DAILY NEWS Stream – March 19, 2026

Top US and Chinese economic officials meet in Paris [France] to stabilize their strained trade relationship and prepare for the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March 2026, focusing on tariffs, rare earth mineral flows, high-tech export controls, and China’s agricultural purchases (National Today)

US President Trump says multiple countries plan to send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open as US forces continue strikes on Iranian targets, with experts warning that clearing mines and restoring safe passage could take weeks or months amid a conflict that has already halted much of the region’s oil and gas shipping (New York Post)

A new study from Johns Hopkins University [US]’s Institute for Global Tobacco Control finds that raising the Philippines’ cigarette excise tax to ₱90 (~US $1.50) per pack and expanding graphic health warnings to cover 85% of packaging would motivate millions more smokers to consider quitting, highlighting gaps in current tax and labeling rules and the need to curb illicit foreign packs without proper warnings (Asia News Network)

Bolivian police arrest Uruguay-born drug trafficker Sebastian Marset—wanted across South America and carrying a US$2 million reward from the US government— in a large operation in Santa Cruz [Bolivia], after which he is transferred to US custody, marking a major milestone in Bolivia’s renewed cooperation with the US DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration] and regional efforts to dismantle his cocaine-smuggling network (Tuổi Trẻ)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates [UAE] authorities arrest a 60-year-old British tourist and 20 others under the UAE’s cybercrime law for allegedly filming or sharing online footage of Iranian missile damage, as prosecutors warn that reposting or commenting on unverified conflict-related content can trigger criminal charges carrying prison terms, fines, and mandatory deportation (Thanh Niên)

Catherine, Princess of Wales [UK] says She has become far more cautious in Her daily habits and now rarely drinks alcohol after Her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy, sharing during recent public visits that recovery has been a long, emotionally demanding process as She gradually returns to royal duties (VnExpress)

A review of 19 studies finds that tea bags—especially those made with plastic mesh, blended fibers, or heat-sealed polypropylene— can release up to billions of micro- and nanoplastic particles during brewing, with results varying widely by bag type and lab methods, while scientists continue investigating how these particles and associated chemicals interact with human health (Earth.com)

US adult smoking rates hit a historic low of 9.9% in 2024, dipping below double digits for the first time. While public health officials celebrate this milestone, concerns persist regarding e-cigarette popularity among young adults (Fox News)

Adding healthy fats like olive oil significantly boosts the body’s absorption of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and K from vegetables. Dietitians recommend drizzling it on salads and roasted greens to increase nutrient bioavailability. Combined with fiber and probiotics, this simple dietary habit maximizes nutrition and supports heart and gut health (AOL)

The “fibermaxxing” social media trend promotes higher fiber intake to improve digestion and heart health, but experts warn against sudden increases. Most Americans consume nearly half the recommended daily amount. Dietitians advise gradually adding whole foods like beans and grains to reach daily targets—roughly 25 grams for women and 34 grams for men— to avoid bloating and discomfort (AOL)

Heavy rains and severe flash floods in Kenya kill at least 62 people, including 33 in Nairobi. Rescue teams continuously search flooded areas as authorities warn of persisting dangerous weather (Reuters)

IIT [Indian Institute of Technology] Gandhinagar [India] researchers discover that shifting Pacific Ocean temperature patterns act as a natural brake, preventing synchronized global mega-droughts. These shifting cycles stagger drought timing across continents, protecting global food security and crop production (Earth.com)

Lagos [Nigeria] residents endure a severe heatwave worsened by chronic power outages and rising fuel costs. Environmental experts link the intense conditions to climate change, rapid urbanization, and loss of green spaces across the city (PM News Nigeria)

Testing of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, finds genes resistant to multiple antibiotic classes in the raw water source that supplies about 40% of Northern Ireland’s treated drinking water, with sewage spills, livestock slurry, and weak environmental regulation creating conditions that accelerate antimicrobial resistance and leave the lake in severe ecological decline (The Guardian)

Greece is testing eco-mooring systems near Athens [Greece] to stop boat anchors from tearing up Posidonia seagrass— an essential Mediterranean habitat that stores carbon, filters water, and supports marine life— as officials and scientists call for nationwide deployment, stronger legal protections, and faster action to safeguard meadows heavily damaged by tourism and anchoring (Euronews)

Miami [Florida, US] resident Andrew Otazo continues his years-long effort to remove trash from the city’s mangroves— collecting more than 19,500 kilograms so far— while Florida high school teacher Susan Peoski models everyday environmental stewardship by giving students bags and grabbers to pick up litter on their walks, showing how small, consistent actions can protect local ecosystems (The Invading Sea)

New research finds that Brazil’s little-known Cerrado wetlands store exceptionally large, ancient carbon reserves— far denser in average storage than Amazon biomass— because waterlogged, oxygen-poor soils preserve organic matter for millennia, prompting scientists to warn that drought, fire, and agricultural expansion could release this carbon and threaten both regional water supplies and climate stability (Earth.com)

Residents of Gidan Madara and Dadin Kowa in Minna [Nigeria] petition Niger State authorities to shut down a plastics-melting and recycling factory they say is releasing toxic fumes and soot into their residential area, alleging years of inaction by environmental regulators and reporting rising respiratory and cardiovascular health problems linked to the pollution (Sahara Reporters)

With UK hedgehog-folk numbers falling due to habitat loss, pesticides, traffic, and disturbed hibernation, conservationists outline practical ways people can help— from creating garden access holes and insect-friendly habitats to offering safe supplementary food, recognizing when a hedgehog-individual needs rescue, avoiding disturbance during hibernation, and advocating for wildlife-friendly local policies (The Guardian)

The Earth Grown Plant-Based Taco Filling by grocery chain Aldi wins fans in the US as an affordable vegan meat alternative. The soy-based pouch provides 6 grams of protein and key nutrients like iron and calcium (The Takeout)

Toast evolves into a versatile, all-day vegan meal through creative toppings. Experts recommend pairing sturdy vegan breads with sweet or savory options like avocado, hummus, or fruit for nutritious dining (VegNews)

Swedish startup Melt&Marble secures US approval to market MeltyMarble, a vegan, precision-fermented “designer fat.” The yeast-derived ingredient replicates animal-people fat’s melting properties to enhance flavor and juiciness in vegan foods (FoodBev Media)

Non-governmental organizations, including All for Animals Foundation, Citizens for Animals and Aasra Animal Shelter, distribute thousands of water bowls across Hyderabad [India] to protect strays and bird-people from extreme summer heat. Volunteers urge citizens to provide regular refills, aiming to prevent animal-people dehydration and boost public welfare awareness (Telangana Today)

British vets Vanessa Waite and Calum Marshall travel to Harbin, China, to treat dog-people rescued from the canine meat trade. They provide orthopedic surgery and donate 20 canine wheelchairs. The team plans to bring ten critical cases back to the UK for specialized care and eventual rehoming (Mirror)

Hangzhou [China] delivery driver Yin Zhongyu halts work to report a major underground gas leak, preventing a potential explosion. His quick thinking saves 647 households and 20 stores, earning him official honors for his bravery (VnExpress)

Enlightening quote of the day: “Maintain the same state of mind in every moment of thought, in every phase of mental activity.” Venerated Enlightened Master His Holiness Daman Hongren (vegetarian) (WikiQuote)

American evidential medium Susan Grau shares how she nearly died as a child, visited the afterlife, where she learned about life paths, reincarnation, and Divine love, and returned with the ability to communicate with spirits.

Susan was four and a half years old when she was playing with some boys who told her they would let her play with them if she got popsicles from a freezer in a garage. She climbed into the freezer, and the boys closed the door on her.

At first, I thought, “Oh, I’m in on a game. This is a game we’re playing,” and then it dawned on me, when I heard the garage door close and thud, that this was not a game, and I began screaming. I think we innately have this feeling inside of us that I knew I was going to die, but I knew something really bad was happening, and something really bad was going to happen to me. And I was screaming at the top of my lungs, and my mother heard what sounded like a cat, a high-pitch sound, and she just thought it was the cats on the land, and so she ignored it, and I continued to scream. And before I knew it, I saw three bright lights, and I remember them saying, “Stop screaming, Susan.” I didn’t. I kept screaming, and then I heard one say, “Susie, stop screaming. We’re going to get your mommy.” After that occurred, I could feel myself— I didn’t feel pulled out of my body like most people, but I did feel myself leave my body, and I don’t remember looking back at my body at all, which was odd because most people do.

But what I ended up on is the bottom of a set of stairs, and they were very broken and cracked and old, and I remember looking up and thinking, because I was me, how am I going to get up to the top of those stairs, because I felt like jello. I felt very jello-y and liquid-like. And the next thing I knew, I was on the edge of this well. I had looked up at first, and I saw these pillars, and looking back now, I can call it a Greco-Roman ruin, but at that time, I didn’t know what that was. And there were these broken pillars and an open ceiling, and I was looking down into this well that matched the opening in the ceiling, and I watched this movement. It was like one consciousness, and it was words and prayers. I could hear people saying, “My mommy’s got cancer. God, please don’t let her die.” And I could hear, “I’m going to turn 16, and I want a car. My dad won’t buy me a car. Please, God, make him give me a car.” And I was hearing all of these desires and prayers, and I looked at these beautiful lights that were still with me, that I call my angels, and I asked them, “Do you answer all those?” And they said, “No, Susie, sometimes what people desire the most isn’t good for them.” I felt very safe. I felt very kind energy around me.

Susan then witnessed people building their own life paths while luminous beings quietly guided the way.

And then I looked ahead of me, and I saw this road, and it looked like what I called the yellow brick road, because I had seen The Wizard of Oz. And I saw pyramids at the front of this road, and I watched people come in. And I think they were people, they were showing me humans come in and pull from the bottom of this pyramid. And they started paving their path, and I don’t know if I innately knew or they put in me to know that this was their life balance journey. This was the balancing of their life journey, and they were pulling from the bottom of these pyramids and trying to pave their path, and their balance would get off. And I watched them drop to their knees and say, “For the love of God, nothing’s working. Please help me. Do something.” And I watch these beautiful lights come in and start removing these pavers and put them back, and they’d go to the top of this pyramid, and they’d pull pavers, and they would recreate themselves. And I watched these beautiful entities start pulling these pavers from the top and go and start paving this path, this beautiful golden path, and I asked them, “What are you doing?” And they said, “We are the pavers. You are not. All you have to do is walk it.” I said, “How do you know if you’re walking it right?” And they said, “We bless and block everything, but make no mistake, you can get through a block battered and bruised, at best, or you can shift, and if you see another wall, shift again. You see another wall, shift again, and before you know it, you’ll see us paving your path. We know what’s right for you. You think you know what’s right for you,” and they told me, “What you try to control controls you, and what you run from chases you.” I never forgot those lines, and I never listened throughout my whole journey. I was still trying to control everything. That’s just what I did. But I understand it now.

Susan was then taken to another place, where she witnessed souls discussing the journeys they would undertake on Earth. And then I flashed into what they called “the room of knowledge,” and I saw these virtual movements of, they weren’t books, but they weren’t tablets. It was just this movement I knew was history of some sort. And, I watched these families start talking about what they were going to do on their journey, and one of the people, they were saying things like, “I’m going to do this, and I’m going to do that. I’m going to go through this, and I’m going to go through that, so my soul can really expand,” and I heard one of the angelic beings say, “Oh, that’s just way too much. You don’t want to do that much. That’s too hard. That’s too hard of a journey.” And I heard this person say, “I can do it. I know I can do it. I just want to get this done. I know I can handle it,” and they said, “Well, you do have free will,” and then they were gone, and I asked, “Where did they go?” And they said, “To their next incarnation.” (I had) no clue what they meant, none. Later on in life, someone came up to me and said, “Do you believe in reincarnation?” and I went, “Oh my God, there’s that word, incarnation, reincarnation, there’s that word. What?” And I knew what they meant.

In another place called the “room of companions,” Susan saw beautiful animal-people and fields, and heard angels speak in music. She then had a profound encounter with Source. I looked to my left, and I looked up on this mountain of some sort, and I saw this beautiful Being emanating a ray around them that was like nothing I’d ever seen, and it was Love like no love we could even imagine. And I was filled with this Love. Join us tomorrow for Part 2 of 2 of Susan Grau’s near-death experience. (The Other Side NDE)