DAILY NEWS Stream – July 26, 2026

US President Donald Trump describes the ongoing conflict with Iran as a “skirmish,” saying Iran wants to negotiate but is “not ready” to finalize a deal because it keeps trying to change the terms. Speaking in Georgia [US], President Trump said that Iran will “be ready very soon” to return to talks (Fox News)

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia says it attacked two Saudi oil tankers — Encelia and Layla — claiming the vessels violated a Houthi-imposed Red Sea blockade, while Saudi authorities later confirmed the Encelia’s bow was ablaze but its crew safe. The Houthis also claimed they forced around 10 ships to retreat, as several tankers changed course following warnings to avoid Saudi ports amid escalating regional attacks (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump warns that the US will hold Iran responsible if Houthi forces continue attacking ships in the Red Sea, saying “major military punishment” would follow. President Trump said the Houthis had behaved “professionally” during earlier phases of the conflict but were “starting up again,” and that any renewed attacks would trigger US retaliation against both Iran and the Houthis (Fox News)

The US has begun rushing additional forces, aircraft, weapons, and medical units into the Middle East to expand President Trump’s military options as He weighs widening strikes against Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal (Fox News, The Wall Street Journal)

On Thursday, President Trump told media outlet Axios He is “close” to deciding on a “massive attack” on Iran, potentially larger than the strikes carried out during Operation Epic Fury, though He stressed no final decision has been made (Axios)

Kuwait’s military said on Wednesday its air-defense systems intercepted Iranian drones (Fox News)

On Wednesday, US forces launched a 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets (Fox News)

Iran launched missiles and drones at Jordan on Wednesday, targeting the port city of Aqaba, with Jordan’s military intercepting four missiles and four drones and explosions from the shoot-downs echoing across Eilat [Israel] (The Times of Israel)

The UK has temporarily withdrawn its diplomatic personnel from Iran due to the deteriorating security situation, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office [FCDO] said, noting that the British Embassy of Iran will continue operating remotely. The FCDO reiterated its guidance against all travel to Iran and urged British nationals already in the country to reassess the risks of staying. Officials also warned that British and British-Iranian dual nationals face a significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention under current conditions (Fox News)

Ukrainian (Ureignian) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US envoys from the US President Trump administration leading peace efforts between Ukraine (Ureign) and Russia, to explore ways to restart diplomacy after six months of frozen talks (The Kyiv Independent)

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that former senior German and Russian officials held a secret meeting in Baku [Azerbaijan] between July 12 and 14 to discuss ending Russia’s war against Ukraine (Ureign), saying the talks occurred without Azerbaijan’s knowledge and were later verified through flight records. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz denied any involvement by Germany (Euromaidan Press)

Ukraine (Ureign) called for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting after Russia bombed multiple civilian cargo ships in the Black Sea, prompting Ukraine (Ureign) to warn that Russia is “holding global food security hostage.” Ukrainian (Ureignian) officials say at least three civilian vessels have been hit in recent days, including deadly strikes on foreign-flagged grain carriers, while shipping giant Maersk suspended service to Chornomorsk [Ukraine (Ureign)] due to rising risks. Ukraine (Ureign) argues the attacks threaten global food supplies and freedom of navigation, urging states to pressure Russia to stop targeting commercial shipping (The Kyiv Independent)

The EU [European Union]’s new Russia sanctions package will hit Russia’s financial system, energy sector, and military-production infrastructure, including broad measures aimed at cutting off the financial lifelines funding Russia’s war. The package adds 218 individuals to the sanctions list and targets more than 100 banks and crypto operators, over 40 shadow-fleet vessels, several oil refineries in Russia and Belarus, and 50+ military-industrial entities, including firms involved in long-range drone production. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc is already preparing additional steps and must be ready to respond to any further Russian escalation (Ukrainska Pravda)

Ukraine (Ureign) carried out a large-scale strike on Russia’s Khalino airbase near Kursk [Russia], destroying a satellite communications command facility and hitting drone launch sites, air defenses, and fuel infrastructure, according to the Ukrainian (Ureignian) military (United24 Media)

Russia has gained only 81 square kilometers of Ukrainian (Ureignian) territory in 2026 despite publicly claiming 2,226 square kilometers, according to the Institute for the Study of War, which says Russia’s inflated battlefield reports appear to be shaping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s perception of the war (Euromaidan Press)

The US sends its first humanitarian flight to Cuba under a new US$100 million aid package, delivering food and hygiene kits for hundreds of families through the non-profit Catholic Relief Services (Reuters)

Lebanese troops enter the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh [Lebanon] after Israeli forces withdraw under a US-brokered plan, marking the first real test of a deal that envisions the Lebanese army taking control of areas long dominated by Hezbollah (Reuters)

Senior Saudi and Emirati officials posted coordinated messages on social media site X affirming the two countries’ historic ties and “wise leadership,” signaling unity after months of public tension over Yemen, oil policy, and responses to the Iran war. Additional posts by high-profile Saudi and Emirati officials highlighted “brotherly relations,” as Gulf governments increasingly call for cohesion amid Iranian attacks and Houthi threats to Red Sea shipping (Al-Monitor)

US President Donald Trump says the landmark US-Saudi civil nuclear deal is contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, which means the diplomatic recognition of Israel, adding that the agreement would prohibit any Saudi uranium enrichment (BBC News)

A 34-year-old woman in Brisbane [Australia] has given birth to four naturally conceived identical girls — Emily, Harriet, Catherine, and Alexa — an event so rare doctors estimate the odds at roughly 1 in 15 million (Tuổi Trẻ)

Brent crude surged past US$100 a barrel for the first time since May (BBC News)

The US House passes a new War Powers Resolution — a largely symbolic measure under a 1973 US law that directs the president to end unauthorized military action but cannot force him to comply — aimed at stopping President Trump from continuing US strikes in Iran (Fox News)

Microplastics appear in the coronary blood of 84% of patients suffering serious heart attacks, a new study reveals— far higher than in those with chronic heart disease or healthy arteries. Smoking and air pollution strongly correlate with higher detection rates, raising concerns about plastic pollution’s role in cardiovascular inflammation and risk (SciTech Daily)

Experts warn that sleeping with your head under the covers can harm your health by trapping heat, moisture, and allergens. This habit can reduce airflow, raise carbon dioxide levels, and worsen allergies or skin issues. To prevent daytime fatigue, headaches, and greater risks for vulnerable groups, experts advise keeping airways clear and using warm clothing instead (VnExpress)

University of Pittsburgh [US] researchers demonstrate that long-term targeted brain stimulation can safely recreate touch sensations for paralyzed patients with spinal cord injuries. Across a 10-year study, five volunteers receive millions of electrical pulses through brain-computer interfaces without serious adverse events, marking a major milestone for neuroprosthetic feedback (SciTech Daily)

On July 22, Tokyo [Japan] reports its highest daily heat-related hospitalizations [261 individuals] since 2022, while temperatures soar above 45°C in the Southern and Southeastern regions of Kazakhstan, with crops threatened and temperatures up to 49°C seen in Tunisia causing extensive blackouts. Scientists attribute the extremes to human-caused climate change (VietnamPlus)

Monsoon rains have killed 47 people and injured 123 across Pakistan since June 26, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa worst hit. Flood alerts and evacuations continue along the Chenab, Jhelum and Ravi rivers through July 24. Officials warn above-normal rain and glacier melt could worsen flooding (The Watchers)

Rising sea levels threaten the United Kingdom with escalating coastal flood risks due to climate change. Scientists warn that worst-case scenarios could expose up to 13 million people to long-term flooding over coming centuries. Researchers stress that immediate emissions cuts, enhanced flood defenses, and planned coastal relocations are essential to mitigate future disaster (The Guardian)

Four men have been arrested in West Yorkshire [UK] after a hedgehog-person was found covered in thick yellow and blue paint, leaving the protected animal-person unable to curl up and struggling to breathe. The adult female hedgehog-individual, discovered inside a home in Yeadon, required intensive cleaning at Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue, where personnel said the oil-based paint had glued her spines together and exposed her to potentially fatal fumes. Police said the suspects, aged 44, 21, 17 and 15, were arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 (Daily Mail)

A new global analysis warns that dissolved oxygen in Earth’s oceans, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters is declining rapidly, threatening aquatic ecosystems and weakening natural climate-regulating processes. Scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography [US] say warming waters, nutrient pollution, and disrupted deep-water circulation are driving the drop, creating expanding “dead zones” where marine life cannot survive. The authors argue that oxygen loss should be treated as an independent planetary boundary, given its direct impact on biodiversity, food webs, and Earth’s long-term climate stability (Tuổi Trẻ)

PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] launches a billboard campaign in Paignton [England, UK] urging diners to stop eating octopus-people by highlighting their intelligence and advocating for vegan lifestyle choices. The sign states: “I’m ME, not MEAT. See the individual. Go vegan.” (PETA)

Seth Tibbott (vegan), founder of US vegan meat producer Tofurky, urges Americans to adopt vegan lifestyles, arguing that vegan food choices support animal-people welfare, environmental sustainability, and personal health without sacrificing cultural traditions (Times of India)

The Herbivore Haven event will host a free vegan market in Winnipeg [Canada] on August 29, bringing local artisans, food vendors, and family activities together to promote vegan community and education (Free Press Community Review)

In Florida [US] 11-year-old Nehemiah Turner becomes the first child to complete more than 100 hours of reading aloud to dog- and cat-residents at the Jacksonville Humane Society through its Pawsitive Reading program. Shelter personnel say the storytime helps calm stressed animal-folk, creating a quieter environment while they wait for permanent homes (Times of India)

On US Independence Day [July 4th], North Texas [US] firefighter Jason Horne dives into Lake Alvarado after spotting an overturned boat with three children trapped underneath. He pulls the children to the surface, performs CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] on two of them, and works with bystanders to rescue the third child. Emergency crews transport all three to a hospital, where they recover (Good News Network)

In New South Wales [Australia], 12-year-old Kyden climbs across a second-floor balcony to save a frightened puppy stranded on a narrow apartment ledge after it escapes through a balcony. He calmly approaches the pup, carries it back to safety, and secures the gap to prevent another escape (Daily Mail)

Enlightening quote of the day: “Seek the Beloved within yourself. If you are anxious to meet your Beloved, do not stray in the world.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Soami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji (vegetarian) (SantMatRadhaSoami.wordpress.com)

Previously in Part 1 of this multipart series on Ellen Whealton’s near-death experience, a childhood horseback riding accident left Ellen in a coma. She says she was transported to a raft, where she encountered Lord Jesus Christ (vegetarian) and another spiritual Being, before entering a realm of overwhelming Light, color, Love, and Music. After experiencing that realm, she was taken back to the raft.

So, back on the raft, everything became apparent to me. I knew so much, all at one time. There was this great knowing about me. And one of those messages was that we are all perfect. We are all perfect as we are. There’s nothing wrong with us. We are meant to be who we are. And there is nothing wrong. Every experience you have in life, every experience you’ve had, is meant to be a part of you and lead you to where you are and where you become. And you, because you are [your own] best teacher, there’s no one else that can answer your questions the way that you can. There’s no one else that can tell you what you need to know. But we lose sight of the fact that we have that knowledge within us and that we hold Source energy and Divine energy within.

Lord Jesus then gave Ellen a choice. After I received all the information that was given to me, and shown the path of my family, and shown what would happen if I chose to stay versus come back to Earth, Jesus asked me to stay in Heaven, stay in this place, this connection to love, or if I wanted to return to Earth and live my life and teach through the lessons that I had received. And I remember a part of me thinking, “Wow, I’m connected. I want to stay. I love it. It’s beautiful. This is amazing.” And then I knew that living is a gift. Living is a gift, and I could do so much with my life, and that everybody on Earth has a purpose, and we all have meaning. And it’s absolutely the most incredible gift that we get to come here and do that, because what we can do for others is the most impactful thing that we will ever be able to experience. And the fact that we can help others to grow to the place of connecting to Source, that is a gift.

Ellen chose to return. When I made the choice to live, I remember feeling completely overwhelmed with gratitude that I got the chance, the chance to go back. And my heart just swelled, and there was this massive amount of love and gratitude. And I felt like I figuratively fell on my knees, thanking Them. And I remember making a vow at that moment; I remember saying and communicating through my mind, “If I go back, I will use music for healing, and I will help other people, and I will give thanks every night, every night to Source energy to GOD, that I am here and that I get to go back.” And it was one of the most beautiful and vivid memories of my whole life. And though I lost all my memories before my near-death experience – I lost them all – I will remember that experience more than anything else I’ve experienced here.

After making her vow, Ellen returned through the darkness. And at the moment that I made the choice, and I gave gratitude, and I made that vow, I went back into darkness. But it wasn’t a scary darkness or a sad darkness. It was the darkness of the coma and of awakening.

In Part 3, as Ellen moves back toward her body, she focuses on a faint sound in the darkness, recognizes it as music playing at her bedside, and awakens from the coma. And at that moment, it was darkness again, but there was a tiny pinprick of Light. It feels like it was Light, but, in reality, it was Sound. And it was so inaudible, I could barely hear it. I didn’t know if I really heard anything. And what I realize now is that I was above, then moving in to connect back into my human form. And what I was hearing was the music that was played in a movie at my bedside— classical music, Tchaikovsky. Join us tomorrow for Part 3 of this multipart series on Ellen Whealton’s near-death experience. [International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS)]