DAILY NEWS Stream – December 21, 2025

South Korea and the United States hold policy talks and align their approaches regarding engaging with North Korea. The allies pledge closer coordination on North Korea’s denuclearization and regional stability, and agree to expand their dialogues on the security of the Korean Peninsula (Tin tức)

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signs a decree establishing an embassy in Egypt from January 2026, expanding diplomatic ties, consular services, and Kyrgyzstan’s presence in North Africa (24.kg)

The European Union and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) launch a €5 million program to stabilize Afghanistan’s private sector and create jobs (Atn News)

The World Bank approves US$250 million for Uzbekistan’s Livable and Productive Cities Program, supporting infrastructure and services in 16 districts and cities (Gazeta)

Qatar and Oman sign two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the Qatari-Omani Joint Committee session in Muscat [Oman]. The agreements strengthen trade, investment, financing, and export cooperation (Qatar Tribune)

The US Treasury designates Colombia’s Gulf Clan, also known as AGC, as a terrorist organization. Long accused of cocaine trafficking and violent control, the group operates in 28 countries (VTV)

US President Trump orders a total blockade of oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, labeling the nation a “foreign terrorist organization.” He demands the regime return oil and land to the United States, while US naval forces surround the country (NY Post)

Citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are freed from slavery in Myanmar and returned to their homelands, after being deceived in Thailand and forced into fraudulent call centers under threats and violence (24kg)

Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority and Bedok Police seize 31 liters of illegal cough syrup and 5,200 addictive prescription medicines worth around US$16,000 combined in a Joo Chiat raid (Straits Times)

Spain introduces a €60 monthly nationwide transport pass, covering Cercanías commuter trains, medium-distance rail, and state buses. Launching January 2026, the scheme aims to cut commuting costs by up to 60% and promote sustainable mobility (Euro Weekly News)

Residents of Jablanica and Karadaglije in Tešanj [Bosnia and Herzegovina] will finally gain reliable city water access after decades. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme’s MEG 2 project and international partners, new reservoirs and pumping stations will serve 700 households (UNDP)

The European Commission fined Exide, FET/Elettra, and Rombat, plus trade association EUROBAT, €72 million for a 12-year cartel fixing automotive battery surcharges, reinforcing EU’s zero-tolerance for price fixing (European Commission)

The UK Government is investing over £1 billion to support domestic abuse survivors through its Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which aims to halve abuse within a decade while ensuring safety, stability, and long-term recovery (Gov.uk)

Hibiscus tea helps effectively control uric acid and reduce gout risk. Rich in anti-inflammatory polyphenols, the “red drink” lowers blood uric acid levels while protecting kidney cells to improve excretion. Experts recommend a morning cup paired with a low-purine diet as an ideal strategy to manage the condition and prevent painful recurrent gout attacks (Lao Động)

Pomelo peels provide medicinal benefits, effectively treating coughs and dissolving phlegm through rich essential oils and flavonoids. The flavonoid hesperidin, found in the young peel, strengthens blood vessel walls and lowers cardiovascular risks. Traditionally used in preserves and remedies, this pomelo byproduct also aids digestion (VietNamNet)

Washington State University scientists [US] use artificial intelligence to identify a molecular switch herpes viruses need to enter human cells, showing a single amino acid mutation blocks infection and advances targeted antiviral drug design (Tuổi Trẻ Online)

Winter nutrition strengthens immunity against colds, flu and viral infections. Cold weather, shorter days and limited sunlight challenge the immune system, making diet crucial. Foods rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants support natural defenses and energy levels. Citrus fruits provide vitamin C to boost white blood cells. Leafy greens supply antioxidants and beta carotene. Nuts deliver vitamin E for immune cell function. Herbs and spices like ginger, garlic and turmeric reduce inflammation. Consistent nutrition, exercise and healthy habits keep immunity resilient (Sức khỏe & Đời sống)

The US NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] reports record Arctic heat and surging rainfall through 2025. With sea ice at historic lows, rapid warming destabilizes infrastructure and accelerates global sea-level rise, threatening millions worldwide (NOAA)

Atmospheric rivers trigger historic December flooding across Washington state [US], damaging levees and infrastructure. One death is confirmed and 1,200 rescues and evacuations are conducted. Ongoing rains threaten further disaster as federal relief efforts begin (The Watchers)

Historic flooding in Bolivia’s Santa Cruz region kills 20, with dozens missing as the Pirai River overflows. President Rodrigo Paz partly blames deforestation for the crisis as helicopters evacuate hundreds from devastated communities (AnewZ)

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather and US NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] models project a 2026 El Niño transition as current weak La Niña conditions fade. Rising Pacific Ocean temperatures threaten to shift global storm pathways by mid-year (The Watchers)

EarthSky.com reports a large coronal hole crossed the Sun’s equator and sent high-speed solar wind toward Earth that arrived December 18 and triggered a minor G1 geomagnetic storm with enhanced high-latitude auroras (Thanh Niên)

A 24-metre Statue of Liberty replica collapses in Guaíba, southern Brazil, as violent storms bring 88-kilometer-per-hour winds, damaging cars but causing no injuries, while widespread power outages, flooding and wind damage are reported in the region (Tin tức 24h)

A powerful winter storm strikes Washington, Oregon, and Idaho [US] leaving over 1.5 million people without electricity. Winds reaching up to 180 kilometers per hour damage infrastructure, causing widespread outages, hazardous travel, and school closures (The Watchers)

Scientists detect a 20-kilometer-thick unusual rock layer beneath Bermuda’s ocean crust, which is unlike any other ocean crust structure found worldwide, according to research published in Geophysical Research Letters (VNExpress)

April McLaughlin pleads guilty to animal cruelty charges after Chandler, Arizona police [US] find five dead dog-people in her freezer and seize 55 others living in neglect on her property (Arizona’s Family)

Hanoi police [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)] launch an AI-powered traffic center activating 1,837 cameras, detecting 759 violations in five days, mostly by motorbikes, as authorities report improved discipline and warn of strict penalties (Lao Động)

Scientists map hidden heat beneath Greenland, showing subsurface temperature differences alter mantle flow and bedrock motion, improving reconstructions of ice-sheet history and forecasts of Greenland’s future influence on sea-level rise (SciTech Daily)

Duke University researchers [US] develop an artificial intelligence framework that uncovers simple rules behind complex systems seen in nature and technology by analyzing time-series data, enabling scientists to predict stability, understand hidden variables, and advance automated scientific discovery across diverse fields (SciTech Daily)

Scientists report fungi grown on carrot processing waste produce a sustainable, high-quality vegan protein. In taste testing of the fungal protein, tasters prefer mycelium-based patties and sausages over soy and chickpea alternatives (SciTech Daily)

PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] honors hunger relief non-profit Community Solidarity with its Vegan Compassion in Action award for providing free vegan meals across Long Island and Brooklyn [New York, US], and donates 100 vegan ham roasts to the group for holiday food drives (PETA)

The global market research and business consulting firm The Insight Partners reports that the dairy alternative ingredients market is projected to reach US$70.6 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 10.8% from 2023 to 2031, driven by increasing consumer demand for plant-based, organic, and sustainable products (OpenPR)

Actor Sreeleela and cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin earn PETA India’s 2025 title of Most Beautiful Vegetarian Celebrities (PETA India)

Nottingham City Hospital [UK] honors 90-year-old volunteer Margaret Wildgust as Volunteer of the Year, recognizing her 19 years of helping visitors feel at ease [Yahoo News]

A 13-year-old girl in China attempts to rescue a four-year-old who fell through a frozen lake, plunging into icy water herself when the ice beneath her broke, with both saved by first responders who arrived later. She draws widespread praise and an official commendation for her action (Tuổi Trẻ)

Indian expat Sheikh Shakil, a longtime Al Ain, United Arab Emirates [UAE] resident, is honored by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his 42 donations to Awqaf Abu Dhabi’s Life Endowment campaign, which covers medical costs of disadvantaged chronic disease patients, despite his modest income (Khaleej Times)

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano [the Philippines] honors Ei Mei Lee Chiu-Maningo for rescuing her dog companions Miyah and Kayen from a burning building in Barangay Guizo (GMA NEWS)

Then it just hit me suddenly, oh, wait, I can’t get up. I’m dead. I’m still completely conscious and aware. In fact, even more conscious and more aware than I was when my body was alive. American mother Elizabeth Krohn shares how lightning killed her, she experienced Heaven and met her deceased grandfather, then returned with precognitive nightmares that accurately predicted major disasters. Elizabeth, 28, was running late to services at her Houston synagogue one stormy September day in 1988. Rain poured in sheets as she parked with her two sons, Jeremy, 4, and Andy, 2. She sent Jeremy to the building, then grabbed her umbrella and Andy’s hand. We took a few steps and it actually went through my head, “Oh, well this is stupid.” My wedding ring was touching the shaft of the umbrella. And I remember thinking, just let go of the umbrella. But before I could even do that, there was a bolt of lightning that touched the top of the umbrella. And that was it. I was dead. But I didn’t know it. I was still very conscious and very aware of everything going on. Elizabeth watched her sons screaming, Jeremy dragging his injured brother to the building, while a passerby ignored her completely. My thought was why is he ignoring me? Why is he talking to them and not to me? And then like in the next second, I thought, where’s my umbrella? So I looked out the window. Sure enough, there was my umbrella in the parking lot. I looked to the right, about 20 feet (6 meters) from the umbrella. I saw me on the ground. I could see myself in the parking lot and I saw that the soles of the shoes were burned off, saw my feet sticking out. So I looked down and the shoes were fine! They were perfect! They were on my feet, except I was floating about this high above the ground.

Elizabeth saw her body lying in a parking lot puddle with burned shoes. Then a living light appeared. This light had consciousness. It wanted me to follow it. The light led me to this garden and it’s not a garden like anything here on Earth. The plants were different. The flowers were blossoming, just exploding with color! This overwhelming, unconditional love that existed there, for me! I’m a mom. I have children. I love them unconditionally, but this was so different! It was so much bigger and stronger, more powerful and deeper.

A voice told her to sit on an ornate bench. It was her grandfather, dead for a year. As soon as I sat down, it morphed around me. Like it became whatever my body was. And he sat down next to me. He told me he was going to answer any questions I had, but he told it to me in my head. It was telepathic. There were three orbs in the sky. I’m going to call them violet color, but it wasn’t really violet. And the way they were moving in proximity to each other, it was some sort of a calendar that was marking the passage of time. I was told that I could stay there if I wanted to, or I could choose to come back.

For what felt like two weeks, Elizabeth received answers to her questions about life, death, and the future. He told me that if I came back, I was going to have a third child. And it was going to be a girl. He said, “Because she’s already chosen you. She’s already chosen you and your husband as her parents.” He also told me that I would be getting a divorce, which was really strange because at that point we had been married for eight years. We were fine. We were happy. He told me a couple of things about the future. He told me about the upcoming Super Bowl. He also told me that George H. W. Bush was going to win the election. And he said, “When you see who wins that Super Bowl, or you see that George Bush is named president, it’ll trigger your memories of being here.”

Elizabeth decided to return. Her grandfather squeezed her consciousness back into her burned body. She awoke in the parking lot after what seemed like two minutes but had felt like two weeks. Months of recovery followed, during which she began having vivid nightmares. The first plane crash nightmare I had, I told my husband, I said, “I saw this plane and it’s crashed and it’s in water.” And I told him the flight number. And I told him how many people are on the plane. And two days later, mom called me and she was screaming, turn on the TV! And I turned it on. There it is! Jay and Sarah, thank you very much. Jim Dolan has been following the recovery efforts since flight 800 crashed last night. I had the flight number correct. I had the number of people on board correct. Elizabeth’s precognitive nightmares continued with disturbing accuracy. She began emailing them to herself for documentation. This really, really bad nightmare, I was on the plane, and I was talking to another passenger. She told me her name. She introduced me to her child who was sitting next to her. Suddenly, I knew that’s it. It’s going to crash and I need to open my eyes. Until I open my eyes I’m on this plane. And she grabbed my arms and wouldn’t let go. She told me her husband’s name. And she said, “Take my child and find the father. Please, please.” About three days later, they printed a manifest, a list of all the passengers and her name and the child’s name matched up to my email.

First and foremost, the most important thing, consciousness survives death. Just because your body dies, you are not gone. You’re still here. You still exist. Where you go when your body dies, that is home. This is not. Living on Earth is not fun. This is really hard! And we all deserve credit for doing this. What you’re doing with your life here will determine what that looks like for you. It’s so personalized and tailored to each person. What we do here matters, a lot.

Uplifting quote of the day: “This world is but a canvas to our imaginations.” Henry David Thoreau Celebrated American Essayist, Poet, and Philosopher