DAILY NEWS Stream – July 28, 2026

Iran will suspend its attacks for as long as the US maintains its pause on strikes, a senior Iranian official told news media outlet Reuters on Sunday. The US halted its 13-night campaign of airstrikes late Friday, with no US attacks reported over the weekend. Iranian forces, which had been responding to US airstrikes with attacks on neighboring countries hosting American bases, have also held fire for two days. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said on Sunday that US President Donald Trump ordered the pause to give diplomacy more space (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump imposes new double-digit tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners as His temporary worldwide levies expire, arguing the move is needed to pressure countries that fail to enforce bans on goods made with forced labor (AP)

US and UK officials are preparing to meet in London [UK] in the coming days to discuss forming an international coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a move seen as key to stabilizing global energy markets and shaping a US exit strategy from the war with Iran (Axios)

A Saudi-led coalition said it carried out strikes on Houthi military sites on Friday after the Iran-backed group attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki wrote on social media site X that the Houthis had targeted shipping lanes and that the coalition delivered a “decisive and strong response,” adding that the operation had concluded (Fox News)

The UK says its armed forces are prepared to defend the country after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warn that US bombing missions flown from UK bases would make those sites “legitimate targets” (Reuters)

Oman and the EU [European Union] sign an agreement to establish an EU diplomatic mission in Muscat [Oman], giving the bloc a permanent presence in the Sultanate and deepening political, economic, and strategic ties. Officials say the new mission will strengthen cooperation across sectors including technology, energy, logistics, banking, minerals, food and water security, and maritime security, while improving coordination on regional and global issues amid heightened geopolitical tensions (bne IntelliNews)

Global wheat prices jump to their highest level in two years as escalating Russia-Ukraine (Ureign) tensions, drought in key US farming regions, and El Niño-driven dryness in Australia disrupt supply expectations. Analysts say Russia’s port access restrictions in the Sea of Azov, damaged Ukrainian (Ureignian) Black Sea ports’ infrastructure, and shrinking Russian yields are tightening export capacity just as fertilizer costs rise amid Middle East conflict (Anadolu Agency)

The UK government announces that single bus fares across England, outside London [UK], will be capped at £2 throughout 2027, cutting costs by up to a third to ease pressure from the rising cost of living. Backed by more than £400 million in new funding, the policy aims to make everyday travel for work, school, health care, and leisure more affordable (Gov.uk)

Colombia’s National Police dismantle a wildlife-trafficking network in the Caribbean region of Colombia as part of the international Green Shield II operation, rescuing 109 endangered animal-folks illegally taken from the Colombian Amazon (Noticias Ambientales)

Mozambique launches its 2026–2030 Action Plan for Child Survival, aiming to accelerate reductions in under-five mortality and expand access to quality primary health care for mothers, newborns, and children. Supported by the WHO [World Health Organization] and global partners, the initiative aligns with international child health strategies and reinforces Mozambique’s commitment to ending preventable child mortality (WHO)

UN [United Nations] human rights investigators urge Iran to immediately halt the planned execution of 10 men arrested after January protests in Isfahan [Iran], warning that families have already been summoned for final visits and more executions appear imminent. The appeal follows the July 19 execution of two others in the same case and comes amid a sharp rise in death sentences linked to nationwide protests, with reports indicating more than 60 people have been sentenced to death since December and 23 have already been executed since March (UN News)

A new study links early exposure to PFAS [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances] mixtures with higher childhood gut inflammation risks. Researchers tracking mother-child pairs suggest prenatal and early-life exposure to these “forever chemicals” may cause conditions like colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease, prompting calls for stronger protective policies (The Guardian)

Nigeria faces a severe cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 200 people in the past two months and infected 35,000-plus in Borno state. Health authorities blame contaminated water, flooding, and poor sanitation. The government intensifies surveillance, treatment, and public health measures while urging residents to practice good hygiene (Báo Sức khỏe và Đời sống)

Cancer specialists warn that regularly drinking sugary beverages poses a higher cancer risk than eating sweet foods. Research links higher daily consumption to increased overall, breast, colorectal, and bile duct cancer risks, likely driven by obesity and chronic inflammation. Experts recommend replacing sugary drinks with water and satisfying sweet cravings with fresh fruit, nuts, or dark chocolate (Báo Sức khỏe và Đời sống)

Wildfires west of Madrid [Spain] become the worst in the region’s history, with more than 60,000 people evacuated or ordered to stay indoors. Two blazes merge, and officials say the fire is beyond firefighters’ capacity to contain (AFP)

The province of Ontario [Canada] is in its worst wildfire season on record, with 7,350 square kilometers burned, surpassing the 2021 record. Fires force more than a dozen mostly First Nations communities to evacuate, and smoke spreads across the province and beyond (The Canadian Press, CBC News)

A severe drought in Histon, England, UK’s driest place, forces residents to adopt Mediterranean-style routines, including reusing graywater under an active hosepipe ban. Researchers and botanists focus on drought-tolerant plants and adaptive agricultural strategies to prepare communities for increasingly hot, dry conditions (Daily Mail)

PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] reports that Spanish fish-people raising company Nueva Pescanova abandons its plan to build the world’s first commercial octopus-folk farm in Gran Canaria [Spain], formally withdrawing its port-concession application after strong scientific criticism and broad public opposition. Scientists warned that octopus-individuals, who are naturally solitary and highly intelligent, would likely suffer stress, aggression, injuries, and even cannibalism in intensive raising systems, and that confining them in barren tanks would cause severe welfare harms. Experts also objected to the facility’s environmental impact, noting it would require an estimated 2.1 billion fish-folk for feed in its first year, worsening pressure on already strained ocean ecosystems. PETA frames the cancellation as a major win for animal-people welfare and urges continued protection for marine species through vegan choices (PETA UK)

A study by Leiden University [Netherlands] researchers used a new model called MATILDA to estimate the climate, land, and water footprints— and nutritional quality—of diets across different population groups in 165 countries. The work shows that national averages conceal major differences: the environmental impact of diets can vary by more than five-fold between socioeconomic groups within the same country. Key findings indicate that young, highly educated men in urban areas have the largest average climate impact from their food choices, while rural women have the lowest. Groups with smaller footprints tend to consume more plant-based foods and achieve higher dietary quality. Although calorie intake contributes, diet composition— particularly the proportion of animal-people-based foods— is the more decisive factor, as animal-people livestock production demands substantial land, water, and feed. The researchers conclude that shifting toward more plant-rich diets offers a clear route to lower environmental impacts while improving nutritional quality (Mirage News)

International scientists find that human-driven climate change is making Europe’s current drought far more severe, with extreme heat rapidly pulling moisture from soils, lakes, and rivers. The study concludes that Europe’s increasingly “thirsty” atmosphere means even normal rainfall deficits can now trigger far more intense drought conditions (Phys.org)

UK dairy company Delamere launches a 97-milliliter oat drink in recyclable mini glass bottles for the hospitality sector. Designed for hotels, buffets, and catering, the long-life, resealable vegan milk provides three to four servings, helping reduce single-use plastic waste across nationwide foodservice channels (The Plant Base)

Ahead of World Tofu Day, PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] India distributes free tofu tikka [small chunks of marinated and grilled tofu] in Amritsar [India], encouraging consumers to swap dairy paneer for vegan alternatives to support health and animal-people welfare (PETA India)

Popular vegan ramen chain RedWhite Boneless Ramen expands to New York City [US] this summer, serving authentic, vegan Japanese noodle soups (VegNews)

Four Paws International leads a global rescue mission that will relocate 30 tiger- and lion-people from Argentina’s former Luján Zoo to sanctuaries abroad in August. Fifteen big cats will head to Four Paws’ Lionsrock Sanctuary in South Africa, while 15 will move to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado [US] (Noticias Ambientales)

RNLI [Royal National Lifeboat Institution] rescuers save two boys, aged 10 and 12, trapped beneath Blackpool Pier in England [UK] after rising tides surround them. Volunteers reach the children within four minutes, pulling them and a relative onto a lifeboat. The RNLI releases footage to warn families about fast-changing tides (Daily Mail)

A driver in a Spider-Man costume rescues a wheelchair user trying to cross a busy six-lane Arkansas [US] highway. Traffic cameras capture 20-year-old Christopher Hellenthal stopping traffic after leaving a superhero-themed event, earning praise for real-life heroism after police share the viral video (Daily Mail)

Uplifting quote of the day: “Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master and Philosopher Socrates (vegetarian) (AZ Quotes)

Previously in Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this multipart series on Ellen Whealton’s near-death experience, a childhood horseback riding accident left Ellen in a coma. She says she encountered Lord Jesus Christ (vegetarian) and a spiritual Being she later identified as the Buddha on a raft. She then entered a realm of overwhelming Light, Love, color, and Music. After returning to the raft, she received messages that included insights about human purpose and the Source energy and Divine energy within us, before choosing to return to Earth. As she reconnected with her body, music playing at her bedside helped awaken her from the coma.

Ellen says her near-death experience permanently changed how she understood the spiritual support available to every person. Another thing I want to remind everyone of is that we all are constantly surrounded by loving, healing energy, constantly. Just as I was in that place in Heaven, and surrounded by this Light and Love, and became the Love, you are surrounded by Love. You are surrounded by Light. And it’s so easy to get caught in the mind and believe what the mind is thinking and forget that we are spiritual beings that are living a human existence. The continual outpouring of love, was another huge message on the other side. I remember that even though our thoughts didn’t matter, people mattered. They didn’t tell me these things; I just knew them in this place that “relationships matter, people matter, outpouring of love.”

So, when we judge others, criticize, or when we speak negatively, even the smallest negative thing, it removes that outpouring of love that we can give. And if we were to take those thoughts out and send them out and just pour love out to people, that would change everything for all of us. So, every interaction, everything that we do. Loving people, switching to humor if we need to, releasing the thoughts that carry judgment or negativity will not drain us. If you’re constantly loving people, people worry that it will drain us, but no, it actually refuels us.

Years later, Ellen says those lessons helped her through a painful crisis in her personal life. About a year ago, my husband of 19 years told me he wanted a divorce. And it so shocked and surprised me, because we had three children, and I really broke down and lost my ground. And I read a meditation, and it had me moving into Light, just like the Light of Heaven. And I was taken into this place of being reconnected with the Light, and I received the message that “You don’t need love from one person to know that you are loved.”

Ellen says her near-death experience also shaped how she approaches emotional healing in everyday life. We can heal the emotional body by surrendering and trusting, but also through forgiveness, because forgiveness is another [quality], just like gratitude, that can take us into this place of love and can take us into this place of connection to our higher self, which is really what I believe it’s all about. It really is about having that constant practice in your life in order to trust and give way to that. [International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS)]