DAILY NEWS Stream – May 4, 2026

Panama reaffirms the neutrality of the Panama Canal, emphasizing the need to preserve global maritime transit routes (Channel NewsAsia)

Iran is operating an estimated US$800 million oil smuggling scheme using sanctioned tankers disguised as Iraqi vessels to evade a US-led naval blockade, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward AI (Fox News)

His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla wrap up a landmark four-day state visit to the US. The royal couple marks the 250th anniversary of American independence with high-profile stops in Washington DC, New York, and Virginia. Highlights include a formal White House welcome and state dinner hosted by US President Trump, a historic address to Congress, wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery, a 9/11 Memorial tribute in New York, and community events in Virginia (BBC)

Ukraine (Ureign) formally asks Israel to seize a cargo ship near Haifa [Israel] that Ukraine (Ureign) says is carrying Ukrainian (Ureignian) grain stolen by Russia (euronews)

Primary school students in Albox, Spain launch a student-run radio show as part of a school project, shifting from social media use to active media production and discussion, which teachers say has boosted the participants’ confidence and collaboration (EuroWeekly News)

Taiwan (Formosa) allocated NT$83 million (about US$2.62 million) to help 611 public schools hire foreign English teaching assistants in the 2025–26 academic year, aiming to strengthen bilingual education through practical, everyday English use and cultural exchange across campuses (Taiwan News)

Mozambique launches a new Intervention and Awareness Group to boost public participation in preventing and reporting corruption, expanding legal literacy and community outreach with support from UNODC [United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime] and EU [European Union] funding (Club of Mozambique)

European authorities dismantle a cybercrime ring running scam call centers in Albania that defrauded victims of more than €50 million, arresting 10 suspects and seizing nearly €900,000 in cash and hundreds of devices used to target victims across multiple countries (Help Net Security)

Simple adjustments can effectively neutralize motion sickness during holiday travel. Experts recommend selecting strategic seating [such as a car’s front passenger seat], consuming ginger tea or candies beforehand or after symptoms start, and practicing slow, controlled breathing. Avoiding heavy meals and drinking water before departure can also help prevent nausea (Thanh Niên)

New research from the University of Jyväskylä [Finland] shows that listening to self-selected music can boost workout endurance by 20%. Choosing your own motivating playlist can help in tolerating sustained effort longer without increasing perceived physical strain (SciTech Daily)

Early recognition of nerve damage is vital for preventing permanent atrophy. Neurologists identify persistent numbness, sudden weakness, and electric shock-like pains as “red flags.” Early detection enables non-invasive treatment before irreversible fiber degeneration occurs. Experts urge immediate evaluation for recurring tingling or coordination loss to avoid chronic disability and safeguard the peripheral nervous system from severe sensory loss and mobility issues (Lao Động)

North Korea’s state media reports severe drought conditions persisting across much of the country, threatening early-season wheat and barley crops. Officials are mobilizing workers to protect the harvests and are conducting “repairs to the gates of reservoirs and waterways”, as experts warn El Niño conditions may return to the region this year and possibly cause extreme weather (Channel News Asia)

An international team led by the University of Cambridge [UK] finds snow cover on Greek mountain peaks has declined by 58% over four decades, with the rate of decline accelerating since 2000. The snow season is also starting later and ending sooner, raising serious concerns over water supplies for agriculture and communities during dry summer months (University of Cambridge)

Bangkok [Thailand] faces a hotter future as climate stress intensifies. Experts expect the city to see up to 120 days of extreme heat each year by 2050 as urbanization and climate change trap more heat. Concrete landscapes keep temperatures elevated at night, while outdoor workers already lose productivity during heat extremes (Channel News Asia)

PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] UK conducts a Whitby [UK] seafront demonstration featuring faux “Siamese and chips” to confront speciesism and encourage people to show the same compassion for fish-people that they show for cat-folks (PETA UK)

A new study finds that toxic lead persists in the air of Metro Manila [the Philippines] decades after the phaseout of leaded gasoline, with researchers tracing current contamination to industrial activity, fossil fuel combustion, and legacy pollution that continue to expose residents— especially children— to dangerous particulate matter (Phys.org)

The UK provides £14 million in new funding to help Pacific Island communities, such as those in Fiji, prepare for extreme weather, protect ecosystems, and strengthen long-term climate resilience through locally led adaptation projects and improved early-warning systems (Gov.uk)

A new report warns that mining the critical minerals used in modern technologies is creating global “sacrifice zones,” where poor communities face polluted water, rising health problems, and growing threats to local food and livelihood systems unless supply chains are more strictly monitored and regulated (Phys.org)

Scientists identify discarded marigolds as a sustainable protein source. Containing 9% protein, these heat-stable flowers can repurpose agricultural waste into umami-rich functional ingredients for baked goods, dressings, and dairy alternatives as vegan demand rises (American Chemical Society)

The global vegan confectionery market surges, projected to reach US$3.4 billion by 2032. Driven by health and sustainability, chocolate dominates, with major brands innovating with dairy-free options, while gummies and candies grow fastest (Persistence Market Research)

The South Korean government selects food manufacturer Akemi as its 84th “A-Ventures” member [a top venture or startup company in the agricultural sector]. Consequently, the firm will receive government support to help expand the vegan, allergen-free dessert market. Utilizing local rice, the startup develops dairy milk-like flavors for inclusive vegan treats, aiming to scale manufacturing and target global consumers (The Asia Business Daily)

After 20 years in captivity, Tswale the elephant-person returns to the South African wild. Following a successful relocation, he has integrated with a local herd, proving captive elephant-people can thrive in their natural habitats (Daily Mail)

Eighty-year-young landlord Mr. Chen in China maintained the same low rent of around US$7.30 for two decades (1992-2012) to shield a blind tenant from poverty while market rates soared 12 times higher. The favor at the time provided a lifeline for the struggling family. After 2012, the family moved elsewhere, but Mr. Chen still continues to visit them, bringing gifts and money during urgent situations (VnExpress)

Wise quote of the day: “That best portion of a man’s life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” – William Wordsworth Renowned British Poet (BrainyQuote)

Previously in Part 1 of 3 of Alison Ward’s near-death experience, British spiritual mentor Alison shared how a violent attack by her former partner Graham suddenly turned into an out-of-body experience filled with overwhelming love, peace, and acceptance.

As her young son Sam tried to stop the attack, Alison felt herself leave her body and move through a bright, peaceful realm where there was no fear, no pain, and no concern — only the sense that everything was as it should be. Then, within that bright and peaceful space, Alison began to see figures ahead of her — a small group waiting as if to welcome her home.

I could make out a triangle of people, and I call them my welcoming committee. And, at the point of the triangle, was my granddad Sam, who Sam had to be named after. He was my favorite grandparent. He was the first to go, typical. And, as I was getting close to him, I was recognizing his features again, and I remember thinking, “He looks so well.” He died at age 76. He didn’t look 76 in this setup. I was getting closer and closer to him, and I was really near, close enough to him to hug him. And then this very old-fashioned voice, a woman’s voice, said to me, “It’s not time to go yet, duck.” And, as soon as they said that, I was back in my body in the room that was just a mess. Alison believes the voice belonged to an ancestor on her mother’s side — someone she had never met in life, but whose accent matched when she described it to her mother.

I often say this to people who have been really traumatized, going through a horrible time, and I sit in front of them, and I say to them, “Just look at me and let me tell you how loved you are, and just try, just believe me in this moment,” and they will cry and cry and cry. I said, “Accept it.” Because if you knew how loved you were, and you are right now, all this horribleness you’re feeling would go. When you die, you are greeted by family. I didn’t know who the rest of these family members were, but I knew they were family, because when I told my mom about what they looked like, she said, “Oh, that’s your so-and-so, and that’s your so-and-so.” All linked to my grandparents’ side of the family. And there really is nothing to fear. Absolutely nothing. I didn’t even feel the pain of the physical pain when I passed.

Returning to her body, Alison found the presence of mind to say one quiet sentence that stopped her attacker in his tracks. And I remember saying calmly to Graham, “What would your mom do if she saw you doing this to me and Sam?” really calm. And then he let out this strange animalistic noise. And as he made that noise, he actually moved back.

Despite her injuries — including a large gaping wound in her leg — she managed to jump over Graham and run out of the house to a nearby corner shop, where the owners called the police and an ambulance. Graham fled with Sam in a borrowed car. Through a series of what Alison describes as miracles, a newly qualified police officer correctly guessed where he had gone, and Sam was pulled to safety from a car filling with carbon monoxide. Graham was arrested, charged with two counts of attempted murder, and sentenced to prison — serving only 18 months.

That totally changed the course of our lives. Every part of our lives was smashed to smithereens. I lost my clothes, my identity, because I was no longer that person anymore. Sam wasn’t that person anymore. We had to go and live with my parents, because I wasn’t in a fit state mentally to look after Sam.

In Part 3, Alison begins the long, difficult recovery from the attack — and in one of her darkest moments, another supernatural presence appears beside her. And this beautiful angel appeared at my bedside. She was — Sarah, her name is. She had the most beautiful, silky blonde hair, and she had Light emanating from her face. Join us tomorrow for Part 3 of 3 of Alison Ward’s near-death experience. (T&H - Afterlife)