A car bomb in a district south of Damascus killed at least six people and possibly many more on April 25, according to Islamic State militants who claimed responsibility for the attack.

Niger's security forces have arrested more than 100 people in the Sahara desert who were trying to illegally cross the country's northern border into neighboring Algeria, security sources said April 25.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned on April 25 the execution of a Canadian hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines, calling it "an act of cold-blooded murder."

Myanmar’s Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has dismissed 17 senior members, including former party chairman and speaker of the lower house Shwe Mann, local media reported on April 25. 

The Philippines will hold a presidential election on May 9 to seek a candidate to succeed outgoing President Benigno Aquino who will conclude his term of office in June.

Indonesia will set up a crisis centre headed by President Joko Widodo to handle security situations involving its citizens overseas. 

Thai authorities have tightened security measures in the southern city of Hat Yai following intelligence reports indicating possible attacks by Muslim insurgents.

Myanmar’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party said it may not put an amendment to the constitution to a vote in parliament but hold a referendum for a new amendment.

Rockets pounded the Turkish town of Kilis near the Syrian border on April 24, a Reuters witness reported, killing one person and injuring 26, a day after the government promised to protect the area from repeated attacks by Islamic State militants.

President Barack Obama will announce on April 24 he plans to send as many as 250 additional U.S. troops to Syria, a sharp increase in the American presence working with local Syrian forces fighting Islamic State militants, U.S. officials said.