Honestly, if you took a nap for a week and just woke up today, January 13, 2026, you'd barely recognize the geopolitical map. It’s wild. We’re seeing everything from a sudden trade hammer dropping on Iran to the U.S. preparing to march into Davos with the biggest delegation anyone has ever seen.
The top news of world right now isn't just one thing. It's a collision of aggressive trade policies, shifting alliances in the Middle East, and a global economy that is somehow—against all odds—holding its breath and staying upright.
The 25% Iran "Ultimatum"
President Trump basically just set the global trade stage on fire. On Monday, he announced a "final and conclusive" 25% tariff on any country that dares to do business with Iran.
Think about that for a second.
It’s not just a slap on the wrist for Tehran; it’s a direct threat to the bottom lines of America’s biggest trading partners in Europe and Asia. Trump’s post on Truth Social was blunt. He’s essentially forcing the world to choose: you want the U.S. market, or you want Iranian oil?
This comes right as Iran is dealing with massive internal chaos. Protests have been ripping through the country for weeks because the economy there is basically in a freefall. Activists are saying over 600 people have died in these clashes. The internet in Tehran has been dark for over 100 hours. It’s a mess.
Interestingly, Trump mentioned he might actually meet with Iranian leaders soon. He said they called and want to talk. But then, in the same breath, he’s hitting their partners with these massive tariffs. It's that classic "maximum pressure" strategy we’ve seen before, just cranked up to eleven.
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Davos 2026: The "Record-Breaker"
Next week, the World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos, and it’s going to be a spectacle. The White House just confirmed it’s sending the largest-ever U.S. delegation to the Swiss Alps.
We’re talking five Cabinet secretaries and a small army of officials accompanying the President.
Why does this matter? Because Davos is usually where the "globalist" elites talk about cooperation and green energy. Sending a record-breaking team of "America First" advocates into that room is like bringing a megaphone to a library. They’re going there to talk about the 2026 World Bank report, which just came out today.
The report is actually a bit of a shocker.
It says the global economy is way more resilient than anyone thought. Growth is steadying at about 2.6%. That sounds low, but considering the trade wars and the literal wars going on, it’s a miracle we aren't in a global recession. The U.S. is doing most of the heavy lifting here, accounting for two-thirds of the upward growth revisions.
Ukraine’s Winter of Darkness
While the bankers talk growth, people in Kyiv are literally freezing.
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This is the grim part of the top news of world. Russia is "going all in" on destroying Ukraine’s power grid. On Tuesday, about 70% of Kyiv was left without electricity. It’s subzero temperatures out there, and people have no heat.
Ukrenergo’s CEO, Vitaliy Zaichenko, has been pretty vocal about it. He says the goal is clearly to make the city unlivable so people flee.
The UK is stepping up, though. They just pledged new tactical ballistic missiles that can strike over 300 miles away. These aren’t just defensive tools; they’re deep-strike weapons. It’s a massive escalation in the type of hardware being handed over to Zelenskyy’s forces.
The Somali Shift
Closer to home in the U.S., there was a major policy shift regarding Somalia today.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals. The reasoning? The administration claims conditions in Somalia have improved enough that "temporary" should finally mean "temporary."
This is a big deal for the thousands of Somalis living in the U.S. who now have until March 17 to figure out their legal status or leave. Secretary Noem was very clear: "We are putting Americans first." It’s part of a broader trend of tightening immigration rules across the board.
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Health, Jobs, and the "3 by 35"
On a completely different note, the WHO had their first big briefing of 2026 today.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is pushing something called the "3 by 35 initiative." Basically, they want every country to hike taxes on tobacco, booze, and sugary drinks to make them way more expensive by 2035. They’re pointing to the UK as the gold standard, where a sugar tax apparently generated £338 million in a single year and helped lower childhood obesity.
Also, for those looking for a career change, U.S. News & World Report dropped their 2026 rankings today. Physician Assistants (PAs) are still the kings and queens of the job market, ranking as the #2 best healthcare job. It's the ninth year in a row they’ve been in the top ten.
Why This Matters to You
It’s easy to look at these headlines and feel like they’re worlds away, but they hit your wallet and your world faster than you think.
- Energy Prices: If those Iran tariffs actually go through, expect a ripple effect in global oil markets.
- Economic Stability: The World Bank’s report suggests we might avoid a "hard landing," which is good news for your 401(k) or savings.
- Security: The escalation in Ukraine and the Arctic—where NATO’s Mark Rutte is warning about Russia and China—means defense spending isn't going down anytime soon.
What You Should Do Now
Keep an eye on the Davos meetings starting next Monday. That’s where the "rubber meets the road" for these trade policies. If you have investments in international markets, now is probably the time to look at your exposure to countries heavily reliant on Iranian trade.
Also, watch for the "Somali fraud" crackdown Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is leading in Minneapolis. It’s a signal that the government is looking at financial irregularities within immigrant communities as part of this broader immigration enforcement push.
The world is moving fast. January 2026 is already proving that "business as usual" is a thing of the past. Stay sharp.