AnewZ Morning Brief – 23 May 2026

AnewZ Morning Brief – 23 May 2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on as he speaks with reporters during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, in Helsingborg, Sweden, 22 May, 2026.
Reuters/AnewZ

Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 23rd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.

U.S. and Iran give mixed signals on peace talks


U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a NATO foreign ministers’ summit in Sweden that peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran were making “progress.” However, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, quoted by state media, said differences between the two sides remained “deep and significant.” The conflicting messages came as mediators from Pakistan and Qatar arrived in Tehran, with talks expected to continue this weekend.

WHO says DRC Ebola outbreak risk is ‘very high’


The World Health Organisation has warned that the risk of a widening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated to “very high” at the national level. Health authorities are racing to contain transmission of the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

At least 90 killed in Chinese coal mine blast


At least 90 miners have died in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered authorities to launch an investigation into the incident.

Russia vows retaliation over alleged Ukraine dorm strike


Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the military to prepare a retaliatory response after Moscow said six people, including children, were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on a student dormitory. Kyiv denied targeting a dormitory and dismissed the accusation as “manipulation.”

SpaceX carries out latest Starship test flight


Elon Musk’s SpaceX has carried out a largely successful test flight of its upgraded Starship rocket. The uncrewed rocket lifted off from Texas on Friday at 17:30 local time, 22:30 GMT, before splashing down in the Indian Ocean around an hour later. The mission came just days after reports that the company was planning a record-breaking $1.75 trillion stock market listing.

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