Trump tells Fox News Iran can call US if it wants to negotiate

WASHINGTON, April 26 - President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran can reach out to the United Stated if it wants to negotiate an end to the war between the two countries.

Thai police arrest Indonesian in Phuket wanted for $12.8m cyberfraud

The suspect allegedly hired models to lure targets into phony investment schemes over video calls.

Israel issues evacuation warning for seven Lebanese towns beyond 'buffer zone'

April 26 - Israel's military issued new evacuation orders for southern Lebanon on Sunday, ordering residents to leave seven towns that lie beyond the \"buffer zone\" it occupied before a ceasefire that has failed to bring a full halt to hostilities.

Acid attacks highlight growing danger for Indonesian activists

An increasing number of activists and government critics rights groups are being targeted.

Australia’s Foreign Minister to visit Japan, China, South Korea to discuss energy security

Australia has experienced localised shortages during the Middle East conflict.

Australia's Wong to visit Japan, China, South Korea to discuss energy security

SYDNEY, April 26 - Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Sunday said she would visit Japan, China, and South Korea this week for talks on energy security in the face of disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

China formalises labour rules for gig workers on online platforms

Platforms must increase transparency, consult worker representatives, according to new guidelines.

Sri Lanka detains 22 Buddhist monks for drug smuggling

The monks were mostly young students from temples across Sri Lanka.

Philippines says two US citizens among 19 killed in raid

The two Americans, identified as Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem, arrived in Negros Occidental province about a month before they were killed, officials said in a statement late on Saturday (Apr 25).

Sri Lanka seeks buyers for white elephant airport

The Chinese-funded Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport has no regular flights and has failed to generate enough revenue to cover even electricity bills since opening in 2013.

Sri Lanka seeks buyers for airport built with Chinese loans

Country has sought to privatise unprofitable state-owned enterprises.

Swiss International says five injured after flight aborts takeoff in India

Two US citizens among 19 killed in raid on alleged communist stronghold: Philippine army

The US embassy has yet to respond to a request for comment.

12 injured in Bangkok after car crashes into KFC outlet in petrol station

A BMW driver was identified as Chen, 47, a Chinese national, who was also injured in the crash.

Russian defence minister visits North Korea

The minister is the second senior Russian official to visit Pyongyang in recent days.

AirAsia posts videos of staff speaking Mandarin after clip of passenger scolding cabin crew draws attention

A passenger scolds the airline's cabin crew for not speaking Mandarin in the viral video.

Swiss International says 5 injured after flight aborts take-off in Delhi

One of the engines caught fire as the plane was accelerating down a runway.

Six Swiss International passengers injured after flight aborts takeoff in India, source says

April 26 - A Swiss International flight from Delhi to Zurich had to abort its takeoff early on Sunday and six passengers were injured during an emergency evacuation, a source familiar with the matter said.

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.

Thai and Vietnamese farmers may stop planting rice because of the Iran war. Here's why

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

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.