DAILY NEWS Stream – February 26, 2026

Pakistan launched multiple airstrikes overnight in eastern Afghanistan, saying it targeted militant camps linked to groups blamed for recent attacks inside Pakistan, while Afghan authorities and local agencies reported civilian casualties — including women and children — amid the strikes (CNA)

US special envoy Steve Witkoff says Ukraine (Ureign) and Russia could see “good news” on ending the war within weeks and suggests a President Zelenskyy-Putin meeting is possible after US-backed proposals are presented to both sides (Ukrainska Pravda)

Ukraine (Ureign) warns that delayed Western air-defense deliveries are allowing Russian ballistic missiles to hit energy infrastructure, with Deputy Presidential Office head Ihor Zhovkva saying that timely interceptor supplies— not overall aid volume— determine whether strikes can be stopped as Kyiv shifts its priorities toward air defense and missile-drone countermeasures (RBC)

A new Associated Press– National Opinion Research Center (AP-NORC) [US] poll finds that about six in ten Americans report experiencing extreme cold or severe winter storms in the past five years— up from about half in a February 2025 AP-NORC survey— as unusually bitter temperatures disrupt daily life, drive up heating costs, and feel harsher against the backdrop of long-term warming (Phys.org)

A 21-year-old man from North Carolina [US] is shot and killed by Secret Service agents and a local deputy after allegedly breaching the secure perimeter of US President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in the early morning hours, carrying a shotgun and a fuel can, prompting a multi-agency investigation into his actions, background, and motive (Fox News)

Tourists in the popular Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta [Mexico] are told to stay inside their hotels as a federal security operation in Jalisco [Mexico] triggers clashes, vehicle burnings, and shifting road blockades across the state (Fox News)

Indian educator and artist Rouble Nagi wins the US$1 million Global Teacher Prize for creating more than 800 open-air learning centers in 100-plus slums and villages across India, a model that has reduced dropout rates by over 50% and brought more than a million marginalized children into formal education (Good News Network)

European researchers find industrial chemical Bisphenol A [BPA] in 98% of headphones, with levels in some models far exceeding safety recommendations. Scientists warn that heat and sweat increase skin absorption of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals, urging users to limit wear time and choose BPA-free materials for safety (CafeF)

Dr. Phạm Việt Hoàng identifies red dates as “natural ginseng” for effectively nourishing blood and calming the nerves. However, diabetic patients, those with bloating, or individuals with high fevers must strictly avoid overconsumption. Experts recommend a daily limit of 3-5 dates to prevent digestive stagnation and blood sugar spikes. Proper usage significantly supports digestion, enhances skin health, and bolsters the immune system (VietnamNet)

Medical experts investigate a mysterious, fatal liver failure outbreak in Chhainsa, India, primarily killing children within 48 hours. Officials conduct urgent screenings and heavy metal testing, eyeing contaminated water and reused needles as potential causes for this rapid, deadly crisis (VnExpress)

A historic blizzard strikes the US Northeast, burying cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston under up to 60 centimeters of snow. The storm grounds flights and triggers whiteout conditions for 40 million residents (Fox Weather)

Multiple wildfires erupt across South Korea, forcing emergency evacuations. Crews deploy helicopters and heavy equipment to battle the rapidly spreading flames fueled by dry, windy weather conditions (VietnamPlus)

Geologists raise alarms as new sinkholes open in parts of Indonesia following heavy rains. Experts urge residents to report ground subsidence, warning the collapsing terrain threatens property and forces evacuations (VietnamPlus)

A Cocke County [Tennessee, US] woman is taken into sheriff’s custody after deputies find a dog-person under her care was left outside during a snowstorm, with authorities charging her with animal-people cruelty (WVLT)

Recent rollbacks and shifts in US conservation policy reduce environmental safeguards around Guam [US], leaving its already vulnerable coral reef ecosystems increasingly exposed to warming waters, pollution, overfishing, and development pressures, as narrow, species-by-species protections under the Endangered Species Act fail to adequately account for the complex, interconnected nature of reef systems and the scientific challenges involved in formally identifying and listing coral species (Earth.com)

The bullfighting school in La Algaba, a municipality in Spain’s Seville province, is unable to offer its 2026 course after receiving zero student applications, a striking sign of how younger generations are turning away from bullfighting despite its deep cultural roots in the region (Noticias Ambientales)

Chinese researchers develop a long-lasting, non-toxic water-based battery that uses neutral salt electrolytes and organic electrodes to deliver more than 120,000 charge cycles with minimal performance loss, offering a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries (CafeF)

A new Monash University [Australia] philosophy paper argues that AI [artificial intelligence] “digital companions” marketed as cures for loneliness are ethically flawed and risk worsening social isolation by offering only an illusion of connection, displacing real human relationships, and exposing vulnerable users— especially older adults— to manipulation and privacy harms (Mirage News)

The world’s largest South Indian vegetarian chain, Saravanaa Bhavan, makes its Australian debut in Adelaide. The Chennai, India-founded global giant brings its signature vegan-friendly masala dosas and home-style Indian flavors (Glam Adelaide)

Beauty brands like Plum and Blue Heaven launch vegan mucin skincare serums using botanical extracts like wild yam and okra to mimic snail secretions. These plant-powered formulas deliver deep hydration and anti-aging benefits without animal-people ingredients (The Free Press Journal)

The global faba bean protein market is set to surge between 2026 and 2035, fueled by high-single-digit growth. The non-GMO, low-allergen ingredient is becoming a mainstream staple in animal-people meat and dairy alternatives (IndexBox)

Authorities in the Netherlands, UK, and Denmark are deploying red LED [Light Emitting Diode] streetlights to protect bats. The red spectrum preserves ecological corridors while balancing road safety and biodiversity (Noticias Ambientales)

Lake Belton High School volleyball team [Texas, US] members and seniors build intergenerational bonds through competitive chair volleyball. This heartwarming initiative boosts physical activity and social ties, fostering a unique community spirit that extends far beyond the court for both groups (Good News Network)

For 22-plus years, Nguyễn Văn Tác of Cần Thơ [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)] and his 30-strong volunteer team have provided 24/7 free ambulance services across multiple provinces for disadvantaged patients. Beyond transport, Mr. Nguyễn is a prolific blood donor and leads community projects (Dân trí)

Unifying quote of the day: “I think togetherness is a very important ingredient to family life.” Barbara Bush Former First Lady of the United States (BrainyQuote)

Previously, in Part 1 of 2 of Jesse Hutch’s near-death experience, Jesse described being pulled under the Ottawa River rapids, struggling for oxygen until his body began involuntarily breathing in water. When his body finally took over, he reached the edge of his own strength and chose to let go of everything he had been fighting to control. In surrender, terror gave way to the deepest peace he had ever known. Today, in Part 2 of 2, Jesse shares what happened after that peace — and how he returned against all odds.

I could hear my heart beat still a little bit. I could hear the water. It was like… And the water was peaceful, and everything was completely black, because I didn’t even open my eyes. I had no energy. And so, I heard my heart, and all I listened to was the water and my heart. And my heart got slower and slower, and then my heart stopped. And then I remember just hearing the water, and I remember in that moment it was like full, just open hands, just going, “OK, Lord, I’m done. I’ve fought. I’ve kicked. I’ve screamed. I’ve clenched, and I’ve hung on to everything that I could. And now I’m in a real place of surrender. And I genuinely give myself to You.” And that was the most peaceful moment of my life, probably. And then everything just went completely dark, black, no noise, no nothing, and gone. Next thing I remember was blurry images of people, and I saw the roof of a vehicle, and then I woke up in a barometric pressure chamber in a hospital.

Jesse had been underwater an estimated 11 to 22 minutes. Doctors told him he should be in a coma, completely brain-damaged, or unable to walk or talk. They let me walk out of the hospital. And, aside from having one of my nasal canals kind of crushed a little bit, I had to have surgery on it, but I held out for decades. I should be in a vegetative state. And so, what do you do with that? I went home and sat on the edge of my bed and was like, “OK, what? Now what, Lord?” And my eyes, my eyes were opened in a new way, and my ears were opened in a new way of listening, where I was like, “OK, whatever You say goes.” Like, “You got me. You completely took care of me.”

Three weeks after the accident, Jesse confronted his new fear of water by swimming the same rapid where he had drowned. I went and spoke to, we called him “Reager.” He was the head of the safety council. I went to him, and I said, “Look, I’m like freaked out to have a shower and sit in the bathtub. This is messed up, and I know that that’s not right.” And I knew that my spirit always has a different approach than our flesh. And the spirit was saying, “No, we don’t have time for fear. You’ve got things to do. Lord wants you to do things.” And then my flesh was going, “No, no, you don’t understand. You don’t understand what’s happening.”

So Jesse went to Reager and told him he needed to swim the rapid again. I said, “But this time, I need to swim it because it’s now a fear.” It’s something that’s literally trying to choke me and kill me out and put something in my life that, like, fear can be controlled. But who are you going to let control your fear? You’re going to let God control your fear? Are you going to let the enemy control your fear? Are you going to let your flesh control your fear?

Jesse walked to the top of the rapid, and as he prepared to jump in, the clouds covered the sun, and rain began to pour. Despite the darkness and fear, he walked off the ledge into the water. Everything was saying, “No, no, let’s make it more fearful. Let’s make it worse.” And yet God was like, “I don’t care how bad it looks or how bad you think this is. Get in the water.” I was like, “All right.” So I walked off the edge, and as soon as I was in, I was like, “Ain’t no turning back now. I can’t outswim the river and get to the edge.” So there’s only one way down. As soon as I went under the water, it was like, “Is this going to happen again?” Because that was the exact spot that it happened. And so there was a moment of like, OK, this could happen again. And it didn’t. I came up. I saw the sky in the blue and I crashed by the water. I started freaking out. I swam through the second wave. I swam through the third. At the bottom of the rapid, Reager picked him up. They drove out in silence. Back at the truck, Reager walked around, shook Jesse’s hand — and left. And then I just wept like a baby. And I felt so free.

Jesse’s experience taught him the power of surrender and how God uses circumstances for His Glory. Stop trying to own that fear. It’s not yours. It’s happening to you, but God can do something through you. So, you do need to feel it. If you got to yell and kick and scream and shout and cry, do it 100%. That’s real. God made emotions. It’s a part of it. But know that when you get hit with that, find those emotions because those are flags, and they have a name. And it’s like, “OK, now I know what that feeling is.” And you immediately give it to God. Say, “Lord, this is what, take it,” and He will. (100huntley)