Morning Brief: Mid-air Helicopter Collision in New Jersey, Russia Launches Three Iranian Satellites, North Korea Tests Cruise Missiles in Weekend Drill

  US Pledges $2 Billion to UN Aid While Pushing Major Humanitarian Reforms The United States on Monday pledged $2 billion in humanitarian funding to the United Nations, marking a sharp reduction from past contributions as the Trump administration cuts foreign aid and demands sweeping reforms. The funding, announced in Geneva, will be funneled through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to centralize control over aid distribution and reduce what US officials call waste and duplication. Washington says the move aims to deliver more targeted, results-driven assistance while maintaining the US role as the world’s largest humanitarian donor. The pledge comes amid rising global needs driven by conflict, famine, and climate-related disasters, even as UN agencies face layoffs and program cuts following steep reductions in US and Western funding. US officials warned that UN humanitarian agencies must consolidate operations and adapt to tighter budgets or risk losing support.   Trump Says Russia and Ukraine Near Peace Deal After Talks With Zelenskyy US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Russia and Ukraine are closer than ever to a peace agreement after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort, though he warned negotiations could still collapse. The talks followed a two-and-a-half-hour phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the United States presses to end the nearly four-year war sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump said both sides want peace, even as Russia continued attacks on Ukraine during the diplomatic push. Major unresolved issues include control of the Donbas region, the status of Russian-occupied territory, and long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump says Ukraine and Russia ‘closer than ever’ to peace after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago. pic.twitter.com/cHgwTfgpUY — The Associated Press (@AP) December 29, 2025 Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for peace and confirmed ongoing talks with US and European leaders, while Trump said additional calls with Putin and further negotiations in the coming weeks will determine whether a deal can be finalized.   Winter Storm Floods Gaza Camps as Ceasefire Aid Falls Short Heavy winter rain over the weekend flooded displacement camps across the Gaza Strip, worsening conditions for Palestinians uprooted by more than two years of war. In cities such as Khan Younis, families sheltering in worn tents faced ankle-deep water, soaked bedding, and collapsing shelters, with no safe alternatives amid widespread destruction. Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 12 people, including a newborn, have died since mid-December from hypothermia or weather-related building collapses. #WATCH: Winter rain has lashed the #Gaza Strip and flooded camps with ankle-deep puddles as Palestinians displaced by war try to stay dry in fraying tents. #Palestine https://t.co/mzBURVxPGG pic.twitter.com/Oz5ytpEYe8 — Arab News (@arabnews) December 28, 2025 The crisis unfolded as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled Monday to Florida for talks with US President Donald Trump on the second phase of a ceasefire that began October 10 and was meant to boost humanitarian aid. Aid groups and UN officials said deliveries of tents and shelter materials remain far below needs, even as nearly 80 percent of Gaza’s buildings are damaged or destroyed. The fragile truce has largely held but faces delays and disputes, leaving displaced civilians exposed as winter conditions intensify.   Russia Launches Three Iranian Satellites, Deepening Space and Security Ties Russia on Sunday launched three Iranian communications satellites into orbit from the Vostochny launch site in eastern Russia, marking the second such mission since July, according to Iranian state television. The satellites, named Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar-2, entered a roughly 310-mile-high orbit and will provide imagery with up to 3-meter resolution for uses such as water management, agriculture, and environmental monitoring, with an expected lifespan of up to five years. Paya, weighing 330 pounds, is the heaviest satellite Iran has placed in orbit to date, while Kowsar weighs 77 pounds. 🚀 Iran launches three satellites aboard Russian Soyuz rocket in Russia, expanding space cooperation ➜ Kowsar 1.5, Zafar-2, and Paya support earth observation, agriculture, and resource monitoring ➜ Launch highlights deepening Iran–Russia collaboration amid Western criticism… pic.twitter.com/YvsW0Uxpfj — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 28, 2025 The launch highlights growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, which signed a strategic partnership treaty in January. The activity comes amid continued US criticism that Iran’s satellite launches violate UN Security Council restrictions on ballistic missile technology, though related UN sanctions expired in 2023.   North Korea Tests Cruise Missiles in Weekend Drill as Seoul, Washington Monitor North Korea launched multiple long-range cruise missiles over the weekend in a readiness drill overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, according to state media and South Korean officials. The launches occurred around 8 a.m. (local time) Sunday from the Sunan area, with missiles flying into the West Sea, also known as the Yellow Sea. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said South Korean and US forces closely monitored the activity and that intelligence agencies are analyzing the launch details. North Korea said the drill aimed to test counteroffensive readiness, improve missile unit procedures, and verify the reliability of its strategic weapons systems. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a cruise missile test Sunday, calling it an “exercise of war deterrence” and vowing “unlimited and continuous strengthening” of the country’s nuclear forces. Full story by @colinzwirko: https://t.co/eNFsjaDHmN pic.twitter.com/W8x7uj5tjp — NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) December 29, 2025 The test followed earlier launches on December 24, when North Korea fired several missiles believed by South Korean officials to be surface-to-air missiles into the East Sea, underscoring a continued push by Pyongyang to demonstrate and refine its missile capabilities.   China Launches Large-Scale Drills Around Taiwan, Putting Island on High Alert China on Monday launched joint military drills involving air, naval, and rocket forces around Taiwan, calling the operation a warning against Taiwanese independence efforts and foreign interference. The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said the exercises took place in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters to the north, south, east, and west of the island, focusing on sea-air patrols, blockades of key ports, and precision strikes on ground targets. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it placed its forces on high alert and began rapid-response and combat readiness drills, accusing Beijing of destabilizing regional peace. China said it launched large-scale “Justice Mission-2025” military exercises around Taiwan, deploying army, navy, air and rocket forces and setting up live-fire zones, in a show of force encircling the island. pic.twitter.com/mHBbSt8mZ8 — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) December 29, 2025 The drills followed Chinese anger over recent US arms sales to Taiwan and comments from Japan suggesting possible involvement in a conflict. China said live-fire exercises would continue Tuesday, underscoring escalating military pressure on the self-governed island that Beijing claims as its territory.   Sources: News Agencies