DAILY NEWS Stream – July 27, 2026

Iran rejects a US cease-fire proposal delivered by Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, with Iranian officials saying it is the only offer currently on the table but unacceptable because it does not resolve control over the Strait of Hormuz (The New York Times)

US President Donald Trump says China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin personally assured Him they will not supply weapons to Iran (Mezha)

On Thursday, US forces continued their campaign with a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, aiming to degrade Iran’s capabilities and deter threats to commercial shipping (Fox News)

US President Donald Trump states that any future damage to ships or cargo in the Strait of Hormuz will be paid for using Iranian funds currently controlled by the US (Fox News)

Iran flew IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] commanders, advisers, munitions, and gold to Yemen to support Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, according to Yemen’s information minister and multiple sources cited by news outlet Reuters (Reuters, Fox News)

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani meets UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in Doha [Qatar], where both sides discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation and coordinating diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions. The prime minister emphasizes the need for all parties to commit to dialogue and to uphold the US–Iran memorandum of understanding, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz (Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and unrestricted, stressing that vital waterways should stay accessible for global trade and free from measures that impede navigation. He emphasized that international maritime security rests on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which protects freedom of navigation essential for food and energy flows (Fox News)

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian sign four new bilateral agreements in Tehran [Iran], expanding cooperation in transport, infrastructure, municipal governance, and public administration development (Channel 8)

EU [European Union] countries authorize their Indian Ocean naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, to begin boarding ships suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, expanding efforts previously carried out in the Mediterranean. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says the move “tightens the net” as the bloc links maritime actions with sanctions enforcement (The Kyiv Independent)

Ukrainian (Ureignian) drone and missile strikes on multiple Wildberries logistics hubs across Russia are destroying large volumes of inventory and disrupting the country’s biggest e-commerce platform, bringing the war’s economic impact directly into ordinary Russians’ lives. Ukraine (Ureign) says the warehouses are legitimate military targets supplying components for Russia’s war effort, while Russian officials acknowledge heavy losses and small businesses report devastating damage (CNN)

South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young says the South Korean President Lee Jae Myung administration has moved away from a denuclearization-first approach toward North Korea and is now pursuing a peace-first strategy aimed at eventually creating a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula (The Korea Times)

Mali and Morocco have revived their Joint High Commission — the top bilateral body that oversees and coordinates cooperation between the two governments — after a 26-year pause (APAnews)

Syria outlines a “Syria Without Camps” plan that aims to end displacement camps in the nation by 2027 through restoring infrastructure, supporting voluntary returns, and expanding cooperation with international partners (SANA)

Medical professionals warn that wearing flip-flops during long walks alters walking mechanics and increases foot injury risks, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendon pain. Lacking arch support and cushioning, flip-flops force foot muscles to work harder. Specialists advise limiting their use to beaches or pools and opting for supportive footwear during extended walking (Thanh Niên)

Health experts say a Japanese towel-roll method can help relieve lower back and hip stiffness caused by prolonged sitting. The technique involves lying on your back with a rolled towel placed beneath the lower back, allowing the spine to extend gently and improve mobility. Doctors stress that the exercise provides temporary relief and does not burn belly fat, realign the spine, or permanently fix back problems. They recommend starting with a small towel, holding the position briefly, and avoiding excessive stretching while paying close attention to the body’s response (Thanh Niên)

Endocrinologists warn that avoiding sugar alone cannot prevent type 2 diabetes, as poor sleep, chronic stress, sedentary habits, and processed foods also impair glucose regulation. To lower risk and improve metabolic health, experts recommend a balanced, whole-food diet, regular physical activity, post-meal walks, adequate rest, and stress management alongside reduced sweet intake (Thanh Niên)

Torrential monsoon rains trigger severe flooding in India’s Assam state, killing at least 41 people. Authorities conduct round-the-clock rescues and relief operations, with nearly 900,000 affected and tens of thousands sheltered in relief camps (Channel News Asia)

A rare 5.0 magnitude earthquake near Spearman [Texas, US], with a depth of 5.7 kilometers, shakes the Texas Panhandle, marking the region’s strongest quake since 1900. Reaching Oklahoma and Kansas, the shaking causes no reported injuries or major damage, though officials note older masonry structures remain vulnerable (The Guardian)

A scorching heatwave grips Europe as a freak ‘firenado’ rages near Bordeaux [France], forcing over 10,000 tourists to flee, with many staying in campsites prior to the blaze. In central Spain, firefighters battle one of the nation’s largest wildfires on record amid 47 degree Celsius temperatures (Daily Mail)

Savour Vegan Creamery’s cashew-based “Cashbert Creamy Camembert” wins top honors at the 2026 New Zealand Vegan Cheese Awards, praised by judges for its authentic bloomy rind and rich flavor (Radio New Zealand)

The Vegan Street Fair is held monthly in Los Angeles [US]’s Westwood Village. The last edition, held on July 26, featured over 30 vendors, live DJ sets, and games (Canyon News)

Veganuary launches a winter guide highlighting over 30 vegan and plant-based cafes across Chile with July promotions, encouraging consumers to explore vegan drinks and pastries year-round throughout the nation (Vegconomist)

US-based nonprofit Sunflower F.U.N.D. has raised over US$1 million for Ukraine (Ureign) humanitarian relief since 2023, with the money directed to partner aid organizations in Ukraine (Ureign). Following recent insulation upgrades to a refugee shelter near Odesa [Ukraine (Ureign)] done by charity volunteers in April, the organization prepares for its second annual “A Night of Hope for Ukraine” fundraiser in Mount Vernon [Washington state, US] on September 19 (GoSkagit.com)

Ninety-year-old Bulgarian family doctor Dr. Kiril Apostolov continues serving over 1,500 patients in remote mountain villages like Skrat. His dedication highlights Bulgaria’s severe rural physician shortage, where over half of doctors exceed age 55 and national life expectancy remains the European Union’s lowest (VnExpress)

Eighteen-year-old Euan Lonnen leaps into an unmanned, rolling car in Dingwall, Scotland, UK, pulling the handbrake to save two elderly passengers and preventing a collision with another vehicle (Daily Mail)

Wise quote of the day: “If you seek answers, you won’t find them, but if you seek GOD, the answers will find you.” – Reverend Mark Batterson American Pastor and Author (AZ Quotes)

Previously in Parts 1 and 2 of this multipart series on Ellen Whealton’s near-death experience, a childhood horseback riding accident left Ellen in a coma. She says she entered a realm of overwhelming Light, Love, color, and Music, where she encountered Lord Jesus Christ (vegetarian), received messages about human purpose, and was given a choice between remaining in Heaven and returning to Earth. Ellen chose to return and vowed to use music to help heal others.

As Ellen began returning to her body, she found herself once again in darkness. I saw a music staff in the distance, in the darkness. And it was colorful, [like a] rainbow, and each note had a different color. And as it moved [along] the staff, I could see the music notes moving, but couldn’t hear the music. But I watched the staff get bigger and bigger, and the animated notes just moving along the staff, until, finally, it went from this tiny little image to right into my head and then disappeared behind me.

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. It was so inaudible, I could barely hear it. I didn’t know if I had 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 playing in a movie at my bedside, classical music, Tchaikovsky. And I focused so hard on that sound. It was so faint and so difficult to connect [to]. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It took every bit of my spiritual strength to connect to that sound. And it got louder and louder and louder, until it was booming in my head, booming. And then the sound went away.

And I opened my eyes, and I was in the ICU [intensive care unit], in this hospital in Waco. And I had woken up from a coma. And I remember my parents weren’t there. The nurse came over, and I remember being told, “It’s a miracle that you’re awake, that you’re alive. It’s a miracle.” The music that woke her came from the ballet score to Sleeping Beauty, her favorite childhood movie, which her father had chosen to play at her bedside that day.

The music that I woke up to, that woke me from a coma, was Tchaikovsky. My dad had decided that day that he wanted to play my favorite childhood movie at my coma bedside, in the ICU. And the movie was Sleeping Beauty. And Sleeping Beauty is 90%, from what I understand and what I’ve read, about 90% music. It’s all based on the Sleeping Beauty Suite by Tchaikovsky, which is a ballet, and it’s a composition. It’s beautiful, and when I woke up from the coma, that’s the music that was playing, and that is what woke me.

Ellen also identified the man in the brown robes years later, after enrolling at Naropa University, a Buddhist university in Boulder, Colorado, USA. When I arrived in Naropa to go to one of my meditation classes, I saw a depiction of a young, thin, bald Buddha in brown robes in one of the pictures or paintings, maybe in a book, or I think it was on a wall, actually. And I recognized instantly that that was the Man from my near-death experience. That was the energy that was with me while Jesus was across from me. I remember realizing, full circle, that this was the validation that I needed to be in this realm and with this school, because another message that I received on the other side is that it’s all Love. It’s all Love by a different name. I know that this is controversial to some, but it’s the message that I received and what I choose to adopt and take on, because I felt it and I knew it.

In Part 4, Ellen shares the lasting lessons she carried back with her, including the healing power of surrender and the Love she says constantly surrounds us. We all are constantly surrounded by loving, healing energy. Constantly. Just as I was in that place in Heaven, and was surrounded by this Light and this Love, and became the Love, you are surrounded by Love. You are surrounded by Light. Join us tomorrow for Part 4 of this multipart series on Ellen Whealton’s near-death experience. [International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS)]