Asia Philippines The Kanlaon volcano erupted on May 13, spewing a 4,5 km-high ash plume and affecting nearby villages; Authorities raised alert level 3, enforced a 6 km radius evacuation zone, and warned of possible further eruptions though no casualties were reported
Asia Japan Japan came 14th among 36 developed countries in new child well-being survey, up from 20th in the previous survey released in 2020; the UNICEF Innocenti report comprehensively evaluates children's mental well-being, physical health and skills
Asia Myanmar A military airstrike hit a school in Ohe Htein Twin village, Sagaing Region, killing at least 22 people, including 20 students and two teachers, during morning classes
Asia Saudi Arabia Riyadh welcomed US President Trump on his first visit to the Arab region in his second term; officials said he hopes to make deals with the Saudis, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that will enhance their investments in America
Asia Qatar A project to design and build a network of advanced research laboratories for veterinary and agricultural research was announced by Public Works Authority Ashghal; they will be located in Old Airport area, Al Sheehaniya, Qatar Science and Technology Park
Asia Turkey Istanbul is poised to host Russia and Ukraine delegates on 15 May for peace talks, even though the prospects of President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting directly for the first time in three years are low
Asia Laos A national digital ID system has been launched with support of Vietnam and Japan to modernize public services and boost data security; it includes a centralized citizen database and aims to streamline government operations and improve service access
Asia Nepal An American climber died of cardiac arrest while descending Makalu, Nepal’s fifth-highest peak; the incident renews growing concerns over safety and overcrowding on Himalayan mountains during peak climbing season
Asia Bhutan Bhutan's Druk Green Power Corporation and India's Adani Group signed a MoU to develop 5.000MW of hydropower projects; the partnership builds on the ongoing collaboration on Wangchhu Hydropower and pursues regional energy security and economic integration
Asia Malaysia Thousands are expected to attend the Wesak Day celebration at the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya today, with traditional rituals as the bathing of the Buddha statue and performances to commemorate Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing
Asia Palestine A bakery in southern Gaza is now producing 40.000 loaves of bread daily to support thousands of displaced families amid border closures, severe shortage of flour and soaring food prices thanks to Jordan Hashemite Charity and the Jordanian aid campaign
Asia Jordan Jincheng Ceramics announced a $100 million investment to establish complementary industries alongside its existing operations in Jordan, with 14 new product lines primarily relying on local raw materials, potentially generating over 1.000 jobs
Asia Vietnam To modernize agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture is focusing on smart farming, digital land mapping, and AI monitoring; In Bắc Ninh, local authorities support eco-friendly tech to boost yields, cut labor, and lower emissions