DAILY NEWS Stream – October 2, 2026

US and Iranian officials held separate talks with mediators on September 28 as Iran sought a response to its proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran wants the US to release frozen funds, lift oil sanctions, and end its naval blockade before nuclear talks begin; US President Donald Trump has called the proposal unacceptable. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern crude oil exports have rebounded to nearly 80% of prewar levels, although shipping through Hormuz remains well below normal, according to Kpler data reported by financial news outlet CNBC (CNBC)

Reuters news agency reported on September 29 that US forces were scheduled to leave their last bases in Iraq by September 30 under a withdrawal agreement reached in 2024. Iran-backed groups hailed the planned departure as a victory, while Iraqi security officials warned that the withdrawal could strengthen those groups and give Islamic State fighters room to regroup (Reuters)

Taiwan (Formosa)’s defense ministry reported tracking three Chinese military aircraft, five naval vessels, and four other official ships around the island between 6 a.m. September 27 and 6 a.m. September 28, Taiwan (Formosa) time. It said one aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, and Taiwan (Formosa) deployed aircraft, ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor the activity (Taiwan News)

Ukrainian (Ureignian) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on September 26 that Russia had launched more than 2,730 jet-powered Shahed-type drones that month, with Ukraine (Ureign) shooting down or electronically suppressing more than 1,500, or about 55%. He said Ukraine (Ureign) was developing and scaling up specialized interceptors to counter the faster drones; its reported success rate against conventional Shahed-type drones exceeds 90% (United24 Media)

About 70% of those who voted in Switzerland’s September 27 referendum rejected a proposal to impose stricter rules on the country’s neutrality. The measure would have barred Switzerland from cooperating with military alliances such as NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] unless it faced an attack or an imminent attack and allowed sanctions against countries at war only with United Nations Security Council approval. Switzerland remains neutral and outside NATO, but can continue to decide on sanctions and security cooperation under its existing rules (Al Jazeera)

Kyrgyzstan and Niger established diplomatic relations when their foreign ministers signed a joint communiqué on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York [US]. They also discussed cooperation through the United Nations and other international organizations and expressed interest in strengthening ties (24.kg)

German retailer Metro AG lost control of the day-to-day operations of its Russian business on September 28 after President Vladimir Putin ordered another company to manage it. Metro says it still legally owns the subsidiary, which operates 91 wholesale stores in Russia. The decree gave no reason for the decision (euronews)

British police arrested five men near RAF [Royal Air Force] Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, on September 27 on suspicion of terrorism and explosives-related offenses linked to an alleged bomb threat. The US Air Force has used the base to launch strikes on Iranian missile sites. The men were released on bail the next day as police investigated whether anyone acting for a foreign state was involved; Iran denied any link (CNBC)

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on September 28 raising the authorized number of military personnel by 15,500 to about 1.55 million, the fourth increase this year. The decree sets a staffing target; it does not itself announce a new draft of reservists (euronews)

Ukrainian (Ureignian) forces delivered about four metric tons of food and medical supplies by drone to 100 locations in Russian-occupied Oleshky [Ukraine (Ureign)], according to the Kherson regional governor. Residents face severe shortages, and Russian drone attacks have disrupted attempts to bring supplies into the town by road (The Kyiv Independent, Reuters)

Proper first aid can limit damage from household burns. Experts recommend immediately moving away from the heat source and cooling the burn under cool running water for about 20 minutes. Remove jewelry or loose clothing before swelling develops, but never pull off fabric stuck to burned skin. Do not pop blisters, apply oils, creams, or home remedies, or place adhesive bandages directly on fresh burns. Instead, cover the area loosely with sterile, non-stick gauze. Seek urgent medical care for deep or extensive burns, burns involving the face, eyes, hands, genitals or major joints, or any breathing difficulties (Thanh Niên)

A new study from Australia finds, among those with household water tanks, two-thirds drink unpasteurized rainwater containing bacterial and heavy-metal hazards. Researchers detected DNA from gut pathogens, including Salmonella and Campylobacter, in 10% and 13% of tested domestic tanks, respectively. Water safety experts urge homeowners to clean catchment roofs and install effective filtration systems (Earth.com)

US health authorities are investigating a multistate hepatitis A outbreak linked to imported frozen clam-people from Ecuador. At least 37 individuals across four states have become ill, with 30 hospitalized. The FDA [Food and Drug Administration] and CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] urge consumers and restaurants to discard affected La Serranita-brand frozen clams (Food Poison Journal)

A report from Rebalance Earth, a United Kingdom nature-finance company, found 81% of England’s fresh produce is grown in areas already experiencing water stress, while most wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beet and oilseed rape production faces moderate to very high drought risk. The company warned drought could lower yields, strain supply chains and raise food prices (The Guardian)

In recent weeks, heavy rain, flooding and landslides have killed nearly 100 people across Thailand, Myanmar, India and Nepal. Thailand reported eight deaths and 1.7 million people affected since September 16, while India’s Uttar Pradesh state recorded at least 62 deaths between September 25 and 27 and 21 perished in Nepal between September 24 and 27. Myanmar reported at least eight deaths and 30 people missing since September 25 (Thanh Niên)

A study led by researchers in the United Kingdom found increased rainfall can increase rodent-people populations and infection among them. Tested against more than 6,000 Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, the model accurately predicted seasonal outbreak timing and could help assess how climate change may affect future disease risks carried by these animal-people (Phys.org)

On September 20, members of the Aulacese (Vietnamese) vegan community hosted the 2026 Vegan Mid-Autumn Festival, “Moon of Mine,” at Hanoi Children’s Palace in Âu Lạc (Vietnam) About 400 children and their family members enjoyed lion-people dances, lantern processions, games, and performances, including songs by Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) A 37-dish vegan feast and activities about animal-people and the environment brought a message of compassion to the traditional celebration. The evening also included a prayer for peace, the Earth, and all beings (Báo Ảnh Việt Nam, event organizers)

Vegan Summit Budapest [Hungary] returns November 7, 2026, expecting more than 1,200 attendees and 30 exhibitors, after being sold out last year. The program includes cooking sessions, health consultations, workshops, and speakers such as strongman Patrik Baboumian (vegan) and PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] Germany’s Julia Weibel (Vegconomist)

Diabetic weightlifter Ava Biesterfeld (vegan) won three gold medals at the 2026 VIRUS Weightlifting Series 2 in Fort Worth, Texas [US]. Representing Vegan Strong PlantBuilt [an elite team of vegan athletes], the St. Louis [US] registered dietitian won in two categories, and in the overall total with 223 kilograms (Vegan Strong)

Private equity firm Inflexion is investing in Paris [France]-based Manucurist, a vegan nail polish brand, to accelerate its international expansion across the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. Founded in 2016, Manucurist’s vegan and cruelty-free products reach more than 40 countries (Global Cosmetics News)

Eighteen-year-old Max Owobu, a Bronx [US] high school student, founded the Yenko Foundation to help Ghanaian children attend school. Inspired by youth leaving school to work, he began helping at 15 with savings from his allowance. The nonprofit now supports K–5 education through tuition, meals and uniforms for 10 students (Good News Network)

Awal emergency responders in Ghadames [Libya] rescued a Filipino engineer stranded after his vehicle broke down in a valley during a well-inspection mission for the Man-Made River Project. Rainwater runoff was flowing through the area. The Emergency Medicine and Support Center said responders safely evacuated him after receiving an emergency alert (Libya Observer)

Animal-people rescuers saved around 200 animal-folk during a week-long operation at the end of September in villages submerged by the Veligonda drinking water and irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh [India]. Teams rescued dog-, snake-, turtle-, chameleon- and other animal-citizens, using boats to reach isolated areas. Government authorities provided permits, an ambulance and a boat, helping evacuate the stranded animal friends (Times of India)

Enlightening quote of the day: “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For GOD is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Saint John (vegetarian) Apostle of Lord Jesus Christ (vegetarian) (1 John 3:18-20, Holy Bible)

Previously in this multipart series on Omar Perez’s near-death experience, Omar shares how he lost his daughter Chloe to an unexplained illness. Four years later, pneumonia and sepsis left him on a ventilator. During that illness, he found himself on a winding path through fog. When he blinked, the path gave way to a vast open space. Out of the left side of this area I’m sitting in comes my Chloe. And she is just everything I remembered and everything I envisioned in my head of what she would look like now, at six years old. Chloe wore the little gold sandals and purple nail polish Omar had put on her at the funeral home. He had always called her an old soul: she was calm and often comforted her twin sister, Sophia. He used to joke that Chloe had come to help guide her sister.

She comes over to me, and she starts saying to me, “Daddy, I miss you. I love you so much. Daddy, you were right. My job was done. And I did a good job, Dad. I did a very good job.” It was just such a beautiful experience to be able to have that with her. And I’d been yearning for it for so long. For years, Omar had wondered whether he could have done more for Chloe. As her father and a former medical worker, he felt he should have recognized how seriously ill she was. Hearing her say she had done her job brought comfort to a part of him that had carried guilt since her death.

At the end, she said, “Daddy, I have to go. But remember, I love you so much. I’m always with you. I’m always with Sophia, with mama, with Michael. I send you signs. I’m here with you.” Omar held Chloe and told her what he had long wanted to say. And I felt such peace because I just knew she was going to be OK, and I was going to be with her. As Chloe began to walk away, the family dog companion, Leela, came running toward her. Omar watched them walk away together. He had never imagined he could bear to see Chloe leave again, but he felt certain she was safe. Then he blinked and felt himself lying flat, unable to open his eyes.

I tried to sit up, and this heavy, gentle, but very heavy hand, right on my head, it kind of just puts me back. I hear a very calming presence, but it’s a very kind of booming voice that says, “No.” Just, “No.” Omar tried once more to sit up. This time, he felt pressure on both his head and chest. The voice again said no, and he felt himself being pushed down. When he opened his eyes, he was somewhere else. Now, I am in a room. It felt like a room to me, but there are no walls. I just started feeling nothing but pain. My grief, anger, regret, guilt, every bad feeling that we go through here, that you can feel, all at once, all in my chest. And I began wailing. He wanted to return to the place where he had just been with Chloe. And I just kept begging, “Please let me go back. Please let me go back.”

In Part 4, Omar wakes in the hospital and writes down what he saw. Only after returning home does he learn something his family had kept from him. I get home, I walk in, and I’m looking for the dog. Join us tomorrow for Part 4, the conclusion of this multipart series on Omar Perez’s near-death experience. (Sandra Champlain - We Don’t Die YouTube channel)