Russian and US Presidents discussed many important issues on the phone; Thai King officially ascended the throne

The Israeli military said its air defenses intercepted dozens of about 90 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip on May 4. Israeli fighter jets then attacked two rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip in response.

There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side following the attacks. The rocket attack followed violent protests over the past week on the border between Gaza and Israel, which left at least 60 Palestinian protesters injured in clashes with Israeli security forces.

Russian and US presidents discussed many important issues on the phone

US President Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Getty/ Reuters

On May 3, US President Donald Trump had a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin about nuclear weapons agreements, the conflicts in Venezuela, Ukraine, the North Korean issue as well as the recently completed report by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller on allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. The two sides also mentioned the possibility of signing a new nuclear agreement between Russia, the US and China, as well as extending the current agreement on strategic offensive weapons (START).

The two presidents reaffirmed their shared desire to enhance dialogue in various areas, including the issue of strategic stability.

US and Japan cautious about North Korea missile test

The US and Japan are cautious about information about North Korea testing missiles. Photo: AP

In response to the news that North Korea had conducted a series of short-range missile tests early on May 4, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that she had received information about North Korea's short-range missile test and that the US would continue to monitor the situation before making appropriate responses. A US Defense Department press assistant was also cautious when commenting on the North Korean missile test. He said that he could not make any comments at the moment and that the US Department of Defense was closely monitoring the situation until the information was verified.

A statement from the Japanese Ministry of Defense said that the country had received information about North Korea's missile launch from South Korea, but Japan had not yet seen any "danger" from North Korea in Japan's exclusive economic zone. The Japanese Ministry of Defense also said that it could not make any comments at this time as it saw no signs of the security situation being affected.

Super Cyclone Fani causes massive casualties in India and Bangladesh

Scenes of devastation after super cyclone Fani swept through Puri, India on May 3. Photo: THX/TTXVN

On the morning of May 4, super cyclone Fani, one of the strongest storms to appear in the Bay of Bengal with winds near the center of the storm reaching 240 km/h, made landfall in Bangladesh after causing heavy damage in India. So far, super cyclone Fani has killed at least 8 people in India and 9 people in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh police said 14 villages near the town of Dacope in the country were flooded when a powerful storm made landfall, causing high tides to overflow dams. Among the dead were people struck by lightning during the storm. More than 400,000 people were evacuated to temporary shelters. Earlier, in India, although the storm weakened, it still brought heavy rain throughout the night of May 3 and early morning of May 4 in West Bengal state and the state capital Kolkata, a city of 4.5 million people. Hundreds of thousands of people in West Bengal were evacuated. Due to the impact of the storm, Kolkata's airport was closed and railway operations were suspended, according to local authorities.

The King of Thailand is crowned

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn - Rama X wears royal robes and crown during the Coronation Ceremony in Bangkok on May 4, 2019. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

On the morning of May 4, the first and most important rituals of the official coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand took place (including bathing, consecration, receiving the crown and regalia, ending with a chanting ceremony). The remaining rituals will be carried out until May 6. The coronation rituals of Thai kings are a mixture of Buddhism and Brahmanism from many centuries ago. One of the many official titles of King Vajiralongkorn is Rama X, or the 10th king of the Chakri dynasty, which was founded in 1782.

The coronation of a king is a matter of utmost importance in Thailand because kings in this country have long held a very sacred position in the hearts of the people of the Land of Golden Temples.