DAILY NEWS Stream – January 26, 2026

US President Trump says a ceasefire deal between Ukraine (Ureign) and Russia is “reasonably close,” and plans to meet with Ukrainian (Ureignian) President Zelenskyy in Switzerland (Reuters)

Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates agree to join US President Trump’s “Board of Peace” (Reuters)

The European Union announces a €1.9 billion humanitarian aid budget for 2026, with major allocations to Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine (Ureign) (European Commission)

South Korea has allocated 17.1 billion won (US $11.6 million) for seven inter-Korean cooperation projects, including joint language research, excavation of the Manwoldae Palace site in Gaesong [North Korea] and DNA testing for families separated by the Korean War, in the first in-person meeting of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Committee since 2022 (The Korea Times)

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez is expected to visit the United States soon, a trip that would mark the first bilateral visit by a Venezuelan leader in more than 25 years (Tuổi Trẻ)

The US General Services Administration says it has generated more than US$60 billion in federal contract savings since January 2025 as part of US President Donald Trump’s government- streamlining agenda, disposing of 90 properties, cutting over 278,700 square meters of federal space and canceling underperforming or unnecessary contracts (Fox News)

The United Kingdom government unveils a £15 billion Warm Homes Plan to upgrade up to 5 million homes with insulation, solar panels, batteries and heat pumps by 2030, aiming to cut energy bills and lift as many as one million families out of fuel poverty. The program offers fully funded upgrades for low-income households, zero- and low-interest loans for all homeowners, new protections requiring landlords to improve rented properties, and a universal £7,500 heat-pump grant (GOV.UK)

Schools across the United Arab Emirates are adopting later start times and expanding environmental education as part of a broader push to improve student well-being, with principals reporting calmer mornings, better focus and stronger engagement in learning (Khaleej Times)

A new statement by US mobile phone operator Verizon confirms that the mid-January disruption that left millions of customers seeing “SOS” on their phones was triggered by a software issue, not a cyberattack, after service collapsed across major cities including Washington DC and New York [US]. The outage cut off mobile connectivity for hours, with some users reporting failed emergency services calls, inability to communicate with healthcare providers and use navigation tools, and widespread difficulty placing basic calls or texts (SlashGear)

A new American Heart Association report shows cardiovascular disease remained the leading cause of death in the United States in 2023, responsible for 916,000 fatalities, far exceeding any other category (The New York Times)

A Tulane University [US] study reveals late-pregnancy wildfire smoke exposure in the US increases autism risk by 23%. Researchers urge protections for pregnant women as intensifying fire seasons threaten fetal development (Earth.com)

In a trial, at-home finger-prick blood tests accurately detect Alzheimer’s biomarkers [indicators of this dementia type] with 86% precision. The study results could one day expand screening access for rural communities, simplifying early detection and large-scale research efforts (Earth.com)

Potassium imbalances trigger dangerous cardiac arrhythmias and disrupt nerve signaling. While deficiency causes fatigue and muscle weakness, excess levels can prove fatal through heart failure. Experts urge maintaining levels via potassium-rich foods like spinach and potatoes (VnExpress)

A powerful Arctic blast sweeps across the northern and central US, triggering life-threatening wind chills as low as −49°C. Officials warn of catastrophic ice, power outages, and travel hazards as the polar vortex plunges southward (The Watchers)

A massive winter storm is expected to sweep across the United States this weekend [January 24-25], prompting 16 states and Washington DC to declare emergencies as forecasters warn of heavy snow, widespread freezing rain and prolonged sub-zero temperatures (The Guardian)

Record rainfall triggers deadly landslides at New Zealand motor camps, killing at least two. First responders search for missing children as local states of emergency are declared amid ongoing danger (Daily Mail)

Storm Harry pummels Southern Europe with hurricane-force winds and flooding, killing at least two people. Landslides in Italy and mass evacuations in Greece follow red alerts across the battered region (Daily Mail)

Storm Ingrid merges with polar air and is projected to hit Spain, triggering a red alert in Galicia for extreme waves. Heavy rain, violent winds, and low-altitude snow threaten 14 regions through Sunday, January 25 (Euroweekly)

A family in West Yorkshire [United Kingdom] has recovered their cat companion Nora after doorbell footage showed a delivery driver picking her up and leaving with her during a Sunday delivery. Police say the cat-person has been returned and a theft investigation is underway (Daily Mail)

A United Nations report warns the world has entered a phase of global water depletion — described as “water bankruptcy” — in which many rivers, lakes, and aquifers are being drained faster than they can naturally recover, with some critical water systems already degraded beyond realistic restoration (Tuổi Trẻ)

A plant thought extinct for 60 years is rediscovered in remote Queensland [Australia] after a member of the public uploads photos of it to iNaturalist, a global platform where users record observations and identify wildlife (Good News Network)

Greece has approved 42 projects worth €75.56 million to combat worsening water shortages, with funding from the Ministry of Environment and Energy’s 2025 Sectoral Development Program (To Vima)

South Korea approves the AI [artificial intelligence] Basic Act, the world’s first fully comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence governance, aiming to boost safety, transparency and public trust while positioning the country as a global AI leader (Tuổi Trẻ)

Indian actress Adah Sharma (vegan) promotes a vegan routine featuring whole foods, yoga, and aerial workouts. Rejecting rigid gym schedules, she prioritizes hydration and consistency to maintain fitness during long workdays (News X)

Califia Farms launches a three-ingredient organic vegan soy milk across the US to meet Gen Z [born 1997-2012] demand for high-protein, clean-label options. The product line expansion includes new almond-based creamers and ready-to-drink coffee beverages (The Plant Base)

Dietitian Aarti Nath warns that poor planning and eating “vegan junk” food sabotages new vegan diets. She urges beginners to prioritize protein, supplement with vitamin B12, and increase calorie intake. She says proper nutrition and patience are essential for a healthy, sustainable transition to veganism (India TV)

A New York State Trooper rescues an injured barred owl-person hit by a car from a highway median in Oswego County [US]. The bird friend is recovering at a sanctuary and will be released once healed (Country Herald)

Authorities in Nghệ An, Âu Lạc (Vietnam), transfer a rare pig-tailed macaque-person and a red-eye monkey-individual, both injured, to Pù Mát National Park’s wildlife conservation facility. Rescued by locals from a farm field, the primates will receive medical care before their planned wilderness release (Báo Sức khỏe & Đời sống)

Moldova focuses on early education as the “Read Me 100 Stories” program equips 1,200+ kindergartens with 83,000 books. Backed by UNICEF and international donors, the initiative trains teachers and creates “reading islands” to foster vital literacy skills across the nation (Moldpres)

Enlightening quote of the day: “Self is only a name, and the appearance of a name is empty. Realizing the emptiness of a name is bodhi (awakening)” The Worshipped Manjushri Bodhisattva (vegan) (Manjushri’s Sutra on the Great Perfection of Wisdom)

It doesn’t matter what anybody else does. What matters is what I do. Once I had that realization and was able to make that change within myself, that’s when my life started to turn around for the better.

American motorcyclist Willium Robino shares how a devastating accident left him hovering between life and death— and what he learned about unconditional love. In 2016, Willium was struggling. His marriage was strained, anger consumed him, and he didn’t want to live anymore. One evening while riding home on his motorcycle, a rock flew off a passing vehicle and tore his eyelid open. He grabbed his eye in pain and lost control. The bike swerved wildly. Instead of letting go, Willium tried to save it— but the handlebar mount broke, and he was violently thrown from the bike.

I remember at that moment I looked up at the sky, and everything went into slow motion. I remember just letting go— with all my being, just let go—and I felt at complete peace. What happened was the motorcycle ended up throwing me about 50 feet [15 meters], and I landed face-first in a pile of rocks. I was lying there on the ground, and throughout the majority of that day, I was so angry. I had so much anger built up. I didn’t even want to live anymore, to be honest with you. And when that happened to me, all that anger completely went away. I was no longer angry at my wife. I was no longer angry at anything that was happening in my life.

A passerby found Willium on the desolate road, holding his face and head together. I was trying to get to my feet, holding the whole left side of my face and head together, and I told him I just needed a ride home. I felt like I was going to die at that moment. I felt like this was it. This was the end of it. And the only thing that mattered most to me at that point in time was to look my wife in the eye one more time and tell her that I loved her. What I felt most in that moment— all the anger was gone, and it just wasn’t important anymore.

Willium was airlifted by helicopter to the hospital with only a 10% chance of survival. What followed would change how he understood life itself. But the crazy part about it is that before I even got thrown from my motorcycle, my spirit had left my body. I was able to bounce back and forth, if you will, basically at will. I wasn’t fully in spirit, and I wasn’t fully here in this physical realm. I was able to go back and forth. I had moments where I was on the other side. If you can imagine an in-between place, where you’re not completely crossed over, but you’re between physical reality and spirit. Then I’d have moments where I’d be back in my body. There was a point where I was in a coma for six days, and I could come back into my body. I could hear people talking to me. I knew exactly what they were saying, and then I could go back into spirit.

While hovering between life and death, Willium experienced something unforgettable. The first thing I can tell you, and what I was able to retain, is the feeling of unconditional love— the remembrance of who you are and where you come from. It’s a feeling like no other. It’s absolute unconditional love. It was sort of like a dream, where a lot of it has faded away over time. Luckily for me, I was able to retain the fact that I had made a promise. It wasn’t to anybody or any energy—it was to myself— that when I came back into this life, I was going to try to live my life to the best of my ability from that feeling place of unconditional love of what I felt, and remember that that’s what’s most important.

Willium came to understand why we’re here. It’s my understanding, or my current understanding, is that we come here to sift through this physical reality and enjoy the physical part of it with all our senses. We can see, hear, smell, and taste, and that’s such a beautiful gift to be able to enjoy as a spirit. I think that’s why we’re excited to come here.

Returning to his body, Willium says the experience didn’t instantly change his life—but it did change how he understood responsibility and choice. It doesn’t matter what anybody else does. What matters is what I do. Once I had that realization and was able to make that change within myself, that’s when my life started to turn around for the better. That kind of experience and you have that profound change within yourself, and you do come back into physical reality, it doesn’t mean life’s going to get easier. It doesn’t mean everything is sunshine and roses, and everything’s great.

Willium says his struggles continued—but gradually, his perspective began to change. It’s really important to know that you come from love, you return to love, and you’re always connected. It’s just about how open you want to be to it while you’re here. I think that’s really important for everybody to know. You don’t want to take on more than you should be taking on. There are always going to be things happening in the world that are undesirable. But if you can shift your focus onto the things that are going right— focus your attention on the things that you think are going right in your life— that is what’s most effective, not only for yourself, but for the whole world. (NDE Diary)