Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 25th, covering the latest developments you need to know.m
1. Russia launches mass attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian cities for second night in row
Ukraine’s Air Force reported 69 missiles and 298 drones were deployed, with 45 missiles and 266 drones intercepted. Despite air defenses, 22 sites suffered direct strikes.
The attack, coinciding with Kyiv Day, came just one night after a heavy bombardment of the capital. In Kyiv, drone debris hit a dormitory, injuring four, while other districts saw further injuries and infrastructure damage.
Outside the capital, casualties were reported in Kyiv Oblast, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Khmelnytskyi. Fires broke out at several locations, including residential and industrial buildings.
Konotop’s mayor called it the city’s most intense attack since WWII. In Khmelnytskyi alone, four people were killed.
Poland activated its air defenses in response to the barrage. As the aerial campaign escalates, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged stronger international pressure for a ceasefire, calling the strikes a continued attack on civilians and peace efforts.
2. Congo eyes U.S. investment deal in critical minerals by end of June
Officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo are expressing confidence that a dual agreement with the United States - encompassing both strategic investment in critical minerals and U.S.-brokered support for a peace deal with Rwanda - could be finalized by the end of June, according to a Financial Times report published on Sunday.
Key Congolese minerals such as tin, tantalum, and tungsten - resources Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of smuggling - may be exported legally to Rwanda for processing as part of the peace framework currently under U.S. negotiation, Reuters reported last week.
Sources close to the negotiations told FT that a minerals investment deal with Washington, along with a separate peace accord with Kigali, could be signed by late June. However, significant obstacles still remain, the report noted.
DRC’s Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, emphasized that a partnership with the United States would help reduce the nation’s heavy reliance on China in developing its mineral sector. “An agreement with the U.S. would help diversify our partnerships,” he said.
The Congolese government blames the ongoing conflict in its eastern provinces on the illegal exploitation and smuggling of its minerals, accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group and profiting from tens of millions of dollars in illicit exports each month.
Massad Boulos, senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump and a key figure in the negotiations, stated earlier this month that Washington is pushing for a peace accord between Kinshasa and Kigali this summer, potentially unlocking billions of dollars in Western investment for the region’s mineral-rich economy.
Responding to the developments, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo reiterated Rwanda's security stance, stating that its defensive operations along the DRC border would remain necessary “as long as threats and insecurity persist.”
The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to requests for comment on the ongoing talks.
3. US imposes new restrictions on media inside Pentagon, citing security risks
The newly restricted zones include the offices of Hegseth and his senior aides, as well as public affairs spaces for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force across the Pentagon complex.
In a memo issued Friday, the Department of Defense said it “remains committed to transparency” but must also protect classified and sensitive national security information.
Journalists must now sign a disclosure protection form and will be issued distinct media badges. Violations may result in additional restrictions or loss of credentials.
The decision follows recent criticism of Hegseth for using the Signal app to discuss military plans related to Yemen with close associates, raising broader concerns about press freedom under the Trump administration.
4. Erdogan hosts Syria’s Sharaa in Istanbul after US and EU lift sanctions
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on Saturday for high-level discussions, as both the United States and European Union officially ended years-long sanctions on Syria.
According to a statement from the Turkish Presidency on social media platform X, Erdogan expressed his approval of the policy shift, telling Sharaa that Ankara welcomed the decisions made by the US and EU.
The two leaders held a meeting at the Dolmabahce Palace after Sharaa's surprise visit, which marks a significant moment in the normalization of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Damascus. In recent months, Turkiye has become one of the main regional partners of the Syrian government following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The meeting was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and MIT intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Their Syrian counterparts participated in the discussions as well.
In parallel developments, US ambassador Tom Barrack has been appointed as Washington’s special envoy to Syria. The move is seen as a signal of American recognition of Turkiye’s growing influence over Syria’s future.
Earlier this week, Turkish and Syrian intelligence officials held talks on the future of the Kurdish YPG militia. Turkish sources indicated discussions focused on the disarmament of YPG fighters and their potential integration into Syrian security forces. Turkiye continues to regard the YPG as a terrorist group due to its links to the PKK, which recently announced its decision to disband.
With sanctions lifted and diplomatic meetings underway, Ankara is positioning itself as a key player in shaping post-conflict Syria and restoring regional stability.
5. Kharibulbul International Music Festival opens in Shusha celebrating Hajibeyli
The 8th “Kharibulbul” International Music Festival commenced on May 24 in the city of Shusha. The event is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan.
This year’s festival is dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the birth of the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli, in accordance with a presidential order signed by President Ilham Aliyev to honor Hajibeyli’s jubilee.
The opening concert took place on the Jidir Duzu plain and began with a performance of Hajibeyli’s “Ey Vətən.” Alongside Hajibeyli’s works, compositions by Arif Malikov, Asaf Zeynalli, Afrasiyab Badalbayli, Fikrat Amirov, Gara Garayev, Muslim Magomayev, Niyazi, Ogtay Zulfugarov, and Tofig Guliyev were also performed.
As in previous years, the festival features Azerbaijani artists as well as music ensembles and solo performers from other countries. One of the festival’s key goals is to promote cultural dialogue, encourage the exchange of ideas among professionals, and support the creativity of young musicians.
The opening concert featured performances by artists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye. On May 25, the second day of the festival, a concert by renowned Azerbaijani singer Polad Bulbuloglu will be held on the Jidir Duzu plain, accompanied by the Uzeyir Hajibeyli State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Murtuza Bulbul.
Later on the same day, students from the Faculty of Arts of Garabagh University will perform works by Azerbaijani and international composers on the Jidir Duzu plain.
Named after the symbolic flower of Shusha, the Kharibulbul Music Festival was first held in 1989. During the years of the Karabakh conflict, major concerts were organized in the cities of Aghdam, Barda, and Aghjabadi. Following Azerbaijan’s historic victory in the Patriotic War, the festival has returned to its original location in Shusha.
o
6. Sudan reports surge in cholera cases in Khartoum State
Sudan’s Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that hundreds of cholera cases have been reported in Khartoum State over the past four weeks.
Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim said in a press release that weekly cholera cases surged to between 600 and 700 in the last month. The increase followed the liberation of Khartoum State and the return of residents from Jabal Awliya and Al Salha, which caused worsening environmental conditions and limited access to clean drinking water.
On Tuesday, the Sudanese army declared it had regained full control of Khartoum State after taking the last Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stronghold in Al Salha, Omdurman.
Minister Ibrahim added that the Federal Health Emergency Room is actively monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps to contain the outbreak. A cholera vaccination campaign is expected to begin soon, which should help reduce infection rates in the coming weeks.
The Sudan Doctors Network issued an urgent call on Friday to address the growing health crisis. On Thursday alone, nine people died and 521 new cholera patients were admitted to Al-Naw Teaching Hospital in Omdurman.
According to official statistics from May 6, Sudan has recorded 60,993 cholera cases and 1,632 deaths since the outbreak was declared a national epidemic on August 12.
Following recent military gains, the Sudanese army now controls most of Khartoum State, including Khartoum, Bahri, Omdurman, and East Nile. The RSF retains control only over parts of North and West Kordofan, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and most of Darfur’s states.
Since April 2023, conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF has led to thousands of deaths and one of the worst humanitarian crises worldwide. The UN and local officials estimate over 20,000 deaths and 15 million displaced people, while independent research suggests the toll may be as high as 130,000.
Poland’s ruling party is set to hold a "patriotic march" in Warsaw on Sunday, just days before the second round of the presidential elections featuring candidate Rafal Trzaskowski.
Ukraine and Russia finalized a major prisoner exchange, with 303 captives returned to Ukraine on Sunday as part of a broader swap of 1,000 detainees each, agreed upon during talks in Istanbul.
Texas is poised to become the second U.S. state to implement a sweeping ban on social media use by minors, joining a growing movement among states to regulate digital access for children amid rising concerns over mental health and online safety.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on May 25, reaffirming Baku’s continued humanitarian support and both nations’ mutual commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Indonesia and China signed four new memorandums of understanding to deepen economic cooperation across key sectors, reaffirming their commitment to free trade during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to Jakarta.
Poland’s ruling party is set to hold a "patriotic march" in Warsaw on Sunday, just days before the second round of the presidential elections featuring candidate Rafal Trzaskowski.
Ukraine and Russia finalized a major prisoner exchange, with 303 captives returned to Ukraine on Sunday as part of a broader swap of 1,000 detainees each, agreed upon during talks in Istanbul.
Texas is poised to become the second U.S. state to implement a sweeping ban on social media use by minors, joining a growing movement among states to regulate digital access for children amid rising concerns over mental health and online safety.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on May 25, reaffirming Baku’s continued humanitarian support and both nations’ mutual commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Indonesia and China signed four new memorandums of understanding to deepen economic cooperation across key sectors, reaffirming their commitment to free trade during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to Jakarta.
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
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
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.”
Kyiv faced a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault overnight, with explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the city, forcing residents to shelter in subway stations.
Poland’s ruling party is set to hold a "patriotic march" in Warsaw on Sunday, just days before the second round of the presidential elections featuring candidate Rafal Trzaskowski.
Ukraine and Russia finalized a major prisoner exchange, with 303 captives returned to Ukraine on Sunday as part of a broader swap of 1,000 detainees each, agreed upon during talks in Istanbul.
Texas is poised to become the second U.S. state to implement a sweeping ban on social media use by minors, joining a growing movement among states to regulate digital access for children amid rising concerns over mental health and online safety.
Indonesia and China signed four new memorandums of understanding to deepen economic cooperation across key sectors, reaffirming their commitment to free trade during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to Jakarta.
Russia launched a major overnight missile and drone attack across Ukraine on May 24–25, killing at least 12 people, including three children, in one of the war’s deadliest assaults.
Poland’s ruling party is set to hold a "patriotic march" in Warsaw on Sunday, just days before the second round of the presidential elections featuring candidate Rafal Trzaskowski.
Ukraine and Russia finalized a major prisoner exchange, with 303 captives returned to Ukraine on Sunday as part of a broader swap of 1,000 detainees each, agreed upon during talks in Istanbul.
Texas is poised to become the second U.S. state to implement a sweeping ban on social media use by minors, joining a growing movement among states to regulate digital access for children amid rising concerns over mental health and online safety.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on May 25, reaffirming Baku’s continued humanitarian support and both nations’ mutual commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Indonesia and China signed four new memorandums of understanding to deepen economic cooperation across key sectors, reaffirming their commitment to free trade during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to Jakarta.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment