Asia Syria The European Union pledged more than €2 billion to support displaced Syrians, but rejected the idea that they could return home because of instability under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
Asia Taiwan Taiwan's consumer confidence index rebounded in May, up 8,83 from April, mainly due to a bullish stock market, according to the latest monthly Taiwanese Consumer Confidence Index report published by the National Central University
Asia United Arab Emirates UAE operators cannot receive applications or requests for Haj or Umrah without the prior approval of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments and salty fines have been announced for the misuse of pilgrimage services
Asia Jordan The Jordan Economic Forum covered strategies for advancing economic ties between Jordan and the EU in a dedicated meeting that saw the participation of a number of EU ambassadors
Asia Georgia High school students from seven public schools were engaged in monitoring dolphins on the Black Sea coast in Georgia, tracking and recording their presence every 10 days
Asia East Timor PM Xanana Gusmão appointed Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, as interlocutor for discussions on the development of Greater Sunrise, the the gas and condensate fields located 140km from Timor-Leste
Asia China The goods train service between China and Europe supported recently completed its 90.000th journey; the service has seen a peak in requests as global supply chains are heavily impacted by the unsafe situation in the Red Sea
Asia Philippines Filipino-American Chelsea Manalo became the first black woman to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines; her victory was celebrated on social media because it helped 'shatter' traditional beauty ideals that have long reigned in the country
Asia Oman A recent study by researchers from Oman and UK on the critically endangered Arabian leopard states that releasing captive-bred animals, carefully selected for their genes, can significantly contribute to the recovery of the wild population
Asia Pakistan The Sindh government has approved a new policy proposed by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation on groundwater drilling in an attempt to curb water theft and secure government revenue
Asia Nepal The Asia News Network, an alliance of 20 major media outlets in 19 countries, expressed its concern over 'media intimidation' and the detention of Kantipur Media Group chairman Kailash Sirohiya in a letter to PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Asia Myanmar The escalation of violence in conflict-torn Rakhine State has forced another 45.000 Rohingya to flee, the UN has warned, amid allegations of beheadings, killings and burning of property
Asia Malaysia The United States is willing to assist the Malaysian authorities in combating terrorism in the country in connection with the attack on a police station in Ulu Tiram, Johor, said Ambassador to Malaysia, Edgard D. Kagan