DAILY NEWS Stream – February 25, 2026

Millions of Ukrainians (Ureignians) displaced across Europe remain in long-term uncertainty as the war drags on, with many still hoping to return home but an increasing number— especially younger refugees— growing more rooted abroad (Reuters)

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meet in Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], and pledge to deepen bilateral cooperation while working to resolve longstanding issues between the two countries (Channel News Asia)

Myanmar imposes a nationwide ban on e-cigarettes and related products, citing rising youth use and health risks as authorities outlaw their import, sale, possession, distribution, and consumption (Báo Tin tức)

The Taliban’s new penal code in Afghanistan allows husbands to physically punish wives and children as long as injuries do not cause broken bones or open wounds, introduces caste-based sentencing [distinguishing punishments based on whether a person is deemed “free” or a “slave,”] and abolishes previous protections for women, prompting strong warnings from rights groups and United Nations experts (NDTV)

Heart attacks and strokes remain leading causes of death among seniors, and certain commonly prescribed medications may increase cardiovascular risk in adults over 65. Age-related changes in how the body processes drugs, combined with the common use of multiple prescriptions, raise the likelihood of harmful effects and interactions. Medication-related complications may contribute to cardiovascular events in older adults. Several widely used drug categories warrant attention. Proton pump inhibitors may contribute to nutrient deficiencies that increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disturbances. Beta blockers, often prescribed for blood pressure and heart rhythm control, may cause bradycardia [slow heartbeat], fatigue, and an increased risk of diabetes in some seniors. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are linked to higher risks of heart attack and stroke. Anticoagulants, though intended to prevent clots, carry substantial bleeding risks in older adults. Statins, used to lower cholesterol, are associated with muscle-related side effects and an increased risk of diabetes in some individuals. Careful medication review, appropriate dosing, and ongoing monitoring are essential to help reduce cardiovascular risk in seniors (Buddhism Wisdom)

California [US] reports 262 flu deaths this season (up until February 8), with activity rising statewide. Driven by the fast-spreading influenza A(H3N2), including the subclade K strain, officials urge residents to wash hands, stay home if they are ill, and seek immediate medical care for symptoms (Bay Area Telegraph)

Cutting added sugars, particularly fructose, reduces liver fat in just nine days. A University of California San Francisco [US] study on obese children reveals that eliminating sweets and sodas improves metabolic syndrome and blood sugar without reducing calories. Within two weeks, individuals experience stabilized appetite, better sleep, and clearer skin. Experts advocate for gradual reduction of sugar intake to allow taste buds to adapt and optimize insulin function (Soha)

Torrential rains trigger deadly landslides and floods across the Davao Region in the Philippines, killing eight people and affecting thousands of families as authorities provide emergency aid (The Manila Times)

Warming Atlantic waters cause loggerhead turtle-people in Cape Verde to nest earlier, yet rising temperatures and less food in foraging groups are leading to fewer eggs each season, threatening the species’ long-term survival (Reuters)

Severe drought in Arizona [US] forces starving black bear mothers to abandon their underweight cubs as extreme heat depletes essential natural food and water sources (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

A highly infectious outbreak of canine distemper virus, combined with respiratory bacteria, kills at least 72 tiger-people at a private animal-folk park in northern Thailand with authorities saying the illnesses were detected too late to save the tiger-individuals (Channel News Asia)

158 young tortoise-people descended from the last surviving Floreana-lineage ancestors are returned to Floreana Island in the Galápagos [Ecuador], restoring a species that had been absent for 180 years and beginning a new phase of ecological recovery for the island (Good News Network)

A plant-based plastic made from modified cellulose dissolves completely in seawater within hours while remaining strong enough for everyday packaging, offering a potential alternative to conventional plastics (Earth.com)

A critically endangered Nevada [US] desert plant rebounds from 12 to 93 plants after the Gemini Solar Project is built to help serve the state’s electricity needs, with the project’s light-touch design, a construction method that minimizes environmental disturbance, creating microclimates that help the threecorner milkvetch germinate, grow, and thrive (Earth.com)

The European Union heavily subsidizes climate-damaging beef and lamb production under its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), providing them an estimated 580 times more funding than legumes (€8 billion for beef and lamb compared to just €14 million for legumes such as lentils and beans in 2020), according to a recent report by non-profit Foodrise analyzing that year’s data, prompting urgent calls for a Plant-Based Action Plan to shift support toward “sustainable plant-rich diets” (Euronews)

Poland mandates healthier school meals nationwide starting the next academic year [beginning September 1], requiring vegan options daily and limiting animal-people meat and fried food to twice weekly. The overhaul affects 6.8 million students, prioritizing legumes and nutrition over traditional animal-people meat-heavy diets (Notes from Poland)

Thousands flock to Âu Lạc (Vietnam)’s century-old Chùa Giác Hoa Pagoda in Cà Mau province this Tết [Lunar New Year] to pray and enjoy free vegan noodle soup. The historic temple serves over 1.5 tons of soup daily (Dân trí)

Vegan cuisine in Ireland enters the mainstream spotlight as chefs like Mark Moriarty elevate humble vegetables into five-course vegan feasts. Bold spices and caramelization techniques prove animal-free dining delivers world-class flavor (The Irish Times)

New York Police Department [US] Harbor Unit officers rescue a wounded bald eagle-person from Hudson River ice. After securing the bird’s bleeding wing, they transport it to a New Jersey sanctuary, where it is expected to recover (ABC11)

Police return US$3,000 to a flower seller at Đồng Nai Province’s Long Thành market in Âu Lạc (Vietnam) after an anonymous resident finds and surrenders the lost cash. This honest act restores the man’s entire seasonal earnings just before Lunar New Year (Thanh Niên)

Sujaya Jagadish adopts 20 stray dog-folk under a Bengaluru [India] city initiative promoting animal-people welfare. Following national safety protocols, the dog friends are vaccinated and sterilized, highlighting a humane approach to managing India’s street dog-person population (The Hindu)

Enlightening quote of the day: “Worldly affairs pass before our eyes; Old age arrives atop our heads.” The Venerated Mãn Giác (vegetarian) Zen Buddhist Enlightened Master and Poet (Thư Viện Hoa Sen)

To be in a place where you have to truly surrender. That’s what that felt like. It was like, “OK, this is really surrendering.” Because I’m done. And then that was quickly followed by the most peace I’ve ever had. In part 1 of 2 of Jesse Hutch’s near-death experience, the Canadian actor shares how he drowned while whitewater rafting, experienced complete surrender to God, and returned to life after being underwater for up to 22 minutes with no brain damage.

Jesse was in his fifth year as a whitewater rafting guide on the Ottawa River, which runs between Quebec and Ontario in Canada. It was a regular summer day, the first trip out, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. His raft entered a rapid called the Coliseum, which features three standing waves and jagged rocks down the left side. Jesse had another guide in the front of the raft, and everything was going smoothly until the passengers stopped paddling to enjoy the ride. The raft started surfing, going forward and backward, and two large men fell out the front.

The one guy flew by, and I was like, “See you. We’ll pick you up.” And then the other guy managed to grab my life jacket. Again, not his fault. He’s just grabbing onto whatever he can. And I kind of got bent over the back of the raft. We have a foot strap inside. You’re not tied in, but you hook onto it. And I’m like, “Well, I’m not going to give up that easy.” And so, I’m kind of hanging on, and he’s still hanging on. And now I’m getting water boarded a little bit in the water behind us. So I’m in the water, out of the water, in the water, out of the water. I’m trying to shake this guy off. I’m like, “We will get you at the bottom. You’ll be OK.” And then eventually, I was so tired and so exhausted, we just kept going. I was like, “I’m going to have to bail and just swim out with this guy.”

Exhausted and depleted of energy, Jesse finally let go. He went under and felt himself getting whipped around underwater. His ears started hurting from the pressure, and he realized he had entered what veteran rafters call “the green room”— a second current that runs beneath the surface. I open my eyes, and for sure enough, it’s kind of green, because it’s just the color of the water. The sun’s shining, but you can’t quite tell which way is up. You’re just kind of getting whipped around. It was kind of beautiful. And yet I was like, “OK, I’m in the green room. Cool. All right.” So I kind of hang out for a couple of seconds. I’m like, “OK, all right. Maybe I can swim for it.” And I try to swim. I’m still holding my paddle, because you never let your paddle go. You get made fun of. And so, I’m swimming, and I can’t move. And I’m like, “Wow, the pressure is still like a lot. OK, I guess I’m in this second current. So we’ll just hang here.” And so, I’m hanging and hanging, and I’m already a little beat up. I don’t have full oxygen capacity. I don’t have full energy, but I’m not panicked, and eventually I’m like, it’s not letting me go. Like, I’m like, “OK, I’m feeling it now.” And you start kind of going, “OK, I’m going to be out of oxygen soon, and I’d like to move on. When are you done with me here? Let’s go.” And so eventually I let the paddle go, and I tried one last swim, and I kind of went for what I thought was the surface and I just couldn’t break out of it. So I’m like, “OK, I have to wait it out. It’s the only way.” You can’t beat the river. You’ve got to wait till the river’s done with you. So I’m hanging on. I’m hanging on. And I just go completely limp, because you just want to save and conserve all your energy. The more you move, the more you use up your bloodstream, and the oxygen in your blood, it gets depleted even more. So I just went completely limp. And you kind of visualize everything kind of leaving your limbs, and like you just put all your energy like right here, because this is kind of where your vitals are. And I just hung out, and I’m waiting, and eventually my body starts kind of convulsing, and it’s like that sound you do right when you’re trying to hold your breath as long as you can, and that’s when I went, “OK, my body’s actually starting to take over here.” Like I’m going to lose control. And my mind’s still intact, and I still know that I’m underwater and this isn’t where you breathe.

Jesse’s body began fighting his mind for control, demanding that he breathe even though he was still underwater. And my body’s going, “It’s time to breathe.” And I’m going, “No, it’s not time to breathe.” And that struggle became a lot more real quite quickly. And it was like my mind fighting my muscles, and eventually my organs and everything just kicked in, and I lost complete control, which I don’t know that you’ve ever felt as a human being. It’s not something that you can practice. It’s hard. And so, to be in that position where finally that was it, and my body took over and I just started breathing. So just, and my body’s convulsing, and I can’t stop it. And that’s when I kind of freaked out a little bit. It was like, whoa. OK. I’ve lost complete control. I can’t get out of here. I’m breathing in water. It feels like someone pours liquid concrete. Like if you’ve ever seen that concrete that’s like not dry, it’s liquid. They just pour it straight in your body as fast as they can, and it feels like it goes everywhere. Your limbs are just, you’re just full. You feel bloated. You feel heavy. And you can’t move anymore. So my body’s just sort of doing its own spasm thing. I already know I’ve lost control. I have no oxygen left. I now am breathing in water. I’m now so full, I can’t even breathe anymore, but my body’s still going as though it’s going to get oxygen at some point.

In that moment of complete loss of control, Jesse experienced both terror and profound peace. When you lose control completely, you do feel a form of terror, I think, and so when we ask people to, like, surrender it and give it to God, do we truly understand what that feels like? And when I think back to that memory now, to me that’s what it is. It’s terrifying. And yet it’s necessary when you’re dealing with God. But to be in a place where you have to truly surrender. That’s what that felt like. It was like, “OK, this is really surrendering.” Because I’m done. And then that was quickly followed by the most peace I’ve ever had.

Jesse’s near-death experience brought him to the edge of his own strength — a moment where terror and surrender collided, and peace rose in the very place he thought he would die. In that stillness, he let go of everything he had been fighting to control. Soon, his journey moves beyond that moment of peace and into what happened after his body finally gave out. I could hear my heart beat still a little bit. Join us tomorrow for Part 2 of 2 of Jesse Hutch’s near-death experience. (100huntley)