🌏 World News

May 20th, 2026

Today's top 5 stories, curated by Daily Direct.

Straits Times

Trump says US may strike Iran again but that Tehran wants deal

Iran faces a stark choice between diplomacy and military force, with Trump warning that fresh U.S. strikes could come within days if nuclear talks stall. The statement signals Washington is maintaining maximum pressure even as both sides signal openness to a deal. The timeline puts urgent stakes on ongoing negotiations.

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SCMP

How Xi and Putin are trying to shape a polycentric world. Here are the takeaways

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin met in Beijing this week, just days after Donald Trump's own visit to the Chinese capital β€” a deliberate sequencing that underscored China's confidence in managing relationships with both major powers simultaneously. The two leaders pushed back against what Xi called "jungle law," signaling a united front against what they see as unilateral, coercive dominance in global affairs. The back-to-back summits crystallize the emerging contest between a US-led order and a Beijing-Moscow vision of a multipolar world.

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Al Jazeera English

Fear grips eastern DR Congo amid deadly Ebola outbreak

A deadly Ebola outbreak is tightening its grip on eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with fear spreading from Bukavu to the capital, Kinshasa. Street vendors and ordinary residents are bracing for the worst as case numbers climb. The outbreak raises urgent questions about the country's capacity to contain the virus in a region already destabilized by conflict and weak health infrastructure.

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Al Jazeera English

China’s Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Beijing

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin convened in Beijing for high-level talks, continuing the two nations' deepening strategic partnership. The meeting carries added weight coming just days after Donald Trump's official visit to China, signaling Beijing's intent to balance its diplomatic posture between Washington and Moscow. The timing underscores China's position as a central player in an increasingly fractured global order.

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Al Jazeera English

Why are nearly 50,000 Samsung workers about to strike in South Korea?

Samsung faces its most significant labor disruption in years as nearly 50,000 workers prepare to strike over bonus disputes. The union has committed to an 18-day protest, a move that could disrupt production at one of the world's largest chipmakers. The action signals growing tension between Samsung's workforce and management at a critical moment for the global semiconductor industry.

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