DAILY NEWS Stream – August 24, 2026

Six armed individuals hijacked a tanker traveling through the Gulf of Aden off Yemen on August 20 and reportedly intend to redirect it to Somalia, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations [UKMTO] (Fox News)

The Yemeni Armed Forces said it carried out 81 military operations against Houthi targets over a 24-hour period, killing several Houthi leaders and destroying equipment and vehicles. The military said the operations were in response to repeated Houthi attacks on civilian facilities, ports, ships, and displacement camps, and said it remains committed to restoring state institutions and defending Yemen’s sovereignty (Fox News)

Russia launched a large missile and drone attack overnight into August 20 on Kyiv [Ukraine (Ureign)] and the surrounding region, killing at least 16 people and wounding about 40. Ukrainian (Ureignian) officials said strikes hit dozens of locations, damaging apartment buildings, a school, a children’s hospital, and a kindergarten, while more than 38,000 people sheltered in Kyiv’s subway stations (AP)

Russia has conducted a missile test near disputed islands claimed by Japan, days after President Vladimir Putin made his first-ever visit to the territory. The exercise involved Bastion surface-to-ship missiles and simulated attacks on enemy vessels, prompting a protest from Japan (South China Morning Post)

European gas prices climbed above €65 per megawatt-hour on August 20, their highest level since March and more than 130% higher than at the start of 2026. Prices are being driven by low gas storage levels, disruptions to supplies, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and increased demand from gas-fired power plants during Europe’s heatwave as hydroelectric and nuclear generation decline. European gas storage was only about 57% full at the beginning of August, raising concerns that a colder winter could push prices higher and add to inflation (euronews)

A major cyberattack on Beacon CRM, a software provider that helps charities manage supporter and donor information, may have exposed personal data belonging to millions of supporters of up to 1,000 UK charities. The attack occurred between July 27 and 31, and UK authorities are investigating, while affected individuals have been warned to watch for phishing scams, in which criminals use stolen personal data to trick people into revealing more information or sending money (Daily Mail)

A report by the Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victim Assistance says at least 13,670 people from Asia, Africa, and South America are being held in scam compounds in eastern Myanmar and forced to carry out online fraud. The report says the compounds are controlled by militias including the Border Guard Force, Karen National Army, and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, all of which deny involvement in organized crime. Victims described being bought and sold between scam operations, forced to work up to 16 hours a day, beaten, and punished for failing to meet quotas or trying to leave. The group says urgent rescue efforts are needed as scam networks shift deeper into Myanmar following crackdowns elsewhere in Southeast Asia (UCA News)

More than 200 young volunteers renovated an underground passage in Ulaanbaatar [Mongolia], turning it into an art gallery decorated with artwork, including portraits of famous Mongolian poets and their poems written in traditional Mongolian script. The project began on May 9, and the renovated passage officially opened on August 17, with organizers saying the goal was to create a more attractive and comfortable urban environment (Open.kg)

Bangladesh has launched women-only “Pink Bus” services, with 10 buses serving routes in Dhaka and adjoining areas and additional buses operating in Bogura and Chattogram. The initiative follows Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s pledge to introduce a dedicated bus service for women in Dhaka (The Daily Star)

Soy and pea milk can provide protein levels comparable to cow-person’s milk, with about 8 grams per cup. Soy milk also contains all nine essential amino acids. Many plant milks are fortified with calcium, vitamin D and B12. Experts recommend choosing unsweetened varieties (Health.com)

Fiji now faces a generalized HIV [Human Immunodeficiency Virus] epidemic, with infections rising sharply over the past decade. Health Minister Atonio Lalabalavu says an estimated 9,100 people lived with HIV in 2025, with about 1,700 new infections. The government plans to expand HIV testing and treatment and implement prevention measures such as access to the PrEP [pre-exposure prophylaxis] drug (FBC News)

Facial changes can sometimes signal underlying health problems. Yellow eyes may indicate liver or biliary disease, while sudden drooping eyelids or facial weakness can indicate neurological problems or stroke. A butterfly-shaped facial rash is associated with lupus. Persistent facial or eye swelling may also warrant medical evaluation, particularly when accompanied by other symptoms (VnExpress)

The body needs only a small amount of sodium, yet the average American consumes about 3,400 milligrams a day, far above the adequate intake level of around 1,500 milligrams. Much of this sodium comes from processed foods or restaurant meals containing added salt rather than from salt added at the table. Excess sodium causes the body to retain fluid, increasing blood volume and contributing to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. High salt intake can also cause temporary swelling and increase calcium loss through urine, potentially affecting bone health. Most people can reduce their sodium intake by limiting added salt and eating more minimally processed foods, although some medical conditions require individualized dietary advice (Talking with Docs)

Overnight storms in Germany kill a woman in Waldorf and damage about 60 homes in Wetzlar on August 19, the fire department says. In Italy, more than 126 millimeters of rain falls in the town of Chiavari on August 20, flooding basements and ground-floor shops (Daily Mail)

Heavy rain raises rivers and streams in the province of Nghệ An [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)], temporarily cutting off seven hamlets and more than 3,000 people in Tam Thái Commune on August 20. Landslides block Road 543D in Mường Típ Commune, and the province orders localities to monitor flooding (Tiền Phong)

A wildfire burning since early August in Serbia’s Deliblatska Peščara forest reserve forces the evacuation of a small hamlet on August 20, with strong winds pushing flames toward homes. Interior Minister Ivica Dačić reports no damage so far (euronews)

Scientists from the University of Sussex [UK] say late summer is one of the most difficult times of year for honeybees to find enough food. Their research found that bees gather less energy from foraging during this period because fewer flowers are blooming and competition for nectar is greater. Heatwaves may worsen the problem by reducing nectar production and disrupting flowering times. The researchers suggest British gardeners can help by mowing lawns less often, allowing late-summer weeds such as thistles, ragwort, and knapweed to grow, and planting more flowers that bloom later in the season (Daily Mail)

Peruvian fashion designer Genaro Rivas features BioPuff, a down alternative made from bulrush [sedge family plant], in his latest menswear collection, highlighting a sustainable material that is cruelty-free and reduces carbon emissions by up to 88% compared to goose-person down (Plant Based News)

Finnish researcher Anni Kortekangas identifies methods to refine underused rice bran from rice milling and rapeseed press cake [a rapeseed oil production byproduct] so that food manufacturers can use them to produce sustainable, nutrient-rich vegan ingredients (VTT)

US vegan pet-person food manufacturer Virtuous Vittles debuts ‘Bountiful Land for Dogs’ on online pet-folk store Chewy, a 100% vegan, veterinary-formulated wet dog food designed to provide adult dog-individuals complete, eco-friendly nutrition without animal-people products (Pet Age)

Three Indian youths risk their lives to rescue a calf trapped in floodwaters near Gaggal [Himachal Pradesh, India] on August 18. Ripan Rana, Ravinder and Abhishek enter the swollen stream and bring the baby safely to shore with help from local villagers, earning praise for their courage and compassion (The Newz Radar)

A family in Gatlinburg [Tennessee, US] discovers a bear-person trapped inside their vehicle after it enters searching for food and accidentally locks itself in. When attempts to unlock the vehicle fail, a family member smashes a rear window to free the frightened animal friend, which escapes and calmly walks away (Daily Mail)

After receiving an emergency call, police stop traffic to save an injured 14-week-old stray kitten at the side of a busy freeway. San Francisco [US] animal-people welfare officers then retrieve the 1.27-kilogram kitten, which had multiple injuries and may have a broken leg or pelvis. Veterinarians provide antibiotics and schedule X-rays as the kitten begins its recovery (Daily Mail)

Uplifting quote of the day: “Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.” – Mary Ann Evans Famous British Novelist, Poet, and Journalist (AZ Quotes)

Previously in this multipart series on Reverend Dr. Ray Catania’s near-death experience, Ray shared how, at age 20, a natural-gas leak left him unable to move before he fell from his bed and found himself outside his body. Looking down at his lifeless body, Ray encountered an extraordinary Light filled with love, peace, and euphoria, and heard a being invite him to enter it. But when his father rushed into the room and held his body in his arms, Ray chose to return. In the years that followed, Ray tried to dismiss the experience as a hallucination. But the mysterious being he encountered continued to appear at critical moments in his life— including one night when its warning helped him escape a shooting. But Ray’s earliest memory of this mysterious presence went back even further— to his childhood. While learning to swim, he drifted far out to sea, caught in an undertow and unable to get the lifeguard’s attention.

And I think this is going to be the end. And just as I think I’m going to die, this is the first recollection that I have of this being. He says, “Calm down. Swim sideways. Take all the time you need.” I’ll never forget that. Now, I can’t calm down because I’m a kid; it’s not possible. So he does that for me. All of a sudden, a feeling, a warmth-type feeling, goes through my body, and it’s almost like it pushes the calmness into the crown chakra, through my body, and out through my feet. Now I’m calm. And I start swimming sideways. Ray survived, swimming slowly sideways until he finally reached shore. As he walked along the beach afterward, he came to a stark realization: he believed no one was coming for him and that he would have to make his way through life on his own— a realization he later interpreted as the being’s message to him that day. Years later, Ray was still struggling to understand the strange experiences that had followed his NDE. He says he experienced premonitions, sensed unseen presences, and began interacting with what he described as energy, even as he continued trying to dismiss it all. Then, in his 40s, he met the woman he became certain was his soulmate— and an experience involving her would finally begin forcing him to confront what had happened to him decades earlier.

And on the movie screen is a man, and the man is speaking to me only. And he says, “I made a mistake. You can help her. I cannot.” Who’s her? Who are you? What are you talking about? I don’t even know you. And it’s like every hour, on the hour, he comes back, and I have to listen to this message again. As the visions became more frequent— eventually coming every few minutes— Ray found himself unable to function normally and became convinced he had finally lost his mind. Believing he might soon face institutionalization, he called his brother to make sure his will and end-of-life wishes were in order, then resolved to release the woman he loved rather than burden her with his apparent insanity. But when he finally confessed everything to her, he knew he was taking a risk: she was a doctor of psychology and neuropsychology, and he feared she might have him committed.

I told her everything. The screen, the guy— he’s husky, he’s got dark hair, beard, mustache. He says, “I made a mistake. You can help her. I cannot.” She leans in and wants me to tell her once again, “Tell me that again. Tell me what he looks like.” And she’s like, “You don’t understand. This sounds like my father.” And I was like, “Babe, listen. You told me your dad was dead. Did you lie to me?” She goes, “No, he’s dead.” And I said, “You think I see dead people?” She’s like, “Listen, I’ve been to mediums, and he comes through just the way you’re saying.” And I said, “What the heck’s a medium?” And she just goes on to explain, “Like a psychic.” And I was like, “Oh, that stuff’s not real.” She’s like, “Shut up and listen to me. I have an appointment with this medium. You’re coming. We’re going to go.” In Part 4, Ray finally meets with the medium his girlfriend had told him about— and for the first time, someone begins connecting the strange experiences he has lived with for decades back to the near-death experience he had tried so hard to dismiss.

She goes, “That’s how we see it.” And I said, “Who’s we?” She goes, “Mediums.” She validates everything. The NDE, the energies that I used to see, my so-called imaginary friends when I was a child— just everything that’s ever happened in my entire life that I could not explain, that people would say, “You’re crazy.” She understood it and she could explain it. Join us tomorrow for the final part of Ray Catania’s near-death experience. (IANDS [International Association for Near-Death Studies] Podcast)