Obama heralds first US Memorial Day without ground war
President Barack Obama heralded the first US Memorial Day in 14 years without a major ground war in an annual ceremony of remembrance on May 25 for fallen American forces.
Eastern Japan shaken by 5.6 magnitude quake, no tsunami warning
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 shook Tokyo and surrounding areas on May 25, but no tsunami warning was issued, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Iraq regains ground from IS; mass deaths reported in Palmyra
Iraqi forces recaptured territory from advancing Islamic State militants near the recently-fallen city of Ramadi on May 24, while in Syria the government said the Islamists had killed hundreds of people since capturing the town of Palmyra.
Fighting partly destroys Yemeni-Saudi border crossing
Saudi forces and Yemen's Houthi militia traded heavy artillery fire which blew up part of the main border crossing between the two countries overnight, residents said on May 24, an escalation of the two-month war.
Shi'ite militias advance on IS insurgents near Iraq's Ramadi
Shi'ite Muslim militiamen and Iraqi army forces launched a counter-offensive against Islamic State insurgents near Ramadi on May 23, a militia spokesman said.
Israel thanks US for stand on Mideast nuclear arms ban at UN
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the United States for blocking an Egyptian-led drive on a possible Middle East nuclear weapons ban at a major United Nations conference, an Israeli official said on May 23.
US, Cuba make progress on restoring ties but no deal yet
Cuba and the United States reported making progress toward restoring diplomatic relations following two days of talks and pledged on May 22 to continue informal negotiations in the coming weeks.
Suicide bomber kills 21 at Saudi Shi'ite mosque, Islamic State claims attack
A suicide bomber killed 21 worshippers on May 22 in a packed Shi'ite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia, residents and the health minister said, the first attack in the kingdom to be claimed by Islamic State militants.
Gunfight in western Mexico kills at least 44: officials
At least 44 people were killed on May 22 in a gunfight in western Mexico between government forces and suspected drug gang henchmen, officials said, one of the bloodiest days of violence to shake the country under President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Senate votes to grant Obama fast-track power on trade deals
President Barack Obama scored a major victory on May 22 when the US Senate voted to give him "fast-track" powers that would help wrap up negotiations on a 12-nation Pacific Rim trade deal central to projecting American influence in Asia.