DAILY NEWS Stream – March 23, 2026

China donates equipment to Cambodia’s Commission for Combating Online Scams to support the country’s nationwide crackdown on cyber-fraud, with officials highlighting recent joint law-enforcement cooperation as Cambodia moves to enforce a new anti-scam law and continues deporting tens of thousands of suspected foreign scammers (Khmer Times)

Foreign ministers from 12 Arab and Muslim countries meeting in Riyadh [Saudi Arabia] call on Iran to halt missile and drone attacks, condemn strikes on civilian infrastructure, and urge compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which calls for an immediate end to the attacks and warns against threats to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait (Anadolu Agency)

Germany lifts the temporary border checks it reintroduced with France six months ago, removing control booths along the Rhine and Moselle rivers and restoring passport-free travel for the 200,000 daily cross-border commuters, as businesses welcome the end of delays (VisaHQ)

Leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada condemn Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure and its de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, calling on Tehran to stop laying mines and launching drone and missile strikes and to allow safe passage for global shipping (Gov.uk)

Cambodia’s Education Ministry bans mobile phone use in classrooms during lessons and break times as part of a directive aimed at strengthening school discipline and promoting good behavior, reminding students to follow school regulations, respect others, and participate in academic and ethics programs (Khmer Times)

A new INTERPOL [International Criminal Police Organization] Global Taskforce, launched at the UK-led Global Fraud Summit in Vienna [Austria], will coordinate intelligence across 196 countries to target overseas scam networks— initially in Southeast Asia— as governments, law-enforcement agencies, and major tech firms expand cross-border cooperation to disrupt fraud operations that increasingly originate abroad (Gov.uk)

European natural-gas prices jump as much as 35% after Iranian and Israeli strikes damaged major energy infrastructure in Qatar and Iran, disrupting LNG [liquefied natural gas] output and prompting warnings of prolonged supply shortages, rising inflation risks, and wider market instability as attacks spread across Gulf facilities (Reuters)

A US study reveals that prediabetic adults who eat avocado and mango daily significantly improve heart health. Within eight weeks, participants see boosted vascular function and lower blood pressure. These benefits, driven by healthy fats and antioxidants, occur without changes to weight or exercise routines (Earth.com)

Kyrgyzstan reports mental disorder cases rising 11% annually since 2021, with over 50,000 registered patients. In response, authorities are drafting a national strategy and forming multidisciplinary medical teams to address the growing public health crisis (24.kg)

International research suggests that reducing calorie intake while maintaining high nutritional quality slows cellular aging and prevents chronic metabolic diseases. This strategy strengthens internal repair systems and boosts longevity. Medical experts emphasize balancing essential vitamins and minerals to ensure a healthier, more vibrant future (Lao Động)

Aging Soviet-era infrastructure in Turkmenistan vents massive amounts of methane into the atmosphere. These easily repairable leaks release more greenhouse gases than some entire nations, severely threatening global climate targets (Table.Briefings)

Unprecedented rainfall transforms the Red Centre [colloquial name for the vast, arid desert region in the southern part of Australia’s Northern Territory] into a lush green landscape, triggering a rare desert bloom. While the deluge revives dormant ecosystems, it also causes severe flash flooding, disrupts vital infrastructure, and prompts natural disaster declarations across the region (Streamline Feed)

Switzerland has built over 1,400 tunnels stretching more than 2,000 kilometers beneath the Alps and elsewhere, shifting over 72% of cross-Alpine freight from trucks to electric trains — significantly cutting emissions over two decades (Ecoticias)

Kent [UK] County Council’s “Shake It Out” campaign gains momentum as residents are urged to empty recyclables out of plastic bags and place them loose in bins to cut contamination, prevent machinery blockages, and improve recycling quality across the county (Kent County Council)

Scientists document century-old corals and dense deep-sea life on an unsurveyed South Pacific seamount, evidence that meets the threshold for a vulnerable marine ecosystem and intensifies pressure to restrict bottom trawling that can destroy habitats which take centuries to grow (Earth.com)

Vancouver [Canada] is closing out its first snow-free winter in 43 years, with researchers warning that warming temperatures and declining snowpack on British Columbia’s South Coast signal a shift toward more frequent snowless winters and heightened summer water-supply risks (Town and Country Today)

Midlife diets rich in plant protein make women 46% more likely to age healthily. Separate studies show childhood dietary habits where animal-people products are avoided significantly improve lifelong heart health and reduce arterial stiffness (VegNews)

Europe’s vegan cheese market is projected to hit US$2.3 billion by 2036, growing at 12.1% annually. Soy-based varieties lead as consumers shift toward sustainable, dairy-free alternatives for health and ethics (Open PR)

Milan, Italy’s Michelin-starred Joia transforms vegetarian dining into edible art through organic ingredients. Founded by Pietro Leemann, the restaurant elevates plant-based plates into whimsical, world-class masterpieces in Italy (The Economic Times)

The Johor Fire and Rescue Department [Johor, Malaysia] honors Mohamad Danial Md Sanin for saving a nine-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl at Johor’s Pantai Batu Layar beach. Despite limited swimming skills, he rescues both victims from strong currents (Malay Mail)

Eilan Keister (vegan) transforms a backyard project into Avalon Microsanctuary [Portland, Oregon, US]. Now housing 100 animal-people, the volunteer-run facility rescues abandoned rabbit-persons and finds them permanent homes despite facing significant financial strain (Portland Tribune)

After a request for assistance, Đà Nẵng Border Guards of Âu Lạc (Vietnam) rescue a mother in Laos during critical labor, navigating rugged terrain to provide medical aid and free transport to a Đà Nẵng hospital. Beyond lifesaving efforts, the Aulacese (Vietnamese) soldiers donate funds to support the family’s expenses, strengthening humanitarian solidarity between both nations (Thanh Niên)

Enlightening quote of the day: “Always think before speaking. Always have polite speech.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Sri Guru Jambheshwar (vegetarian) (Jambhani.com)

In Part 1 of 2 of Robert Kopecky’s near-death experiences, American illustrator and graphic designer Robert shares how he nearly died three times and discovered that time exists in discrete packages, every moment matters, and everybody’s life completes a meaningful circle.

Robert was living in Los Angeles around 1985. One evening, at dusk, he was driving home through an unfamiliar neighborhood. While fussing with a cassette player, he clipped an oddly parked car and crashed directly into a utility pole.

Instantly, it went black, and then, in the next moment, I came to, so to speak. I was at the level of the top of the utility pole, looking down on my car, which had crashed into the pole, with the hood popped open and fluid running on the ground. I could see somebody’s arm hanging out of the window of the car, but I wasn’t quite putting it together that it was me, for a moment. I could look over the hedges and bushes and stuff in this suburb and see people’s yards and porches, and the porch lights come on, and people would start coming out because they had heard the accident. And as I looked down, I realized that that was me in the car. At that moment, at that same time, I felt completely enfolded in love. I felt safe, happy, free. At the same time, I felt as though there was somebody with me, somebody behind me, over my left shoulder, that was sort of prompting me.

I tried to communicate with people on the ground. I tried to sort of levitate downwards. I didn’t really have a body at that point, that I noticed. I did feel as though my thinking had changed. It was less serial, and it was more part of something much broader, much more open. An ambulance arrived, and they were putting me into it. And right around that time, this entity behind me, that I never turned to meet, but basically shepherded me away, and I went through a big warm cloud. I ended up in a place that was very pastoral, that was like a park, or like beautiful nature, kind of, and we talked about very important things, none of which I specifically recall exactly, but it was kind of hashing things out, is what it seemed like.

Robert came to in a hospital with a heavily bandaged head. About 18 or 20 hours had passed since the accident. He rallied to get back into his regular life as quickly as he could, suppressing the experience. Nobody had really heard of near-death experiences at that time, and he just moved on with his life.

Some years later, Robert’s second near-death experience occurred. His marriage had broken up, and he had moved to New York City from San Francisco to pursue his career as an illustrator and comic artist. He lived a wild life and had become practically nocturnal. By then, Robert says his life in New York had spiraled into substance abuse. One night after leaving a party, he collapsed at home and underwent his second near-death experience.

I was at a party. I had to leave early. I got home. I fell on the floor, and I was laying with my head propped against the wall, and the room, my apartment, seemed to fill in with a brilliant white cloud, and I once again felt at complete ease. I felt enfolded in love, so to speak, this sense of transcendent unity and comfort and being happy where I was. And again, once again, I felt as though I had an entity behind me that essentially guided me to look into one part of the cloud. I sat before, or slightly within, what seemed to be kind of like a box of time, so to speak, where scenes from my life were played back to me that I was kind of involved in, to a degree. But I felt like I could reach in and touch them and witness them. It wasn’t the greatest hits. These weren’t like the great memories from my life, but actually parts of scenes that where I’d had difficulty communicating what I needed, or had misled somebody, or had been manipulative, or had missed an opportunity, that kind of thing. And I was shown these different scenes, like in real time. In general, it just told me about the present moment and about living in this box. We’re in a box of time right now, this one. So, when you have a greater perspective on how time works, or doesn’t work the way we think it does, then that aspect of each moment being this discrete package of information that can be shown back to you afterwards is pretty remarkable.

Years later, a sudden act of violence would send him into a third near-death experience, one that unfolded in a very different way. The next thing I knew, I was in a space that was kind of womblike, or kind of subterranean in feeling, not as bright as the previous places. And there were entities around me that were benevolent, loving. Join us tomorrow for Part 2 of 2 of Robert Kopecky’s near-death experiences. (NDE Journey)