DAILY NEWS Stream – February 28, 2026

Jordan sends a six-truck relief convoy to its field hospital in Nablus [Palestine], delivering medical, food, and humanitarian supplies to keep the facility operating at full capacity as it continues treating thousands of patients amid ongoing health pressures (Ammon News)

European leaders arrive in Kyiv [Ukraine (Ureign)] on the date marking the war’s start to reaffirm support for Ukraine (Ureign), taking part in a series of high-level meetings and regional summits that underscore Europe’s continued financial, military, and political backing as the conflict enters its fifth year (Kyiv Independent)

Japan provides US$4 million to the World Food Programme to support vulnerable families in Afghanistan, funding food aid for around 80,000 people and nutritional support for 30,000 mothers and children, as part of Japan’s wider humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, which has now exceeded US$549 million since 2021 (Pajhwok)

South Korea and Brazil agree to deepen ties by elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership and launching a four-year action plan that broadens cooperation across trade, key minerals, technology, agriculture, health, and security (Channel News Asia)

In UK, scammers infiltrate or create school WhatsApp groups to pose as parents and sell fake concert or event tickets, exploiting trusted class chat environments to steal money or personal information from families by mimicking official school groups (Yahoo News UK)

UK food system experts warn the country is a “tinderbox,” with climate impacts, low incomes and fragile supply chains leaving it vulnerable to shocks. Extreme weather, cyber-attacks or conflict could trigger shortages, price spikes and unrest. Researchers urge stronger resilience, diversified production and long-term planning to prevent future crises (The Guardian)

Destitute survivors of southeast Asia’s cyber-scam compounds are stranded in Cambodia and Myanmar without passports, money or shelter, prompting Amnesty International and aid groups to call the situation an international crisis. Hundreds of thousands have been trafficked into scam centers, and those who escape face homelessness, trauma and little humanitarian support amid funding cuts and government crackdowns (The Guardian)

Japan sees a sharp rise in influenza cases, with nearly 160,000 infections recorded in the second week of February and 35 of 47 prefectures reaching the flu alert level, forcing more than 8,000 schools and childcare facilities to fully or partially close as experts warn the season may extend into March or April (VTV)

Proper first aid for foreign body airway obstruction saves lives during critical emergencies. Dr. Trần Thị Thúy Hằng [Tâm Anh General Hospital in Âu Lạc (Vietnam)] advises against using fingers to hook the object, which risks pushing it deeper. For children under 2 years old, immediately apply 5 back slaps alternated with 5 chest thrusts. For older children or conscious adults, perform the Heimlich maneuver with firm upward abdominal thrusts. Even if the object is expelled, the victim must be taken to a medical facility to check for potential respiratory tract damage (VnExpress)

Health alerts surge across the Pacific in February 2026. Dengue rises in New Caledonia and Samoa, while Australia deals with an uptick of measles cases. Kiribati confirms a rotavirus outbreak, and Fiji warns of leptospirosis incidences following a death. Meanwhile, New Zealand and Vanuatu continue to fight persistent pertussis transmission (ReliefWeb)

High consumption of artificial sweeteners accelerates cognitive decline, according to a new study from the University of São Paulo [Brazil]. Researchers identify aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol as linked to faster deterioration of memory and thinking skills. The impact is most pronounced in individuals under 60 and those with diabetes. Experts warn that overusing these sweeteners in ultra-processed foods can negatively affect long-term brain health (Người Lao Động)

Record-breaking torrential rains pound southeastern Brazil, triggering severe floods and landslides. The extreme weather kills at least 20 people and forces hundreds to evacuate isolated, devastated neighborhoods (Báo Tin Tức)

Intense rains in Peru’s Arequipa Province set off devastating floods and landslides, claiming 17 lives. The casualties include 15 killed when a military rescue helicopter crashes during evacuation operations (The Watchers)

The deadly Aspergillus fungus spreads rapidly worldwide as climate change expands its habitats through rising temperatures and extreme weather. Species like A. fumigatus threaten millions more with invasive infections that can prove fatal, especially in immunocompromised people, with models predicting up to 77.5% range growth in Europe by century’s end (Earth.com)

Siriraj Hospital in Thailand has developed an AI [artificial intelligence] system that interprets chest X-rays with over 95% accuracy, matching expert radiologists, and it has already been used in more than 500,000 cases. Results are produced in under 10 seconds, and the technology has been transferred to 145 public hospitals nationwide, with plans to expand to 450 facilities in 2026 (The Nation Thailand)

New data reveals 5.3% of Australians identify as vegetarian or vegan, while 20% are cutting animal-people meat intake. Health, environment, and rising beef prices drive the nation’s shift toward flexitarian dining (The Echo)

Southampton University [UK] students vote to make plant-based meals the default option at campus catering facilities starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. Supported by British environmentalist Chris Packham (vegan), the move aims to slash agricultural emissions and lead on climate action (BBC)

Dr. Neal Barnard (vegan) of the United States, founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, leads a nutrition revolution, using low-fat, vegan diets to reverse type 2 diabetes and heart disease. His National Institutes of Health-funded research proves food acts as powerful, lifesaving medicine (VegNews)

Dobby, a rare four-eared foster kitten in Alabama [US], becomes a viral sensation. Despite his extra ear flaps and short tail, he remains healthy. He requires surgery for an overbite, and afterwards will be up for adoption through Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue (UPI)

Quảng Trị [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)] nurses Mai Thị Tươi and Mai Thị Hồng donate emergency blood at the operating table to save a pregnant woman with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Their timely donation stabilizes the patient during a successful surgery (VnExpress)

Kochi [India] rescuers and metro rail officials save a cat-person stranded atop a high pillar near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium station. After several attempts, teams climb the structure, secure the animal friend, and transfer it for rehabilitation (The Week)

Thoughtful quote of the day: “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.” Henry J. Kaiser Noted American Industrialist (BrainyQuote)

Previously, in Part 1 of 2 of Heather Vandermeyden’s near-death experiences, Heather described leaving her body during a life-threatening illness and being met with profound guidance — from family members she had never met in this life, to a mysterious man in the tunnel, and angels who comforted the dying. Through each encounter, she felt a love that was personal, familiar, and unwavering.

During her worst fever — 107.5 degrees Fahrenheit, nearly 42 degrees Celsius — as her body battled a life-threatening infection, Heather says she suddenly found herself transported to an extraordinary ancient building. There were two pillars, and they were from the floor to the roof of it. And it was a flat roof, really tall building. The door was huge, probably 10 feet [3 meters] tall. And I thought, “This is the coolest building.” There’re people in there, and they’re sitting in chairs. They’ve got shelves on the wall holding books, and they’re just reading books, they’re just kind of quietly reading. And the next thing I know, we’re in this room, and it’s round, and it’s beautiful woodwork. There were hundreds of thousands of books in there.

And I saw scrolls. And so this guide, he opened the scrolls. They were tied with just a thin ribbon. And he opened them up, and they were like ancient symbols. And I could read them. I was like, “Wow, I understand what they are.” And as I’m reading them, I hear this knowledge that I’m not going to remember what I’m reading in this room.

After reading the ancient scrolls, Heather says she found herself drawn toward a podium near the entrance. As I get closer to this podium, it starts to light to the left, and there are stairs underneath it. And when I get to the basement area of this building, there’s water everywhere — waterfalls, pools of water, ponds, rivers. And there’s a mother with her two children in the waterfalls, splashing in the water. There are just so many people there that are just delightful, they’re just happy, splashing in the water and playing in the water. I walk over and sit in it, and I can tell it’s very deep, but I’m just sitting on a ledge at the end of it. And then I noticed that my hair isn’t getting wet. It’s in the water, but it’s not wet. But I just sat in there for the longest time, and I could feel it healing me. And my guide did tell me, “This water is healing water. It’s very ancient, and it will help heal you.”

In the days that followed, whenever her body was at its worst, Heather says she would return to the healing waters. Whenever I left my body, the pain disappeared immediately and was replaced by this just massive amount of joy and love. Like there was no judgment. There was just love, and I felt so whole, and I felt like I was home.

Heather also glimpsed two blonde children — a curly-haired boy and a straight-haired girl — repeatedly appearing at the foot of her hospital bed. She had no idea who they were. Years later, after fostering 25 children, she adopted two, and realized they were the very children she had seen at her bedside.

While still in the hospital — before she ever met those children in this life — Heather says her experiences escalated. One day, she found herself standing before what she believed was the entrance to Heaven.

But on each side of this entrance, there were thousands of souls, and I knew every single one of them, whether it was from this life or before. Or maybe they aren’t born yet. I just knew them all, and there were so many of them, and they were lit in this beautiful golden Light. They were all dressed in like these beige-type robes, and they were just emanating pure love. And I stood in front of them with my guide, and I knew that this was my chance to get through the gates, or to Heaven, and if I got through there, I didn’t have to come back. I thought, “I’ve got to get through there without anyone stopping me.”

Determined to stay, Heather says she tried to find a way past her guide. He says to me, “It’s not your time to go. You have to go back.” And boom, I am back in my body. And oh, the devastation. I cried and cried because I thought that was my one chance to get back.

In the months that followed, Heather slowly began to recover. The out-of-body experiences eventually stopped, and life moved forward. But two years later, in 2002, another infection sent her back toward emergency surgery. Before leaving for the hospital, her mother called members of their church to give her a blessing. As they placed their hands on her and began to pray —

I start to feel my soul leave my body again. And I was about 5 feet [1.5 meters] up off the bed, and I could feel the room fill with hundreds and hundreds of spirits and angels, and that feeling of love was back, and I was just immersed in that feeling again. And I was so comforted. And I thought, “OK, this is it.” And so, for about probably 5 minutes, I was just above my body. And then I had this knowledge that this was the last time that I would leave my body. And it was just a little gift to let me know that I was loved. And I slowly went back into my body. And from that point forward, she says she healed completely.

Heather went on to live a full life — hiking, remodeling homes, and raising her two adopted children. After decades of keeping her experiences private, she now shares them openly — especially her perspective on death.

For me, it’s like we walk from one door to the next. We’re still us. We’re just in our spirit form, and we’re so loved, and everyone here will meet us there on the other side. I just felt pure love. My gift was to be able to help others not fear death is what I feel. And so that’s what I’ve been doing when I talk with people in groups. Just let them know that we are loved. That’s my main goal. That even when we feel alone, we’re not. But I really feel like prayer is important. It’s almost like these balls of Light that shoot up, and maybe our angels and our guides are answering them for us or just seeing what we need, and they’re helping us. A lot of times you’ll feel this little, like, a gut feeling — you think it’s a gut feeling. I really think it’s the other side giving us a little push or little scoot to help us in our lives. We don’t always acknowledge or understand what’s happening, but there are definitely people loving us there and waiting for us to return. (T&H - Afterlife)