Morning Brief: World Welcomes 2026, Trump Ends National Guard Deployments, Taiwan’s President Pledges Stronger Defense

  Trump Ends National Guard Deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland US President Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday that National Guard troops will withdraw from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, ending federal deployments tied to his administration’s crime and immigration crackdown. Trump said the Guard reduced crime but claimed the troops could return if crime rises again. We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact. Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren’t for the Federal… — Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) December 31, 2025 The deployments, ordered earlier in his second term, faced sustained legal challenges from Democratic-led cities and states that argued federal military involvement was unnecessary and unlawful. Courts blocked or limited Guard activity in all three cities, including a Supreme Court decision in December that halted the Chicago deployment. The pullback follows rulings that returned control of National Guard units to state authorities and marks a temporary pause in Trump’s push to use troops in US cities.   US Military Strikes Alleged Drug Boats in International Waters US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said it carried out strikes Tuesday against three boats suspected of drug trafficking as they traveled together in international waters. The military said intelligence showed narcotics were transferred between the vessels before the attack, which killed three alleged narco-terrorists on one boat while crews on the other two vessels abandoned ship before they were sunk. SOUTHCOM said it notified the US Coast Guard to conduct search-and-rescue operations, though it did not report any recoveries. On Dec. 31, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and… pic.twitter.com/4AE5u4cEff — U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 1, 2026 The strikes are part of Operation Southern Spear, which targets what the command calls designated terrorist organizations operating along known drug-smuggling routes, often near Venezuela. The operation comes amid heightened scrutiny of US actions after earlier strikes and follows a recent Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) drone attack on an alleged drug facility on Venezuela’s coast.   Iranian Guard Volunteer Killed as Economic Protests Spread Beyond Tehran A 21-year-old volunteer with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Basij force was killed Wednesday night during protests in the western city of Kouhdasht, marking the first reported security force death since demonstrations over economic hardship began. Iranian authorities said the protests, driven by inflation, currency collapse, and livelihood concerns, have eased in Tehran but spread to other provinces. Officials blamed demonstrators for the death and reported injuries to additional Basij members and police, raising concerns of a tougher state response. Iranian protesters torched a Basij base in the Chenar area of Asadabad in Hamadan, local reports said. The Basij is a volunteer paramilitary force affiliated with IRGC and often deployed to quell unrest. This is the 4th day of protests. pic.twitter.com/su6Gmp1d3G — Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) December 31, 2025 The unrest comes as Iran’s rial continues to plunge and the government arrests protesters while signaling limited willingness to negotiate. The protests, the largest since 2022, reflect mounting public anger at Iran’s leadership amid economic strain and heightened regional tensions.   Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia After Yemen Airstrike as Regional Tensions Rise Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke Wednesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to express full support for Saudi Arabia following its airstrike on Yemen’s port city of Mukalla earlier this week. The call came a day after Saudi forces bombed the southern Yemeni port, citing concerns over a weapons shipment believed to be destined for separatist forces amid escalating tensions in Yemen’s long-running war. Sharif emphasized the need for regional stability through dialogue while reaffirming Pakistan’s security ties with the Kingdom, including a mutual defense agreement signed in September. 🇸🇦📞 🇵🇰 | HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Prime Minister of Pakistan @CMShehbaz. pic.twitter.com/TQQLe3jVG4 — Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 31, 2025 The conversation took place as Islamabad also sought to balance relations with the United Arab Emirates, which is linked to the Yemeni factions involved.   Russia Shows Drone Debris, Claims Ukraine Targeted Putin Residence Russia’s Defense Ministry released video footage Wednesday claiming Ukrainian drones attempted to attack a presidential residence in Russia’s Novgorod region, an allegation Ukraine strongly denied. At a Moscow briefing, a senior Russian officer said 91 drones launched from Ukraine earlier this week were intercepted by air defenses, causing no damage or injuries. The ministry showed fragments it described as a downed Ukrainian drone carrying explosives but did not explain how it determined the intended target. ❗️First Footage Of Downed Drone Used In Attack Against President Putin’s Residence The vehicle carried a 6-kilogram explosive charge. 📹: 🇷🇺 MoD pic.twitter.com/zrAavAxMyP — RT_India (@RT_India_news) December 31, 2025 Ukrainian officials called the claim fabricated and said Russia provided no credible evidence, while several Western governments also expressed skepticism.   Finland Seizes Ship From Russia Over Suspected Baltic Cable Sabotage Finnish police seized a cargo ship on Wednesday on suspicion of sabotaging an undersea telecommunications cable linking Helsinki and Estonia across the Gulf of Finland. Authorities said the vessel, the Fitburg, was sailing from Russia’s port of St. Petersburg to Israel when it allegedly damaged the cable by dragging its anchor. Police are investigating suspected aggravated disruption of telecommunications and aggravated sabotage, and detained the ship’s 14-member crew. BREAKING: Finnish forces have boarded and seized the 132-meter-long Russian shadow fleet cargo vessel Fitburg moments after it destroyed 5 submarine telecommunication cables between Finland and Estonia by dragging its anchor on the seabed. 🇫🇮🇪🇪🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/nbAX3Ho6ah — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 31, 2025 The incident occurred amid heightened regional alert in the Baltic Sea, where NATO states have reported repeated damage to critical infrastructure since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Finnish, Estonian, and EU officials said investigations are underway as concerns grow over potential hybrid threats targeting Europe’s energy and communications networks.   Taiwan’s President Pledges Stronger Defense After Chinese Live-Fire Drills Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Thursday that Taiwan will defend its sovereignty and strengthen its military in response to China’s expanding military pressure. Speaking in a New Year’s address, Lai vowed to bolster national defense, social resilience, and deterrence after China concluded live-fire drills around the island earlier this week. The exercises followed Beijing’s anger over a planned US arms sale to Taiwan valued at more than $11 billion and comments from Japan’s new leader suggesting possible intervention in a conflict. Taiwan’s president vows to defend sovereignty after China drills. Beijing launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter jets, navy ships and coastguard vessels this week to encircle Taiwan’s main islandhttps://t.co/a4kofYChJg pic.twitter.com/a70B1DLA5S — AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 1, 2026 China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, renewed its threat of annexation through President Xi Jinping’s statement that reunification is inevitable. Taiwan has responded by approving major long-term defense spending increases, including a $40 billion arms budget and plans to raise military spending to 5 percent of GDP.   Sources: News Agencies