Weekly Brief

April 20, 2025

Welcome to the tut0ugh Weekly Brief. This past week, the UK Supreme Court rules on the legal meaning of “woman,” China strengthens ties in Southeast Asia, and US-Houthi tensions escalate. Putin calls a brief Ukraine ceasefire, Ecuador’s president consolidates power, Serbia appoints a new PM, Tunisia jails opposition leaders, and Russia delists the Taliban as terrorists.

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Legal definition of a woman refers to ‘biological sex’, UK Supreme Court rules

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the term “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to someone who is biologically female, even if a trans woman holds a gender recognition certificate. The decision, arising from a Scottish case on female representation in public boards, was welcomed by sex-based rights groups but raised concerns over its impact on transgender protections.

The court stressed the ruling does not affect other legal rights of trans people under the Act. The UK government said it clarifies policy for single-sex services. In response, thousands of trans rights activists held an “emergency demonstration” in Westminster, demanding greater recognition and protection of trans rights.

China strengthens Southeast Asia ties amid US tariff tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a Southeast Asia tour in Cambodia, positioning Beijing as a stable economic partner amid uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs. With Southeast Asia’s export economies heavily reliant on the US, Xi used the trip to emphasise China’s opposition to protectionism and its commitment to multilateral trade.

Cambodia faces some of the highest proposed US tariffs—up to 49%—while Vietnam and Malaysia could face 46% and 24%, respectively. Xi signed 45 agreements in Vietnam, 31 in Malaysia, and 37 in Cambodia, covering areas such as trade, AI, finance, and education.

US steps up Houthi campaign with deadly strikes on Red Sea oil port

US air strikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa fuel port, controlled by Houthi rebels, killed at least 74 and injured 171, according to Houthi officials. The US military said the strikes, part of President Trump’s intensified bombing campaign, aimed to weaken Houthi economic power, not target civilians. This is the deadliest attack of the campaign, launched in response to Houthi assaults on Red Sea shipping. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE denied involvement in a reported US-backed ground offensive.

Separately, US and Iranian officials reported “constructive” progress after four hours of indirect nuclear talks in Rome, with further technical meetings set ahead of the third round in Oman on 26 April.

Putin announces 30-hour Ukraine ceasefire over Easter amid POW swap

President Putin announced a surprise 30-hour Easter truce in the war on Ukraine on Saturday (Apr. 19), citing “humanitarian considerations”. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy criticised the move, calling it a “play with human lives”, noting that Russian attacks and air raid alerts continued. He later said Ukraine would observe the truce only if Russia halted all hostilities and suggested extending it. Putin claimed Kyiv’s response would reveal its commitment to peace but ordered Russian troops to be ready in case of violations.

The announcement came as the US warned it may soon abandon ceasefire efforts. Meanwhile, both sides exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war on Saturday (Apr. 19) in a UAE-brokered deal. Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported that 246 Russian service members were returned, while President Zelenskyy welcomed the return of 277 Ukrainian servicemen.

Ecuador’s Noboa secures full term amid gang crackdown

Centre-right President Daniel Noboa has secured a full four-year term after winning Ecuador’s presidential run-off with 56% of the vote. Noboa, in office since a snap election in November 2023, has focused on a tough military crackdown on criminal gangs. His opponent, Luisa González, alleged fraud without evidence; election monitors rejected her call for a recount. Noboa plans to continue militarising prisons and streets and aims to amend the constitution to allow foreign military bases.

Following Noboa’s election win, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico would not restore diplomatic ties with Ecuador while he remains in office. The rift stems from Ecuador’s April 2024 raid on Mexico’s embassy in Quito to arrest ex-Vice President Jorge Glas, who had been granted asylum.

Mass trial hands down lengthy sentences to Tunisian opposition figures

A Tunisian court has issued prison sentences ranging from 13 to 66 years in the largest crackdown on opposition since President Kais Saied’s 2021 power grab. Forty opposition figures and critics, including democracy activist Khayyam Turki and politicians Ghazi Chaouachi and Issam Chebbi, faced broad conspiracy charges. Many have been detained for over two years, with around half sentenced in absentia.

Once seen as a post-2011 democratic success, Tunisia has experienced the systematic dismantling of its institutions under Saied, who dissolved parliament and rewrote the constitution. Analysts view the trial as part of his authoritarian turn and an attempt to frame dissent as driven by foreign agendas.

Serbia approves new premier in bid to tame unrelenting protests

Serbia’s parliament has approved Djuro Macut, a political newcomer, as prime minister in a bid to ease months of anti-government protests. Macut now leads a 31-member cabinet dominated by President Aleksandar Vucic’s party and allies, with 22 ministers retaining their posts. The protests were sparked by a deadly railway station roof collapse, which activists blame on corruption in infrastructure projects—allegations the government denies, accusing protesters of being part of a foreign-funded plot.

Opposition figures dismissed the reshuffle as symbolic and renewed calls for a transitional government. Macut urged protesting students to end their university blockades, warning that the academic year may be lost for nearly 200,000 students.

Russia removes Afghan Taliban from list of banned terrorist groups

Russia has lifted its two-decade-long ban on the Taliban, removing its designation as a terrorist organisation. This move signals Moscow’s intent to normalise relations with Afghanistan’s ruling group, which remains unrecognised globally since seizing power in 2021. Russia cites the need to cooperate with the Taliban to counter security threats from Islamist militants, particularly Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), which the U.S. links to the deadly March 2024 Moscow concert hall attack.

Moscow also seeks to boost trade and infrastructure ties with Kabul. However, Western recognition of the Taliban remains unlikely due to continued restrictions on women’s rights, including bans on female education and mobility without male guardians.