AnewZ Morning Brief - April 24th, 2025

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 24th, covering the latest developments you need to know.

Russia strikes Kyiv: 9 dead, 70 injured, including 6 children, in latest attack

Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least nine people and injuring 70, including six children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

On the night of April 24, Kyiv was subjected to a combined enemy attack. As of 06:06, there are reports of nine dead and 70 injured, including six children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko.

Klitschko stated, "21 victims have been hospitalized, including three children and a pregnant woman."

Details: As of 2:27 a.m., the mayor reported 12 people injured in the capital as a result of the enemy attack. According to Klitschko, the Sviatoshynskyi district was hit hardest. Fires broke out at six locations, with significant damage reported. Emergency services were actively working on-site.

Earlier, Tkachenko reported that by 1:40 a.m., the following impacts of the enemy strike were recorded:
- Holosiivskyi district: two fires caused by the enemy attack.
- Shevchenkivskyi district: four fires.
- Sviatoshynskyi district: preliminary reports of fires at three locations, including garages, houses, and vehicles. Five people, including a child, were injured.

There were also hits to civilian infrastructure.

President Ilham Aliyev met with Chairman of Board of China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited in Beijing

On 24 April, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Beijing with Song Hailiang, Chairman of China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited (Energy China).

The sides noted that Energy China is already active in Azerbaijan, serving as contractor for a 1-gigawatt offshore wind project in the Caspian Sea and investing in solar and other ventures in Fuzuli district. Song Hailiang outlined new cooperation proposals on prospective energy corridors, while President Aliyev stressed the strategic significance of the partnership.

They reviewed a long-term joint energy-planning initiative, formalised by a document signed during the visit, and discussed creating an energy research centre in Azerbaijan. Possible collaboration in water-management projects—an area where the Chinese firm has strong expertise—was also explored.

Beyond renewables, Energy China’s portfolio covers hydrogen, energy storage and large-scale grid construction. The company runs 256 branches in 147 countries, is currently executing 416 projects, and commands about half of China’s renewable-energy market.

Congo and M23 rebels agree to pursue peace, tensions remain

The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels issued identical statements on Wednesday pledging to pursue peace after week-long talks in Qatar, where violence and distrust dominated the agenda.

“Both parties reaffirm their commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities,” the statement said, also condemning hate speech and urging communities to support peace efforts.

Frustrations linger. Delegates said disputes over confidence-building—especially releasing Congo-held prisoners linked to M23 and Rwanda—slowed progress. “They are asking for too much,” a Congo official said. A rebel delegate agreed the issue derailed deeper talks. Both sides left Doha earlier in the week.

Even so, diplomats credit Qatar for securing the joint pledge, offering faint hope in a decades-long conflict. M23’s January offensive, which captured eastern Congo’s two largest cities, killed thousands and stoked fears of regional war.

Qatar’s mediation followed last month’s surprise meeting between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame—their first direct interaction, and a tentative step toward dialogue with M23, long branded terrorists by Kinshasa. Rwanda denies aiding the rebels; Congo, the UN and Western governments insist otherwise.

A UN source on Wednesday confirmed fresh clashes in Walikale, a key mining hub M23 vacated earlier as a goodwill gesture.

“This is a crucial step toward ending the violence,” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said, though no date has been set for further talks.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy lands in South Africa for talks on ties, peace efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touched down in South Africa on Thursday to confer with President Cyril Ramaphosa on bilateral ties and pathways to halt Russia’s war.

Seeking wider backing for Kyiv as U.S. President Donald Trump warns aid could end without tangible peace progress, Zelenskyy wrote on X that he would meet Ramaphosa and other leaders and civic figures, stressing the urgency of “advancing a just peace.”

China supports free trade, central bank governor says in Washington meeting, CCTV reports

Speaking in Washington, DC on Wednesday, People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng told G20 finance chiefs that Beijing remains committed to free-trade principles and the multilateral trading system, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Unilateralism and protectionism, he warned, “lead nowhere” and benefit no one. Pan added that China will press ahead with opening up and will champion inclusive economic globalisation.

Pope Francis' coffin transferred to St. Peter's Basilica, faithful pay tribute

The coffin bearing Pope Francis is being transferred from Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica. On arrival, Camerlengo Cardinal Joseph Farrell will lead a Liturgy of the Word, after which the faithful may begin viewing the late pontiff’s body.

Taiwan proposes another $10 bln in aid to deal with US tariffs

Taiwan’s premier on Thursday unveiled a fresh NT$322 billion (US$10 billion) special-budget plan to soften the blow of forthcoming U.S. tariffs.

Taiwan had been facing a 32 % duty until President Donald Trump paused his “reciprocal tariffs” for 90 days two weeks ago.

At a news conference, Premier Cho Jung-tai said the original NT$88 billion support package would grow to as much as NT$410 billion (US$12.61 billion). Funds will cover loan support for businesses, job-market stabilisation and electricity subsidies.

The extra spending must clear parliament, where opposition parties hold a majority and have already slashed this year’s main budget, citing waste.

Taipei has begun tariff talks with Washington and pledged billions in additional U.S. imports to narrow its trade surplus. Increasing purchases of American liquefied natural gas and crude is a key part of those discussions, President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday.

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