AnewZ Morning Brief - May 22nd, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 22th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Thousands gathered in Valencia on Saturday in a protest against the government's reaction to the deadly floods that killed more than 220 people. Around 80 people are still missing after heavy rainfall burst the banks of rivers, devastating the Valencia province on 29 October.
Tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Valencia on Saturday (9 November) to demand accountability for the regional government's handling of catastrophic floods that have claimed the lives of more than 220 people. In one of Europe’s deadliest natural disasters in decades, the floodwaters devastated the Valencia province, leaving nearly 80 people still missing.
As protesters gathered in the city centre, many called for the resignation of regional leader Carlos Mazon, accusing him of mishandling the crisis. Demonstrators shouted chants of "Killers!" and held signs reading, "Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood," as they plastered the Valencia Regional Government Palace with muddy handprints, a symbol of their anger and frustration.
The demonstration, organized by over 30 civil groups, was a response to what residents describe as delayed emergency action. Protesters claim that Mazon issued an alert too late, hours after water had already inundated villages across the region. He's defended his handling of the crisis.
Some local municipalities and even the University of Valencia raised alarms ahead of the regional government, with warnings starting as early as 28 October. National weather servies issued a red alert for heavy rain on the Tuesday morning at 7:30am 29 October. This is the highest level of warning. Some areas were flooding by 6pm. Mazon's administration then sent out alerts to mobile phones after 8pm. Many believe that local authorities failed to act swiftly enough, contributing to the widespread devastation.
“It’s a weather phenomenon. Of course, it couldn’t have been avoided, but the magnitude of the consequences could have been,” said Yao, a 21-year-old student. "And certainly, this has happened as a result of our politicians and their actions."
While the protest remained largely peaceful, tensions flared as some demonstrators threw objects at police officers and clashed with authorities, leading to brief scuffles.
Several protesters held signs with personal messages, such as one reading, “My father died because of your incompetence, murderers.”
In front of the government building, protesters left behind muddy shoes and clothes. The mood was intense, with demonstrators chanting "Murder, murder" and waving their phones aloft, lighting up the square with their screens.
The protest, while an expression of collective anger, also highlighted the region’s deep sense of loss and the growing demand for justice in the wake of the disaster.
Spain has announced an aid package worth more than 10 billion euros to help those affected by the disaster.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
AnewZ and Kazakhstan’s Jibek Joly/Silk Way TV channel co-hosted a special AnewZ Talks in Astana at Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU), uniting global experts and young leaders at Silk Road Media Group’s journalism school to explore the growing intersection of media and diplomacy.
The European Union has approved a landmark €150 billion (nearly $170 billion) Defense Industrial Readiness Loan Instrument, known as SAFE, aimed at bolstering the bloc’s defense sector in the face of rising geopolitical threats.
President Donald Trump has unveiled an ambitious $175 billion missile defense initiative called the "Golden Dome," designed to protect the United States from advanced missile threats through a multi-layered shield that integrates ground, sea, and space-based components.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 22th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly condemned a serious accident involving the launch of a new 5,000-ton destroyer as a “criminal act” rooted in “absolute carelessness,” marking a rare and unusually candid acknowledgment of failure by Pyongyang’s leadership.
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