29.12.2025 – WEEKLY BRIEFING

A weekend of harsh winter weather brings more death and despair to people in Gaza – 28.12.2025

Severe rain and freezing temperatures have continued to impact Gaza, causing at least 20 deaths as homes and buildings collapsed, including two fatalities on Sunday, one of them a seven-year-old child. Many Palestinians are seeking shelter in damaged or makeshift structures, which are vulnerable to further collapse or wind damage, while heavy rainfall has flooded tents and displaced communities. Aid agencies, including the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), warn that humanitarian supplies are insufficient to meet the scale of need and stress the worsening conditions amid ongoing destruction and displacement. The crisis unfolds as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago amid diplomatic efforts to advance the Gaza peace plan.

Starmer criticised for celebrating activist’s return from Egypt – 28.12.2025

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has faced criticism after welcoming the return of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah from detention in Egypt, following revelations of his historic social media posts calling for violence against Zionists, Jews, and the police. Starmer said he was “delighted” that Abd El-Fattah had been reunited with his family, noting that his release had been a priority for the government, while the Foreign Office emphasized that the posts were “abhorrent.” Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick and the Jewish Leadership Council criticized Starmer’s comments as poor judgment and a public endorsement, calling for possible revocation of Abd El-Fattah’s citizenship and deportation. Abd El-Fattah, a leading figure in Egypt’s 2011 Arab Spring, was detained in 2019 and later sentenced to five years in prison on charges of spreading false news, but was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September, with previous governments also advocating for his release.

Three Turkish police, six Islamic State militants killed in clash, amid national crackdown – 29.12.2025

Three police officers and six Islamic State militants were killed in a gunfight during a police operation in the northwestern Turkish town of Yalova, while eight police officers and one security personnel were wounded. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the operation was followed by simultaneous raids at 108 addresses in 15 provinces, and that a total of 138 suspected IS members had been detained over the past month. The operation, which lasted nearly eight hours, ended with five women and six children being brought out of the house alive, as authorities said they had prevented planned attacks, particularly targeting the Christmas and New Year period. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a statement that the fight against those threatening public peace and national security would continue resolutely both within Türkiye and beyond its borders.

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks fail to deliver breakthrough on Ukraine peace deal – 29.12.2025

US President Donald Trump said after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida that a breakthrough to end the war in Ukraine was “getting much closer”, while Zelenskyy stressed that lasting peace would require long-term and robust security guarantees. Although both sides said significant progress had been made on a 20-point peace plan, key issues remain unresolved, including territorial concessions, the status of the Donbas region, and the possible creation of a demilitarised or economic zone. Trump said he had also held a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that Putin appeared open to cooperation on certain issues, while Zelenskyy said any territorial concessions would require a referendum in Ukraine and warned that the security guarantees currently under discussion were too short-term. European leaders and the European Commission welcomed the progress in the talks but underlined that any peace agreement must include binding security guarantees from the outset.

China holds military drills around Taiwan as warning to ‘separatist forces’ – 29.12.2025

China has launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan, including live-fire exercises simulating the seizure and blockade of key areas of the island, as a warning against what it calls “separatist forces”. The exercises, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025”, involve the army, navy, air force and rocket force and follow the US announcement of an $11bn arms sale to Taiwan and Taipei’s efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities. Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had detected a significant number of Chinese military assets near the island and placed its own forces on high alert, while the presidential office criticised the drills as a challenge to international norms. Beijing described the exercises as a deterrent against independence efforts and external interference, while Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te reiterated his commitment to maintaining the status quo, arguing that peace depends on credible defence. The drills have disrupted civilian air traffic in the region and underline rising military tensions in the Taiwan Strait amid broader regional frictions.

Interoceanic Train derails in southern Mexico, killing at least 13 and injuring dozens – 29.12.2025

A train accident in southern Mexico left at least 13 people dead and dozens injured after the Interoceanic Train linking the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz derailed near the town of Nizanda, disrupting rail traffic between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Officials said 241 passengers and nine crew members were on board, with 98 people injured, five of them seriously. President Claudia Sheinbaum said senior officials had been sent to the scene to assist victims and their families, while local authorities deployed emergency and medical teams. The rail line, inaugurated in 2023, is part of a broader government effort to develop infrastructure across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and create a strategic trade corridor connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

North Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles – 29.12.2025

North Korea announced that it fired long-range strategic cruise missiles into the sea to test its nuclear deterrence, following the release of images showing progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine. The official KCNA news agency reported that leader Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction with the launches, describing them as a legitimate exercise of self-defense and deterrence against external security threats. South Korea’s military confirmed the launches and said it remains prepared to respond to any provocations in coordination with the United States. While ballistic missile tests are banned under UN sanctions, cruise missiles are not, though their low-altitude, highly maneuverable flight poses regional security risks. The developments reflect Pyongyang’s increased weapons testing ahead of its upcoming Workers’ Party congress and indicate that North Korea may seek to leverage its expanded nuclear capabilities in potential talks with the United States.

Bulgaria prepares for the euro amid excitement and scepticism – 29.12.2025

Bulgaria is set to adopt the euro on January 1, becoming the 21st country in the eurozone, a move that has prompted mixed reactions among its 6.7 million people. While businesses largely support the change, citing benefits such as easier cross-border transactions and simplified currency conversions, some citizens, particularly older individuals and those in remote areas, express scepticism or opposition, fearing price increases and distrusting the political establishment amid recent government instability. Preparations in Sofia and other cities include displaying prices in both lev and euros, public awareness campaigns, and government adverts highlighting the euro-lev exchange rate. The transition also grants Bulgaria a seat at the European Central Bank’s Governing Council and reflects years of efforts since joining the EU in 2007, though public opinion remains divided due to cultural, political, and economic concerns.

US pledges $2 billion in humanitarian support to UN, State Department says – 29.12.2025

The United States has pledged $2 billion for United Nations humanitarian aid, following significant cuts to foreign assistance by the Trump administration in 2025 that contributed to a severe funding shortfall for the U.N. Alongside reductions from other Western donors, including Germany, total U.S. contributions fell to $3.38 billion last year, down from $14.1 billion in 2024 and a peak of $17.2 billion in 2022. The U.N. recently launched its 2026 aid appeal for $23 billion to assist 87 million people at risk, half the amount sought the previous year, highlighting the strain on humanitarian resources and the need to make difficult decisions to prioritize those most in need.