16 January 2026
South Korea
Yoon Suk Yeol, the former President of South Korea, has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “abuse of power, obstructing justice and falsifying documents,” related to his failed military coup and declaration of martial law in December 2024. He will face a trial for insurrection in February, for which the prosecution is seeking the death penalty.
Canada-China
China and Canada agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and Canadian canola as a part of what their leaders called a “new strategic partnership.” Canada said it would allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market at its most-favoured-nation tariff rate of 6.1%. Currently, Canada slaps a 100% duty on the China-made EVs. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the relationship with China is more predictable than the one with the US.
Afghanistan
Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, has warned that internal divisions pose the greatest threat to the survival of the Taliban rule. The BBC World Service said it obtained an audio recording in which Akhundzada warns Taliban officials that the regime will collapse if divisions persist. There also seem to be two major factions: “a Kabul-based group of ministers and senior officials favouring limited engagement with the outside world, and a Kandahar-based faction loyal to Akhundzada that prefers international isolation.”
United States
Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act because of the ICE protests in Minneapolis. This would mean that the Army and National Guard would be deployed to quell civil unrest. ICE protests increased with the shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good and with subsequent ICE actions and arrests after that.
Ethiopia-Eritrea
Ethiopian police have seized more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition sent by Eritrea to arm rebels. Tensions between the two countries flared up again when Ethiopia accused Eritrea of financing armed groups, particularly in the Amhara region. The Fano militant group took up arms against the Ethiopian government in 2023.
Pakistan
12 Balochistan terrorists were killed by security forces, and a hostage situation was thwarted in Balochistan’s Kharan district during multiple operations. Pakistani security forces are searching the area for more terrorists. Pakistan saw a major increase in militant violence in 2025, with terrorist attacks rising by 34 per cent and terrorism-related fatalities increasing by 21 per cent, according to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies.
Social media wires
Iran is increasing the security force presence
ICE protest in New York City
Featured Photo: “Taliban members laying down arms” – ResoluteSupport, Flickr, 2026
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.