
Who Runs Iran Now? A Hard-Line Military Band of Brothers.
Decision making in the country is guided by a small group of men associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.By Neil MacFarquhar
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldmiddleeast
IranIslamic Revolutionary Guards CorpsKhamenei, Mojtaba (1969- )Ghalibaf, Mohammad BaqerVahidi, AhmadMohseni-Ejei, Gholam-HosseinJafari, Mohammad Ali (1957- )Zolghadr, Mohammad Bagher

Uganda Restricts Travel with Congo Over Ebola Outbreak
Uganda said that flights to and from the Democratic Republic of Congo would be temporarily suspended, as the outbreak appeared to spread to a rebel-controlled province in Congo.By Lynsey Chutel and Matthew Mpoke Bigg
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldafrica
World Health OrganizationUnited States Agency for International Development

Exxon May Return to Venezuela, Ending a Long Fight With Its Leaders
The U.S. oil giant is negotiating a deal to pump oil in Venezuela, ending a standoff with its socialist rulers and marking a victory for President Trump.By Anatoly Kurmanaev
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldamericas
VenezuelaExxon Mobil CorpChavez, HugoMaduro, NicolasRodriguez, Delcy (1969- )Trump, Donald JWoods, Darren W (1965- )

‘Eternal Flame’ Still Burns After Fire That Destroyed Buddhist Hall in Japan
The flame, which spiritual leaders say has been continuously lit for more than 1,200 years, was salvaged after the blaze and moved to a different site.By Javier C. Hernández and Hisako Ueno
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldasia
Miyajima (Japan)JapanReikado Hall (Miyajima, Japan, Temple)

In Berlin, Cars Are a Culture War Flashpoint
With municipal elections approaching, conservatives and progressives are sparring over congestion in the city center and how to fix it.By Christopher F. Schuetze and Tatiana Firsova
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldeurope
Berlin (Germany)

Mira Nair Finds a New Audience as Mother of Zohran Mamdani
“I feel like we have given him to the world,” the filmmaker said in a conversation with The New York Times. Her next movie is about one of India’s greatest artists.By Anupreeta Das
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldasia
Amritsar (India)New York CityNair, MiraSher-Gil, Amrita

U.S.-Bound Flight Diverted to Canada Because of Ebola Restrictions
An Air France plane was sent to Montreal because a passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo was on board. The U.S. has closed its borders to recent visitors to the African country.By Amelia Nierenberg
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldafrica
Congo, Democratic Republic of (Congo-Kinshasa)United StatesAfricaMontreal (Quebec)Air France

How Did the Former Prince Andrew Get an Envoy Job, Anyway?
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is accused of sharing secrets with Jeffrey Epstein when he was a British trade envoy. Newly released documents shed some light on how he got the appointment.By Stephen Castle
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldeurope
Great BritainAndrew, Duke of YorkEpstein, Jeffrey E (1953- )Mandelson, Peter

Germany Indicts Two Men for Plotting to Kill Jewish Leaders on Iran’s Behalf
European authorities have grown concerned about a rise in Iranian intelligence activity in Europe in the wake of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.By Christopher F. Schuetze
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldeurope
GermanyIranIslamic Revolutionary Guards Corps

Timmy the Whale Got Stranded Off the German Coast. Then Things Got Weird.
A humpback that became stuck in the Baltic seemed to unite a nation in hope. Rescue efforts followed, and then finger-pointing.By Jim Tankersley and Jenny Gross
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
worldeurope
Baltic SeaGermanyDenmark

Cuba Says It’s Ready to Negotiate
Cuba’s ambassador to the United Nations said in an interview that Havana wanted to talk but the Trump administration was creating pretexts for military action.By Jack Nicas
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
worldamericas
CubaUnited NationsCentral Intelligence AgencyState DepartmentCastro, RaulRatcliffe, John Lee (1965- )Rubio, MarcoTrump, Donald J

How Iran Gained Leverage in the War
Outmatched militarily, Iran used “triangular coercion” by attacking Gulf states and closing the Strait of Hormuz. It points to a long-term U.S. vulnerability.By Amanda Taub
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
worldmiddleeast
Strait of HormuzIranMiddle EastTrump, Donald J

Ebola Outbreak Opens Old Wounds About ‘Saving Africans’
To some Africans, the claim that the continent’s largest health agency had already bungled its response scratched a familiar wound.By Matthew Mpoke Bigg
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
worldafrica
AfricaCongo, Democratic Republic of (Congo-Kinshasa)Africa Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionWorld Health Organization

Israel Minister Taunts Pro-Palestinian Flotilla Activists in Video
The national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, posted a video in which he is seen with handcuffed activists forced to kneel on the deck of a ship. It drew a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.By Natan Odenheimer
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
worldmiddleeast
IsraelGaza StripBen-Gvir, Itamar

Cuban Pilot Charged in Downing of Planes Lived in Florida
The pilot, Luis González-Pardo, was one of the defendants in the indictment that included former Cuban President Raúl Castro.By David C. Adams
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldamericas
CubaFloridaJacksonville (Fla)Miami (Fla)United StatesBrothers to the RescueFederal Bureau of InvestigationFoundation for Human Rights in CubaInternational Civil Aviation OrganizationUnited States Air ForceUnited NationsBiden, Joseph R JrCastro, RaulRubio, Marco

In Greenland, Protesters Denounce Opening of Bigger U.S. Consulate
“Go away!” demonstrators yelled outside the newly opened diplomatic outpost, as guests inside nibbled on musk ox hot dogs.By Maya Tekeli and Jeffrey Gettleman
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldeurope
Nuuk (Greenland)

Britain vs. Bonds
Bond markets have been putting fear into the hearts of politicians for a long time. Britain has become the latest case study.By Katrin Bennhold
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
world
EnglandConservative Party (Great Britain)Bank of England

Turkish Court Ruling Means New Trouble for Erdogan’s Foes
A surprise judgment replaced the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party with a former leader known for losing elections.By Ben Hubbard and Safak Timur
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldmiddleeast
Istanbul (Turkey)Ankara (Turkey)Justice and Development Party (Turkey)Erdogan, Recep TayyipKilicdaroglu, KemalImamoglu, Ekrem

U.N. Official Who Says U.S. Punished Her for Speech Wins a Round in Court
The government has appealed a judge’s ruling that it violated the free speech rights of Francesca Albanese, who was sanctioned for speaking out against Israel.By Ephrat Livni
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldmiddleeast
International Criminal CourtUnited NationsState DepartmentAlbanese, Francesca PRubio, MarcoNetanyahu, BenjaminGallant, Yoav

Trump Again Says He Will Talk to Taiwan’s Leader, Risking China’s Anger
President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan said he would be happy to speak with President Trump, a move that would defy U.S. diplomatic protocol and infuriate China.By John Yoon, Chris Buckley and Amy Chang Chien
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldasia
ChinaTaiwanUnited StatesTaiwan StraitTrump, Donald JLai Ching-te

Samsung Averts a Walkout With Big Bonuses, but Discord Over A.I. Profits Brews
Samsung Electronics, a global memory chip supplier, has been a major beneficiary of the A.I boom. It has also become the center of a debate over how to divide its spoils.By Max Kim
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
business
South KoreaSamsung Electronics CoSamsung Group

A Powerful El Niño Is Forming. If History Is a Guide, It Could Hit Hard.
The biggest episodes of the past have altered the course of human events, according to researchers. An emerging one is drawing historic comparisons.By Chico Harlan
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
climate
Far East, South and Southeast Asia and Pacific AreasIndiaPacific Ocean

China’s Endless Housing Crisis Shows Faint Signs of Hope
Property prices in Shanghai, in particular, are rebounding, but the national market still faces an enormous overhang — 90 million empty or unfinished apartments.By Keith Bradsher
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
business
ChinaBeijing (China)Shanghai (China)

In Blackout-Hit Cuba, Word of U.S. Castro Indictment Spreads Slowly
While many Cubans were divided over the legitimacy of the U.S. charging Raúl Castro with murder, the hope for developments that might ease their suffering is widespread.By Emma Bubola
Published on : Thu May 21 2026
worldamericas
CubaHavana (Cuba)Castro, RaulDiaz-Canel Bermudez, Miguel

Autocracy’s ‘Loyal Losers’
Even the most capable autocrats need help hanging on to power. Mediocre officials are often best for the job, according to new research.By Katrin Bennhold
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
world
CubaIranTaiwanNew York CityCastro, RaulAhmadinejad, Mahmoud

Efforts to Contain Ebola May Have Been Hindered by Lack of U.S. Involvement
Aid cuts by the Trump administration have shut down crucial disease surveillance networks and medical supply chains in East Africa.By Apoorva Mandavilli and Stephanie Nolen
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
health
Congo, Democratic Republic of (Congo-Kinshasa)UgandaAfricaWorld Health OrganizationUnited States Agency for International DevelopmentCenters for Disease Control and PreventionState DepartmentTrump, Donald J

Rubio Moves Closer to Decades-Long Goal of Transforming Cuba
The secretary of state is the son of immigrants who left Cuba before the Castro revolution to look for economic opportunities. Yet, he pursues change with the zeal of a political exile.By Edward Wong
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
uspolitics
CubaState DepartmentCastro, FidelCastro, RaulMaduro, NicolasRubio, MarcoTrump, Donald J

Why the U.S. Chose May 20 to Seek Charges Against Raúl Castro
The choice of this specific date to indict the former president Raúl Castro carries historical echoes from more than a century ago.By Max Bearak
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
worldamericas
CubaUnited StatesJustice DepartmentCastro, RaulTrump, Donald J

After Eurovision Final, Dismay That Politics Didn’t Play a Bigger Role
Politics isn’t supposed to influence the international song contest, but some people wanted relationships between countries to hold more sway in this year’s voting.By Claire Moses
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
artsmusic
PolandIsraelUkraineMoldovaEuropean Broadcasting UnionVlad Turcanu

Justice Dept. Charges Former Cuban President in Fatal Downing of Planes
The indictment was an extraordinary escalation of the Trump administration’s multifaceted pressure campaign against Cuba’s Communist government.By Alan Feuer, Frances Robles and David C. Adams
Published on : Wed May 20 2026
us
CubaBrothers to the RescueJustice DepartmentCastro, RaulBlanche, Todd (Attorney)Trump, Donald J