Weekly Brief

Welcome to the tut0ugh Weekly Brief. This past week, elections, conflicts, leadership shake-ups, military actions, currency shifts, and diplomatic disputes reshaped politics across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa.

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US strikes Venezuela and captures Nicolás Maduro; Donald Trump says Washington will “run the country” temporarily

 The United States has captured Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela, and his wife Cilia Flores following overnight military strikes in Caracas and surrounding regions.

Donald Trump, President of the United States, said the operation removed Maduro from power and that Washington would temporarily ‘run’ the country and oversee a transition. General Dan Caine confirmed the multi-domain operation, while Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, said Maduro is “not the legitimate president of Venezuela” and faces US indictments.

Venezuela declared a national emergency and condemned the action as military aggression. Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, and Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, cited international law in opposing the use of force, alongside China, Russia and Iran.

Maduro and Flores were flown via the USS Iwo Jima to Stewart Air National Guard Base before transfer to New York. Pam Bondi, US Attorney General, unsealed charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine trafficking, and weapons offences in the Southern District of New York.

China completes ‘Justice Mission 2025’ as Taiwan and allies warn of risks

China withdrew People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warships and coastguard vessels from around Taiwan the island's coastguard said Wednesday (Dec. 31) after completing large-scale live-fire exercises simulating a maritime blockade and port strikes.

Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theatre Command, said the “Justice Mission 2025” drills were successful and aimed at deterring “Taiwan independence” and external intervention. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, said “reunification is unstoppable” in a national address.

Taiwan reported 77 Chinese military aircraft and 25 naval and coastguard vessels operating nearby, with 35 aircraft crossing the median line. Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan, warned the drills pose “significant risks” to regional stability and global trade.

Japan, Australia and the Philippines criticised the exercises, while Beijing rejected the concerns as irresponsible.

Iran unrest intensifies amid economic crisis and security alerts

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, has warned that “rioters must be put in their place” after a week of nationwide protests triggered by economic hardship and currency collapse. Speaking in Tehran, he distinguished between peaceful demonstrators and what he described as foreign-backed unrest, urging officials to engage with protesters but not with “rioters”.

Rights monitors say at least 10 people have been killed in protests across more than 100 locations in 22 provinces, including two overnight deaths in Qom and Kermanshah.

Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, has called for dialogue, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij remain on alert. Donald Trump, President of the United States, warned Tehran against violent repression.

Yemen clashes expose Gulf rift as STC pushes independence plan

At least seven fighters from the Southern Transitional Council (STC) were killed in Saudi-led coalition air strikes in eastern Yemen, as Riyadh-backed forces moved to retake territory seized by the UAE-backed separatists.

Salem Al-Khanbashi, Governor of Hadhramaut and commander of the province’s Saudi-backed forces, said government units had reclaimed the al-Khasha’a military camp to prevent instability, denying escalation.

Aidaros Alzubidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council, announced plans for a two-year transition towards a referendum on southern independence and the creation of “South Arabia”.

Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, requested Saudi-hosted talks on the southern issue, which Riyadh has welcomed.

The developments highlight growing fragmentation within Yemen and widening strategic differences between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Ukraine overhauls security leadership as peace negotiations intensify

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has launched a overhaul of Ukraine’s security and political leadership, appointing Kyrylo Budanov, former Head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) as Head of the Presidential Office (Chief of Staff). Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, has been nominated Minister of Defence, pending parliamentary approval. Oleh Ivashchenko now leads HUR, while Serhii Deineko moves into the Interior Ministry.

Zelenskyy said a peace deal is “90% ready” but warned against a “weak” settlement that would undermine sovereignty. Russia currently occupies about 19% of Ukrainian territory.

Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv traded accusations over an alleged drone incident near a residence linked to Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, which Ukraine denied as disinformation amid US-brokered talks.

Bulgaria adopts the euro amid mixed public opinion

Bulgaria joined the eurozone on 1 January, becoming the currency union’s 21st member and replacing the Bulgarian lev with the euro at a fixed rate of €1 = 1.96 levs.

President Rumen Radev said the move marked the final stage of Bulgaria’s integration into the European Union. Bulgarian National Bank Governor Dimitar Radev has taken a seat on the European Central Bank Governing Council, with ECB President Christine Lagarde welcoming Bulgaria’s entry.

Lev payments will be accepted for around one month, with free exchanges available until 30 June.

Public opinion remains divided: a March Eurobarometer poll found 53% opposed and 45% in favour, mainly due to concerns over price increases during the transition.

UN Security Council members criticise Israel over Somaliland recognition

Most members of the United Nations Security Council criticised Israel’s recognition of Somaliland at an emergency meeting in New York, warning it could undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and destabilise the Horn of Africa.

Somalia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Abu Bakr Dahir Osman called the move an “act of aggression”. Fourteen of the Council’s 15 members rejected the decision as contrary to international law, while the United States said its policy on Somaliland remains unchanged.

The Arab League, China, the United Kingdom, and South Africa reaffirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity. Slovenia said recognition violates the UN Charter.

Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied claims it had agreed to resettle Palestinians from Gaza or host Israeli forces, calling ties with Israel “purely diplomatic”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords.

Finnish authorities seize ship suspected of damaging Baltic undersea cable

Finnish authorities have arrested two crew members from the cargo vessel Fitburg over damage to an undersea telecommunications cable linking Helsinki and Tallinn, according to Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation.

Detective Chief Superintendent Risto Lohi said interviews had clarified the sequence of events, while Finnish National Police Commissioner Ilkka Koskimäki confirmed the ship had dragged its anchor for hours. Two further crew members face travel bans as inquiries continue.

The Fitburg, sailing from St Petersburg to Haifa under a St Vincent and the Grenadines flag, was found to be carrying Russian-origin steel subject to EU sanctions, Finnish Customs said.

Police are investigating aggravated criminal damage and interference with telecommunications but have not attributed the incident to state sabotage.

The case follows a wider pattern of damage to European energy and communications infrastructure since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which Western officials increasingly frame as part of a broader campaign of hybrid pressure against Europe.

Kosovo election: Prime Minister Albin Kurti wins snap vote

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has won a decisive victory in a snap election, strengthening his mandate and ending a year-long political deadlock in Europe’s youngest state.

 Kurti’s Self-determination party led with over 49% of the vote, meaning only minor coalition partners are needed to form a majority. The result follows months of parliamentary paralysis in 2025, which delayed around €1bn in international funding.

Kurti has pledged welfare expansion and higher public-sector pay, while managing tensions with Serbia and advancing Kosovo’s bid to join the European Union. An exit poll by Ubo Consulting found 61.7% of diaspora voters backed his party.

The European Union has begun lifting sanctions imposed after unrest in northern Kosovo in 2023, easing pressure on the new government.

Guinea coup leader Mamady Doumbouya wins presidency as opposition and UN raise concerns

Guinea’s coup leader Mamady Doumbouya has been declared the winner of the country’s first election since the 2021 military takeover, according to provisional results released by the General Directorate of Elections.

Doumbouya won 86.72% of the vote in the 28 December poll, avoiding a run-off. The Supreme Court has eight days to validate the result. Turnout was reported at 80.95% of 6.7 million registered voters.

Opposition figures, including Faya Lansana Millimono, alleged systematic electoral fraud. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the campaign was “severely restricted”, citing intimidation, enforced disappearances, and limits on media freedom.

Doumbouya’s government has promoted resource nationalism, citing progress at the Simandou iron oreproject and greater state control over bauxite.

Myanmar junta-backed party leads first phase of election amid low turnout and international criticism 

Myanmar’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is leading after the first phase of the country’s first general election since the 2021 coup, according to partial results from the Union Election Commission (UEC).

The USDP, led by retired military officers, won 38 of 40 declared seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw (lower house) and 14 of 15 seats in regional assemblies. One declared upper house seat was won by the Wa National Party.

The military authorities reported 52% turnout, down from around 70% in 2015 and 2020. The National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, remains dissolved and barred.

Two further rounds are scheduled for 11 and 25 January. International recognition is expected to remain limited.

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