in Russia's Vologda region damaged in Ukrainian drone attack, governor says

MOSCOW, April 26 - A fertiliser plant in Russia's Vologda region was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday, local governor Georgy Filimonov said.

Japan deploys 1,400 firefighters to battle raging wildfires in the north

The fires are now burning for a fifth straight day on Sunday (Apr 26), threatening a town that has already lost nearly a tenth of its population in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

As costs rise amid Iran war, rice farmers in Thailand and Vietnam feel the strain

The Middle East conflict has meant increased freight costs for food exporters.

Geocultural forces reshaping China’s economic map

On April 1, the National Bureau of Statistics of China released the latest GDP rankings for the country’s various provinces and municipalities. The data showed consistent growth across major metropolises, but also revealed a significant geographic shift in the Chinese economy.

Exiled Tibetans to elect government in vote condemned by China

“We need voices that reflect where our community is going, not just where it has been”, a first-time voter told AFP.

Trump’s war: the kind of military misadventure that ends empires

Writing more than 2,000 years ago, the Greek historian Plutarch gave us an eloquent description of what modern historians now call “micro-militarism.” When an imperial power like Athens then, or America now, is in decline, its leaders often react emotionally by mounting

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells Myanmar leader Beijing will back its security, sovereignty

Beijing supports Myanmar “in forging a successful development path that aligns with its national conditions and enjoys the support of its people”, Wang said, according to a Chinese ministry readout on Apr 25.

Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department riled by prank calls

On average, the department gets a prank call every other day.

Bali’s trash issues raise concerns as island’s largest landfill set to be closed

People are increasingly burning rubbish, throwing it into rivers, and littering on the roadside or public parks.

Indian police say 47 Maoist rebels surrender

Police in the southern state of Telangana said that 47 Maoist members “chose to join the mainstream”, adding that “almost all remaining underground key leaders... have now been neutralised”.

Taiwan foreign minister arrives in Eswatini after president's trip blocked

Taiwan's government has accused China of pressuring three African states to ‌block overflight permission for President Lai Ching-te.

Jakarta residents demand stable electricity after repeated outages

The company later confirmed that power was fully restored within two to four hours.

US-Iran peace hopes fade as Trump scraps talks

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, April 26 - Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran receded as a new week began, with talks aimed at ending the two-month conflict at a standstill and both Tehran and Washington showing little willingness to soften their terms.

Taiwan foreign minister arrives in Eswatini after President Lai’s trip was blocked

Taiwan accused China of pressuring African states to block overflight permission for its leader.

‘Shame, anxiety, and fear’: The psychological toll of online sexual violence in Indonesia

A spate of recent scandals involving alleged online sexual harassment at Indonesia’s universities has ignited the debate over women’s safety as activists and policymakers push for change.

Japanese parties pressure PM Takaichi on Hormuz energy crisis

Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday, April 24, and delivered a series of proposals for the government’s response to the Hormuz crisis, including a call to consider dispatching minesweepers once

Battle of sub-$5 deals: South Korean retailers go all out to rival Daiso Korea as inflation bites

Daiso’s success has pushed other retailers to double down on their budget offerings too.

Iran diplomat leaves Islamabad, Trump cancels US delegation trip

US President Donald Trump on Saturday abruptly canceled a planned visit by two of his administration’s negotiators to the Pakistani capital for diplomatic talks to end his war on Iran, complaining that the trip would be “too much work.” The president announced his decision

Four killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, state media say

April 25 - Four people were killed on Saturday in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Lebanon's state news agency reported, while the Israeli military said Hezbollah had fired rockets at Israel, the latest challenges to a tenuous, recently extended ceasefire.

Iran says it will not accept 'maximalist' US demands as Pakistan pursues peace

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, April 25 - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi laid out Iran's demands and its reservations about U.S. positions on Saturday as Pakistan made a new push to end a war that has killed thousands and shaken global energy markets.

Malaysia’s Anwar to drop anti-graft chief, but protesters want deeper reforms after corruption saga

Former judge Halim Aman will replace Mr Azam Baki as MACC chief, but demands for public inquiry continue.

China condemns EU’s inclusion of Chinese entities in sanctions package against Russia

The EU sanctions package targets third-country suppliers of critical high-tech items.

China condemns EU's inclusion of Chinese entities in sanctions package against Russia

BEIJING, April 25 - China's commerce ministry on Saturday expressed \"firm opposition\" to the European Union's inclusion of Chinese entities in its 20th round of sanctions against Russia, demanding their immediate removal from the list.

Firefighters in northern Japan struggle to contain blazes as over 3,000 people evacuated

Russian parliament speaker in North Korea to mark Pyongyang's troop deployment in Ukraine war

SEOUL, April 25 - The speaker of Russia's parliament, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, arrived in North Korea on Saturday to attend an event to commemorate Pyongyang's deployment of troops to help Moscow in the Ukraine conflict, Tass news agency reported.

Graft, girlfriends and government officials: Indonesia’s other corruption problem

The fact that many government officials lavish wealth on their mistresses is something of an open secret in Indonesian society.

Filipino pageant contestant struts in ‘non-pageant body’, sparking debate over male beauty

His pageant walk sparked praise, mockery and a debate over male body standards.

Bodybuilders, sumo wrestlers, MMA fighters recruited as care workers in Japan

It gives steady work to athletes, who typically have short careers and struggle to find high-paying jobs.

Nepal demolishes squatter settlements in capital that were home to thousands of people

The demolition was carried out under a directive from newly elected Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah.