Weekly News Brief 1/14/26

Featured Stories

Turkey Moves Toward Joining Saudi–Pakistan Defense Pact, Raising Fears of New Regional Military Bloc

Turkey is seeking to join an existing defense alliance between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a move that could lay the groundwork for a new regional military bloc modeled loosely on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), according to a report published Friday by Bloomberg.

Mass Protests Shake Iran After Exiled Crown Prince Calls for Uprising – Jan.8.2026

U.S. Says Maduro Ousted After Caracas Strikes; Trump Claims America Will “Run” Venezuela Temporarily – Jan.3.2026

Breaking World News

Hungary at Crossroads as Elections Loom and Budapest Mayor Wins Human Rights Award (Worthy News Focus)

Hungary is entering a decisive political season as parliamentary elections are set for April 12, 2026, and the progressive mayor of Budapest receives a prestigious Dutch human rights award for defying Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and defending democratic freedoms.

Trump: Greenland Essential to ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Shield, NATO Must Back U.S. Control

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. control of Greenland is essential to national security and the construction of his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system, warning that failure to act would allow Russia or China to gain a strategic foothold in the Arctic.

U.S. Evacuates Personnel From Major Qatar Base as Trump Weighs Iran Action

The United States has begun evacuating some military personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, as President Donald Trump considers potential military action against Iran amid escalating regional tensions and a deepening internal crisis inside the Islamic Republic.

Scores Killed in Thailand’s Train Derailment After Crane Collapse

Wartorn Ukraine Struggles In Freezing Temperatures As Russian Strikes Kill Numerous People

Trump Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as Terrorist Organizations in Sweeping Crackdown

Trump Tells Iranians ‘Help Is on the Way,’ Cancels Talks as Protests Rock Islamic Republic

Trump Announces 25% Tariff On Nations Doing Business With Iran

NATO Chief Urges Allies to Protect Greenland Amid US Military Threats

Britain Weighs Arctic Security Role as NATO Eyes Russia, China Threats

Iran Regime Kills Hundreds as Trump Considers Military, Cyber Options

Deadly Aleppo Fighting And Separate U.S. Strikes Deepen Syria Instability

Breaking Israel News

Witkoff Announces Phase II of Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan, Shifts Focus to Demilitarization and Governance

U.S. Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff announced Wednesday the launch of Phase II of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, marking a transition from a fragile ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and large-scale reconstruction of the war-ravaged enclave.

Hezbollah Threatens Civil War as Lebanon Pushes to Disarm Iran-Backed Militia Nationwide

A senior official of the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah has warned Lebanon’s government that expanding efforts to disarm the group across the country would plunge the nation into chaos and could spark a new civil war, according to comments circulated by Hezbollah on Wednesday.

Israel Cuts Ties With Additional UN Agencies, Citing Anti-Israel Bias and Bureaucratic Failures

Israel will immediately sever all contact with three additional United Nations agencies and international bodies, the Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday, expanding a sweeping reassessment of Israel’s engagement with UN institutions.

IDF Launches ‘Hoshen’ Five-Year Plan Focusing on AI, Robotics, Space Warfare

Israel Strikes Hezbollah Weapons Site After Intelligence Contradicts Lebanese Claims

IDF Airstrike Kills Hezbollah Drone Operative in Southern Lebanon

Trump Pushes Gaza Phase Two Without Preconditions as Israel Presses Hamas on Hostage, Disarmament

Pro-Palestinian Protesters Block Tel Aviv Flight At Milan Airport, Raising Security Questions

Israel, Syria, U.S. Announce Joint Security Mechanism in Rare Step Toward De-Escalation

Netanyahu: Israel and U.S. United on Iran as Protests Rock Islamic Republic

Israel, Syria to Resume U.S.-Mediated Talks as Trump Presses for Security Deal

Breaking U.S. News

Trump Touts Steady Inflation as New CPI Data Shows Prices Cooling

President Donald Trump highlighted new government data Tuesday showing inflation remained steady in December, calling the figures “great (LOW!) inflation numbers for the USA.”

Johnson Expects On-time Passage Of All Govt Funding Bills As Two More Head To Floor

Congress has less than a month to pass the remaining appropriations bills providing fiscal 2026 funding for federal agencies, but House Republicans are convinced it’s possible.

U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Trans Sports Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in two cases over whether biological males can participate in women’s and girls’ sports.

Evangelist Graham Urges Prayers As Anti-ICE Protests Spread Following Killing

Jackson Synagogue Targeted in Apparent Arson Attack, Suspect Arrested

Truck Hits LA Crowd Protesting Against Iran’s Islamic Regime; Several Injured (VIDEO)

Bipartisan Bill To Cap Annual Deficits At 3% Could Curb Debt Growth

Assaults Against ICE Up 1300%, Vehicular Attacks Up 3200%, Death Threats Up 8000%

U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Anti-oil Cases With Energy Costs On The Line

Trump Calls for $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget, Says ‘Dream Military’ Needed for Dangerous Times

U.S. House Votes To Extend ACA Subsidies, Heads To Senate

Trump Orders $200 Billion Mortgage Bond Buy To Lower Rates

Breaking Christian News

Christian Advocates Urge Trump to Protect Pakistani Refugees After Slavery, Blasphemy Cases

Christian advocacy groups urged U.S. President Donald J. Trump not to close America’s doors to Christian refugees from Pakistan, citing cases of bonded labor, abduction, and alleged misuse of blasphemy laws targeting the country’s Christian minority.

Advocates Alarmed Over Scale Christian Persecution in China, India; Millions Facing Raids and Church Attacks

Christian activists say religious freedom is under “unprecedented threat” in China and India, citing a sharp escalation in government actions and extremist violence targeting believers.

Pastor Killed In Colombia; Christians Shocked

Bible Sales Surge to Record Highs in U.K. and U.S., Signaling Renewed Spiritual Interest

Dutch Christian Preacher Detained After Banned Service in Netherlands

China Arrests Church Leaders in Growing Crackdown on Underground Christians

Syria’s Christians Suffer As Thousands Flee Clashes; Several Killed