Weekly Brief

May 4, 2025

May 04, 2025

Welcome to the tut0ugh Weekly Brief. This past week, Spain and Portugal were hit by a massive power outage, while the US and Ukraine signed a minerals deal. Mark Carney’s Liberals won a pivotal Canadian election, and Australia's Anthony Albanese secured a second term. Meanwhile, deadly clashes in Syria's Druze areas raised fears of wider unrest.

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Spain, Portugal hit by massive power outage

A major blackout on Monday (Apr. 28) left much of Spain and Portugal without power after 15GW—60% of Spain’s demand—vanished from the grid in five seconds. The disruption affected trains, telecoms, banks, and public services. By the next day, power was mostly restored, but the cause remains unclear. Early theories ruled out cyberattacks and extreme weather, while experts investigated grid instability and frequency oscillations.

Speculation initially blamed solar energy due to its dominance at the time, but officials and analysts stressed that renewables alone weren’t responsible. Both countries and the EU have launched investigations, with energy experts warning against politicised blame as the search for answers continues.

US and Ukraine sign minerals deal

The US and Ukraine have signed an economic partnership granting Washington access to Ukraine’s critical minerals and resources, following weeks of tense talks. The deal, signed at the US Treasury, establishes a reconstruction investment fund prioritised by President Trump as repayment for American aid.

Although it lacks security guarantees, Ukraine remains bound to it regardless of peace with Russia. Future US military support, such as air defences, will be classed as investment under the deal. The fund will target mineral, oil, and gas extraction, with profits reinvested in Ukraine for the first decade.

Mark Carney’s Liberals win pivotal Canadian election

Mark Carney’s Liberal Party won Canada’s general election, securing the most seats but likely falling short of a parliamentary majority. The campaign was dominated by tensions with Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs on Canadian exports and mocked the country as the US’s “51st state.” Carney positioned himself as a defiant voice against Trump, which resonated with voters.

The Liberals won 169 seats—three short of the 172 needed for a majority—while the Conservatives secured 143. Many ridings delivered tight results that may face judicial recounts in the coming weeks. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre conceded after losing his Ontario seat. Carney’s first act as prime minister will be a visit to Washington to attempt to repair US-Canada trade relations.

Australia's Anthony Albanese elected for second term

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has secured a second term with a decisive victory, marking the first back-to-back win for a leader in over 20 years. His centre-left Labor Party is projected to win 86 seats, significantly expanding its majority. The Liberal-National coalition suffered major losses, with leader Peter Dutton conceding defeat and losing his seat.

Labor made gains across nearly all regions—an uncommon feat for a second-term government. Albanese described the result as an endorsement of fairness and compassion. The outcome reflects a sharp turnaround in public confidence after earlier criticism, signalling strong support for Labor’s agenda. Final results are expected in the coming days.

Nigel Farage hails election results, as Labour and Tories digest losses

Reform UK made major gains in Thursday’s (May. 1) local elections, taking control of 10 councils, winning two mayoral races, and gaining a fifth MP in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. Nigel Farage hailed the results as “unprecedented” and a blow to the two-party system. The Conservatives lost 674 council seats and all 16 authorities they were defending, while also losing ground to Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

Labour leader Keir Starmer admitted voters were not yet feeling the impact of his government, as internal criticism grew over policy decisions. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch blamed 14 years in power and a draining general election campaign but vowed to rebuild her party’s credibility.

Deadly clashes in Syria's Druze areas raise fears of widening unrest

Deadly clashes near Damascus between Druze fighters, Islamist factions, and Syrian security forces highlight Syria’s continued instability after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Fighting centred on Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and Druze-majority areas like Suweida left at least 109 people dead, including Druze civilians and fighters. Tensions eased after ceasefires were reportedly agreed with Druze leaders.

Syria’s government blamed “outlaw groups,” while Israel launched airstrikes near Damascus, warning it would not tolerate threats to the Druze community. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the strikes sent a message to Syria’s regime. The Syrian presidency condemned Israel’s strikes as a destabilising escalation. The violence exposes persistent sectarian and political fault lines after years of conflict.

PAP secures 14th consecutive election victory in Singapore; Yemen’s PM resigns amid internal tension

Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is poised to secure a 14th consecutive election victory, winning 87 out of 97 seats in the May 3 general election. Under newly appointed Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the PAP maintained dominance, while the opposition Workers’ Party is projected to retain its 10 seats, matching its 2020 performance. Despite the PAP’s parliamentary hold, its share of the popular vote remains a focal point. Final results are expected by the end of Sunday (May. 4).

In Yemen, Prime Minister Ahmad bin Mubarak resigned, citing inability to exercise constitutional powers due to internal tensions within the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council. Bin Mubarak’s departure is seen as potentially stabilising the government amid ongoing internal divisions.

South Korea turmoil deepens as acting leader and replacement both resign

South Korea’s political crisis escalated with the resignation of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who stepped down as acting president to run in the upcoming presidential election. Han’s successor, finance minister Choi Sang-mok, also resigned after parliament initiated impeachment proceedings. Education Minister Lee Ju-ho assumed the role of acting president. The resignations fuelled political instability ahead of South Korea’s June 3 election, amid concerns that conservative candidates cannot challenge left-wing frontrunner Lee Jae-myung.

Additionally, the country’s supreme court overturned Lee Jae-myung’s acquittal on charges of spreading falsehoods, which could impact his campaign, though no final verdict is expected before the election. Lee faces other legal challenges, which he denies.

Zelenskyy rejects Putin's three-day ceasefire proposal as 'theatrical performance'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a 72-hour ceasefire proposed by Vladimir Putin ahead of Russia’s Victory Day on 9 May, calling it a “theatrical performance.” Zelenskyy criticised the move as unserious and accused Putin of using the proposal to break his diplomatic isolation.

While Russia has offered the short truce from 8 May, it has rejected a broader 30-day ceasefire suggested by Ukraine and the United States. Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv would not participate in symbolic gestures and reiterated support for a longer halt in hostilities to create real progress toward ending the war. He also warned foreign leaders of security risks if attending Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations.

Trump fires Waltz; US expands military role on Mexico border

Donald Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as interim National Security Adviser after firing Mike Waltz, who mistakenly revealed military plans in a Signal chat that included a journalist. Waltz will now be nominated as UN ambassador.

Meanwhile, the US military established a second “National Defense Area” along the US-Mexico border, this time in Texas. These zones allow troops to detain migrants or trespassers before handing them to civilian agencies like US Customs and Border Protection. Around 11,900 troops are now deployed along the border. Critics warn of rising militarisation, while the administration claims the zones enhance national security without invoking the Insurrection Act.