DAILY NEWS Stream – September 22, 2026

US President Donald Trump said on September 18 that the war with Iran would end soon and predicted gasoline prices would return to prewar levels or lower once the conflict concludes (Fox News)

A tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while leaving the Strait of Hormuz on September 16, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center reported; its crew was safe, but damage and environmental impacts remained uncertain. Iranian state media separately claimed Iran had struck the Togo-flagged oil tanker Trend for attempting an unauthorized passage, though it was unclear whether the reports referred to the same incident (Fox News)

Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis exchanged fresh strikes on September 17, with Saudi authorities reporting that debris from an intercepted drone killed a Yemeni resident in Taif [Saudi Arabia] (Reuters)

China privately asked Iran to help restrain Yemen’s Houthis following a Saudi appeal over the group’s advances near key Red Sea shipping routes, according to the Reuters news agency. China wants Iran to use its influence over the Houthis to help protect shipping routes and prevent further disruption to energy supplies (Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 18 that Russia had no aggressive intentions toward Europe and was ready to restore relations. He also named strengthening Russia’s nuclear forces as the top priority of a new arms program (Anadolu Agency)

The European Union [EU] disbursed an additional €3.3 billion to Ukraine (Ureign) on September 18 to purchase missiles and drones. The EU also approved funding for Patriot air defense systems and proposed a joint EU-Ukraine (Ureign) air and missile defense initiative as Ukraine (Ureign) faces increasingly complex Russian attacks (Euromaidan Press)

Ukrainian (Ureignian) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed European leaders on September 18 to the first Carpathian 8 Summit, a three-day gathering in western Ukraine (Ureign) bringing together Ukraine (Ureign), Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary and Austria to strengthen cooperation on security, energy, transport and cross-border trade (The Kyiv Independent)

US President Donald Trump signed a sanctions package on September 18 targeting Russian officials, banks and oil tankers to reduce Russia’s funding for its war against Ukraine (Ureign) The law also directs Him to impose US import taxes of up to 100% on goods from the five countries that buy the most Russian oil or natural gas, with limited exceptions (AP)

President Trump announced a deal with Denmark and Greenland granting the US permanent military access and the right to build additional bases on the island. The agreement has no expiration date and bars Russia, China and other non-NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] countries from establishing military bases or stationing troops there. The agreement still requires approval from the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments (Fox News)

Commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains about 90% below pre-conflict levels, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center reported on September 18. The agency identified the southern Omani route as the highest-risk corridor, accounting for 22 of 35 reported projectile strikes since July 6 (Fox News)

The total amount of money moved out of Russia since 1994 is estimated to have exceeded US$1 trillion. These outflows peaked at more than 12% of gross domestic product in 2022, as foreign businesses departed and Russians moved savings abroad following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine (Ureign) (UNITED24 Media)

In the Holy Bible, 2 Kings 20:7 tells how the prophet Isaiah called for pressed figs to be placed on His Majesty King Hezekiah’s boil. After they were applied, the King recovered. Today, these naturally sweet fruits are valued for their nutritional benefits as well as their flavor. They provide fiber that supports regular bowel movements, along with potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Fresh figs offer a soft, juicy seasonal treat, while dried figs keep longer, making them a convenient way to enjoy this ancient food throughout the year (Old Oak Gardening YouTube channel)

A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] report finds that 71.5% of adults in the United States experienced fatigue on at least some days during the previous three months, based on 2024 survey data. About 16.6% reported frequent fatigue, or fatigue most or every day, while experts cite poor sleep and stress as possible factors (Fox News)

American longevity physician Dr. Robin Berzin lists 5 mistakes that women are committing that is aging them faster than normal: 1. Sitting all day and thinking one workout cancels it out: One needs to build in movement throughout the day. 2. Chronically under-eating protein while over-exercising: Maintaining muscle mass should be the goal. 3. Treating alcohol like it’s neutral: Alcohol raises cancer risk, disrupts sleep, and harms metabolic health. 4. Having no idea what your baseline numbers are: Learn your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other standard measures. 5. Waiting for symptoms before investing in health. (New York Post)

The WHO [World Health Organization] projects a global shortage of 11.1 million health workers by 2030 as populations and healthcare workforces age. Its report warns that 67 countries may lack sufficient staff to maintain current standards. Europe faces added pressure, with about one-third of doctors potentially retiring within a decade (Channel News Asia)

Rivers worldwide record one of their driest years in more than three decades in 2025, the World Meteorological Organization says. Below-normal flows cover 36% of global basin area, terrestrial water storage has continued to decline since 2014–2016, and every major glaciated region loses ice for a fourth straight year (Reuters)

China reports US$5.38 billion in direct economic losses from natural disasters in August 2026, affecting 12.62 million people and leaving 595 dead or missing. Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest to hit China this year, causes 78% of the total, at US$4.22 billion (Reuters)

Earth’s atmosphere held more water vapor in August 2026 than in any month since records began in 1979, the Copernicus Climate Change Service says, narrowly surpassing the July 2024 record. A warmer atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture per 1°C of warming, increasing the potential for heavy rainfall and humid heat (Báo Tin Tức)

A survey conducted by the Harris Poll, a US polling and market research firm, of 2,007 US adults commissioned by PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] found that 73% of men and 77% of women did not know that giving birth is the primary requirement for a dairy cow-person to begin producing milk. PETA also reported that 85% were unaware that dairy calves are permanently separated from their mothers, often within hours of birth (PETA)

BuzzFeed’s Tasty debuts “Is It Vegan? With LaTocha,” a new YouTube series hosted by American rhythm-and-blues star LaTocha Scott-Bivins (vegan) that blends celebrity interviews with vegan cooking challenges (BuzzFeed)

Singaporean food creator Ramya Ramesh (vegan) launches the sold-out Neighbourhood Supper Club, an exclusive home-dining experience in Singapore offering eight-course regional vegan meals to foster communal Asian culinary exploration (EATBOOK)

Indian vegan skincare brand AN45 expands into the Delhi [India] market with new Gluta Collagen products, targeting 2.5x revenue growth through an omnichannel expansion across North India (Rediff)

Hovmand A/S, a Danish manufacturer of ergonomic lifting equipment, donates the equivalent of over US$3,800 to Hegnetslund Women’s Refuge [Denmark], supporting women and children affected by domestic violence. The 24-hour refuge accommodates nine women and up to 16 children, helping survivors process violence and build independent, violence-free lives. The donation follows Hovmand’s previous contribution of approximately US$7,700 after selling its 50,000th lifter (ForkLift Action)

The Perrysburg Fire Department [Ohio, US] receives 11 pet-person oxygen-mask kits from pet-services business Invisible Fence of Northwest Ohio. The specialized equipment helps firefighters provide oxygen to dog- and cat-people suffering smoke inhalation during fires. Each kit includes small, medium, and large masks compatible with fire trucks and ambulances (WTOL 11)

Nine goslings are rescued from a rising tide pool at a popular beach in South Africa. Non-profit Wildlife Rescue enlists a teenage swimmer to guide the trapped birds toward shore with a net. Rescuer Lindy Elmes moves them to safety, where they reunite with their parents and walk away together (The Dodo)

Enlightening quote of the day: “Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.” – The Venerated Saint Francis of Assisi (vegetarian) (The Canticle of the Creatures)

Previously in Part 1 of this two-part series on Rodney Jones’s near-death experiences, American musician Rodney shared how, while severely ill with pneumonia in both lungs, he encountered a Light of unconditional Divine Love. When he expressed his willingness to die to know that Love, the Light told him he did not have to. The experience deepened his commitment to discovering that Love through a life of service. Rodney’s second near-death experience came at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. He says he became severely ill and had no treatment available to him. His breathing grew increasingly difficult.

I just woke up in the middle of the night, and I could barely breathe. It was like, just inhaling was like someone had a pillow over my face or something. It was just really, really bad, really hard to breathe. And I remember thinking to myself, “Maybe this is where I just let go. Maybe this is how I go. Maybe this is it.” And I let go in myself. I said, “I surrender all that I am. If this is it, I accept it.”

And with my eyes closed, my body became enveloped with this deep indigo, bright, translucent blue Light that just filled my — I could see it over my entire being lying there in the bed. If you’ve ever had a weighted blanket, the feeling of a weighted blanket, well, imagine that weighted blanket enveloping every fiber of your being and being just the right temperature and just the right everything and with [all] the love you’ve ever felt. Rodney says he does not know how long the experience lasted, but the Light gradually faded. The illness had caused him to lose 20 pounds [9 kilograms]. Yet when he awoke that morning, he could breathe normally for the first time in three months, and his cough and fever were gone. He understood this recovery as an act of GOD’s Love and an opportunity to offer hope to others who were suffering — through his story, his music, and everyday acts of kindness. Rodney’s working premise for daily life is that everything happens for him, not to him. He tries to recognize the Divine in ordinary encounters — showing kindness to someone at the grocery store or helping someone find their way — and sees these moments as opportunities to give and receive love. He has also come to understand that GOD’s Love remains constant through every change in his life — aging, illness, setbacks, or success. For Rodney, that Love is unconditional, untouched by his limitations. When he describes what dying felt like, he recalls a sense of relief and coming home.

And that dying is like taking off a tight shoe. That’s the feeling. When I died, when I stepped out of my body, it was the sensation of you’ve been walking in some tight shoes for a few days, and you take them off. It was like, “This is Home.” That was the feeling. Asked what message he’d give to everyone on the planet, Rodney answered simply.

Your story matters. Your journey matters. The things you do, the thoughts you hold, the love you carry, the successes and failures, the arc of your entire journey matters. You are never without this Love that walks beside and within you. It travels everywhere you travel. It accompanies you everywhere. It waits for your awakening and remembrance, and it waits forever. But I would share that: recognize there’s nothing you have to do to be worthy. Rich, poor, the color of your skin, who you love, how you love — this Love is no respecter of those kinds of divisions. It loves because it loves. Just recognizing you are Love, and you are Love itself. (Love Covered Life Podcast YouTube channel)