Bombs killed nearly 150 people and wounded at least 200 in Jableh and Tartous on Syria's Mediterranean coast on May 23 in the government-controlled territory that hosts Russian military bases, monitors and state media said.

US President Barack Obama began his first visit to Vietnam on May 23, a trip aimed at sealing a partnership with America's former enemy and part of his strategic "rebalance" toward Asia to counter China's growing strength in the region.

The EgyptAir jet which crashed in the Mediterranean on May 19 sent a series of warnings indicating that smoke had been detected on board, shortly before it disappeared off radar screens, French investigators said on May 21.

A new message purporting to come from the spokesman of Islamic State calls on followers to launch attacks on the United States and Europe during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins in early June.

US President Barack Obama will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington next month to discuss security and other issues and the Indian leader will be granted the rare honor of addressing both houses of Congress.

Russia has proposed to the US-led coalition that they stage joint air strikes on Syrian rebels, including militant Islamist group Nusra Front, who are not observing a ceasefire, but the United States responded coolly on May 20.

Iraqi security forces opened fire on protesters who stormed into Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on May 20 and entered the cabinet building, drawing calls for revolt from a powerful Shi'ite Muslim cleric.

Egypt said on May 20 its navy had found human remains, wreckage and the personal belongings of passengers floating in the Mediterranean, the first confirmation that an EgyptAir jet with 66 people on board had plunged into the sea.

An Islamic State militant was killed after detonating explosives strapped to their body when Turkish police raided a militant cell in a house in the southeastern city of Gaziantep on May 19, the Dogan news agency reported.

An international conference due in Paris to help relaunch peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis will go ahead on June 3, allowing the United States to attend, France's foreign minister said on May 19.