Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 24th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Ukraine’s Kyiv under attack again, 15 injured in overnight bombardment
The military reported intercepting six ballistic missiles and shooting down 128 drones, while an additional 117 drones were neutralized through electronic warfare after disappearing from radar.
While Kyiv was the primary target, missile strikes also hit the Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Overall, the Russian assault impacted several oblasts, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia.
The attack came just hours after Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner exchange, the first step in a deal reached during recent talks in Istanbul.
Debris from intercepted missiles and drones landed in at least four Kyiv districts, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration. Six people required medical assistance, and fires broke out in the Solomianskyi district.
The air raid alert lasted more than seven hours, with sirens warning of incoming threats.
Before the attack, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko alerted citizens to over 20 Russian drones approaching Kyiv. During the strike, he confirmed that drone debris struck a shopping mall and residential building in the Obolon district. Emergency services were dispatched to the affected areas.
2. Australia begins clean-up after floods kill 5, damage 10,000 properties
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Saturday that cleanup efforts have begun in the country’s southeast following floods that killed five people and flooded over 10,000 properties.
“We’re working closely with federal, state, and local governments to ensure Australians receive the support they need now and during recovery,” Albanese said on social media platform X.
Damage assessments are underway in New South Wales’ hard-hit mid-north coast, where floods this week isolated towns, swept away livestock, and destroyed homes, the state’s emergency services agency reported. At least 10,000 properties are believed to be affected.
Although conditions have improved since Friday, hundreds of residents remain in evacuation centres. State Emergency Services Commissioner Mike Wassing said at a Sydney press conference that 52 flood rescues took place overnight.
The latest flood-related death involved a man in his 80s, whose body was found at a flooded property about 50 km from Taree—one of the worst-affected towns. Albanese, who cancelled a visit to Taree on Friday due to the floods, expressed sorrow over the loss. “Our thoughts are with his loved ones and the community at this difficult time,” he said.
3. Trump administration eases Syria sanctions to support interim government
The Trump administration has granted Syria a temporary waiver from key U.S. sanctions and loosened business restrictions, marking the first formal step in a broader plan to dismantle decades-old penalties.
The United States has waived a major set of congressional sanctions on Syria and expanded rules for foreign business operations in the country as part of President Donald Trump's pledge to roll back longstanding economic restrictions.
The waiver, announced Friday by the State and Treasury departments, lifts elements of a tough sanctions package imposed in 2019. It is intended to support Syria's interim leadership, now headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former militant figure who assumed power following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad last year.
While the administration did not specify how long the waiver will last, U.S. law restricts such presidential actions to a maximum of six months.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the decision is designed to open the door to new foreign investment and support Syria's recovery. He said Syria must continue to work toward becoming a stable country at peace and that the actions will hopefully put the country on a path to a bright, prosperous, and stable future.
4. Iran and U.S. conclude fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome with signs of progress
Iran and the United States wrapped up their fifth round of indirect nuclear talks in Rome with limited progress but no agreement, Omani mediator Badr al-Busaidi reported. Key issues remain unresolved, especially the U.S. demand that Iran halt uranium enrichment, which Iran rejects.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff led their delegations, exchanging ideas but making no firm commitments. Both sides remain hopeful for future talks despite significant differences.
The talks aim to curb Iran’s nuclear program in return for easing U.S. sanctions, but major obstacles continue to block a final deal.
5. Dozens injured in knife attack at Hamburg train station
German police say at least 17 people were injured in a knife attack at Hamburg’s main train station on Friday.
Seventeen people were injured in a knife attack at Hamburg’s main railway station on Friday evening, with authorities confirming that three victims are in critical condition and three others seriously hurt.
Police have arrested a 39-year-old woman in connection with the attack, which took place on a platform between tracks 13 and 14 at Hamburg’s main railway station. Officials say the woman acted alone, and a large-scale emergency response remains underway.
According to the Hamburg fire department, several of the injuries are life-threatening. Some victims received treatment inside nearby trains, and emergency services swiftly responded to the scene, deploying numerous personnel and vehicles.
Hamburg Central Station, one of the busiest transport hubs in Germany, handles over half a million passengers daily. The station was particularly crowded during the Friday rush hour when the attack took place, adding to the chaos and urgency of the emergency response.
In a statement posted on X, Hamburg Police said: “According to initial findings, a person allegedly injured several people with a knife in the main station. The suspect was arrested by police.”
The motive behind the attack is still under investigation. Police are urging people to avoid the area as inquiries continue.
This incident marks the latest in a string of violent episodes across Germany in recent months, raising renewed concerns about public safety in crowded transport centers.
6. Internal Ministers of Turkic States convene in Baku
The 2nd Meeting of the Ministers of Internal Affairs of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) took place on 23 May 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Hosted by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Vilayat Eyvazov, the meeting brought together key officials including Yerzhan Sadenov (Kazakhstan), Ulan Niyazbekov (Kyrgyzstan), Ali Yerlikaya (Türkiye), Aziz Tashpulatov (Uzbekistan), Dursun Oğuz (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus), Bence Rétvári (Deputy Minister of Interior and Parliamentary State Secretary of Hungary), and Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS.
In his opening remarks, Minister Eyvazov emphasized the deep-rooted friendship, mutual trust, and respect among Turkic nations. He noted that, thanks to the strategic vision and political commitment of their leaders, relations among the Turkic states have reached a new and dynamic stage—underscoring the need for enhanced cooperation among the ministries of internal affairs.
Secretary General Omuraliev highlighted the crucial role of collaboration between the internal affairs ministries, not only in strengthening the internal security of member states but also in contributing to broader regional and global peace and stability.
During the meeting, ministers shared updates on their respective ministries' efforts, particularly in combating transnational organized crime, terrorism, extremism, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and irregular migration. They stressed the importance of continued law enforcement cooperation within the OTS framework.
The session concluded with the signing of a Joint Communique and an agreement to hold the 3rd Meeting of the Ministers of Internal Affairs of the OTS in Kazakhstan in 2026.
The fourth and final phase of Lebanon’s municipal elections began in the southern governorates, continuing the country’s first local voting process in nearly a decade amid ongoing security challenges.
An exhibition of Azerbaijani and Turkmen carpets and handicrafts has opened in Tbilisi, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and centuries-old weaving traditions of both nations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will begin a six-day visit of Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, where he is also set to attend the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe.
Denmark has become the first European country to raise its retirement age to 70, aiming to secure the sustainability of its welfare system amid changing demographics and longer life expectancy.
Another busy Atlantic hurricane season is on the horizon for 2025, with forecasters predicting above-average storm activity fueled by warmer ocean waters.
The fourth and final phase of Lebanon’s municipal elections began in the southern governorates, continuing the country’s first local voting process in nearly a decade amid ongoing security challenges.
An exhibition of Azerbaijani and Turkmen carpets and handicrafts has opened in Tbilisi, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and centuries-old weaving traditions of both nations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will begin a six-day visit of Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, where he is also set to attend the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe.
Denmark has become the first European country to raise its retirement age to 70, aiming to secure the sustainability of its welfare system amid changing demographics and longer life expectancy.
Another busy Atlantic hurricane season is on the horizon for 2025, with forecasters predicting above-average storm activity fueled by warmer ocean waters.
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.
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
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
In a region long defined by conflict and complex history, AnewZ set out to hear the voices that matter most- those of the people.
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 fourth and final phase of Lebanon’s municipal elections began in the southern governorates, continuing the country’s first local voting process in nearly a decade amid ongoing security challenges.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will begin a six-day visit of Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, where he is also set to attend the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe.
The European Union has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 50% tariff on EU goods by calling for respectful trade negotiations and emphasizing the need to avoid escalating tensions.
Australia has begun recovery efforts after devastating floods in the southeast killed five people and damaged over 10,000 properties, prompting nationwide support and emergency responses.
The Trump administration has introduced new restrictions at the Pentagon, requiring journalists to have official escorts in most areas, citing national security concerns and tighter control over sensitive information.
The fourth and final phase of Lebanon’s municipal elections began in the southern governorates, continuing the country’s first local voting process in nearly a decade amid ongoing security challenges.
An exhibition of Azerbaijani and Turkmen carpets and handicrafts has opened in Tbilisi, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and centuries-old weaving traditions of both nations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will begin a six-day visit of Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, where he is also set to attend the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe.
Denmark has become the first European country to raise its retirement age to 70, aiming to secure the sustainability of its welfare system amid changing demographics and longer life expectancy.
Another busy Atlantic hurricane season is on the horizon for 2025, with forecasters predicting above-average storm activity fueled by warmer ocean waters.
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