DAILY NEWS Stream – March 15, 2026

France deploys nearly a dozen naval vessels— including its aircraft-carrier strike group— to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and possibly the Strait of Hormuz as French President Emmanuel Macron pledges defensive support to allies and calls for reinforcing the European Union’s Aspides mission, a Red Sea naval operation created to protect commercial ships from drone and missile attacks amid regional conflict (Reuters)

Colombia officially bans child marriage through a landmark legal reform that removes all exceptions allowing minors to wed, aligning the country with international child rights standards and aiming to protect young people’s education, health and development (Hoka News)

Peru orders an immediate return to remote classes and mandatory telework in Lima and Callao after a major rupture in the main natural-gas pipeline triggers a nationwide energy crisis, forcing fuel rationing, driving up electricity costs and prompting fears of economic disruption as repairs continue (UPI)

Australia deploys an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and supplies advanced air-to-air missiles to the UAE [United Arab Emirates] as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasizes a strictly defensive role amid the escalating Middle East conflict, while also preparing evacuation support for more than 100,000 Australians living in the region (VTV)

Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei issues his first statement— read by a state-TV anchor amid reports he is hospitalized with severe injuries— vowing retaliation for recent US-Israeli strikes and threatening to use the “lever” of closing the Strait of Hormuz while remaining absent from public view (New York Post)

China inaugurates the Wushan Goddess Escalator in Chongqing — now the world’s longest outdoor escalator system — a 905-meter, 242-meter-high glass-structured network of escalators, elevators and moving walkways designed to transform daily travel for Wushan residents who once spent an hour climbing steep mountain paths (Soha)

A leading nephrologist in India warns that widespread self-medication— driven by easy access to over-the-counter drugs, lack of universal health insurance, and casual attitudes toward health—is becoming a major contributor to kidney disease alongside diabetes and high blood pressure, as commonly misused painkillers and antibiotics can damage kidney function (NDTV)

A new European study finds that 85% of all conventionally grown apples sold across Europe contain multiple pesticide residues at once, highlighting concerns about the so-called “cocktail effect,” where several low-level chemicals may interact even though each individual residue remains within European Union safety limits (EuroWeekly News)

Foot health can reflect overall health and longevity because the feet play an important role in blood circulation. Six signs of healthy feet include: 1. Soft, flexible foot tendons – indicate healthy blood vessels and good elasticity. 2. Feet rarely feel numb – suggest stable blood flow and proper nerve function. 3. Smooth, healthy skin on the feet – shows good nutrition and circulation. 4. Feet that stay warm – reflect healthy peripheral blood circulation. 5. Light pink, smooth toenails – indicate sufficient blood and oxygen supply. 6. Naturally pink soles – a sign of good circulation and overall health. Experts recommend regular exercise—such as walking, stretching, and simple foot movements— to strengthen the legs, improve circulation, and support long-term health (Lao Động)

New research reveals passports harbor more bacteria than phones or luggage, carrying 436 colony-forming units [a bacterial growth measure]. Experts urge travelers to wash hands after security checks and sanitize documents to reduce germ exposure during high-traffic trips (Fox News)

Guava’s high vitamin C and lycopene levels combat inflammation and acne while boosting collagen. Its fiber also detoxifies the body, promoting clear skin. Experts recommend eating fresh, whole guava to maximize these protective nutrients (Lao Động)

An EF-3 tornado in the US kills two in Lake Village, Indiana and devastates Kankakee, Illinois. A supercell thunderstorm also hitting Kankakee drops 152-millimeter hail, destroying 100 homes (Fox Weather)

The Kīlauea volcano of Hawaii [US] erupts violently, launching lava fountains 400 meters high and hurling volcanic rocks. The resulting ash plume rises 9 kilometers, disrupting local flights and forcing the closure of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park due to hazardous air quality (The Watchers)

Researchers at the University of Oxford [UK], led by Devi Satarkar, find that cold snaps and heavy rain stunt the growth of UK great tit chicks. Their study reveals that combined heat and severe rainfall significantly reduces fledgling [old enough to have left the nest] body mass, leading to lower chance of survival (EurekAlert!)

Authorities in New Taipei City [Taiwan (Formosa)] investigate a “rabbit-folk restaurant” after multiple rabbit-people are found sick, malnourished and later dead, with officials alleging unauthorized animal-folk exhibition and possible long-term neglect that could carry fines or criminal penalties (Taipei Times)

A rare once-in-a-decade superbloom transforms Death Valley [US] as heavy rains awaken long-dormant wildflower seeds, carpeting the desert in gold and purple blooms that will last only a few weeks before fading with the heat (Spectrum Local News)

New research shows European hedgehog-folk can hear high-frequency ultrasound, opening the door to fitting cars and garden machinery with ultrasonic deterrent devices that could help prevent road deaths and protect a species now listed as “near threatened” after a 30% population decline (Euronews)

The UK’s Climate Change Committee finds that reaching net zero by 2050 would cost less than a single fossil-fuel price shock and deliver major economic, health, energy, and security benefits, countering claims that the transition would burden the economy and arguing that clean domestic energy is the cheapest, safest long-term path (The Guardian)

Virginia, USA’s legislature approves a bill creating a permanent Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to finance wildlife crossings and implement the state’s Wildlife Corridor Action Plan, providing a dedicated source of public donations and matching funds to reduce dangerous animal-people vehicle collisions and reconnect fragmented habitats. The legislation now goes to the state’s governor for approval (Environment America)

Volunteers of the non-profit the Heritage Conservancy in Bucks County [Pennsylvania, US] guide migrating amphibian-people across roads during rainy nights in spring to prevent vehicle collisions. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania launches a new working group to design wildlife-person corridors like bridges and tunnels (WHYY)

US lawmakers weigh proposed legislation authorizing a US$12 million grant program to expand vegan school meals countrywide. The new Senate bill proposes US$10 million for vegan entrées and US$2 million for dairy-free milk access (VegNews)

A new report says Gen Z [born between 1996 and 2012] is driving India’s vegan market toward a US$596 million valuation by 2034. Young consumers prioritize sustainability and health, fueling a 19% industry growth rate between 2022-2025 through vegan snacks, beverages, and transparently labeled proteins (MediaBrief)

Superfood Company Sunwarrior launches an organic, vegan psyllium husk powder in the US to boost digestive health. The Asian pear-flavored supplement offers 67% more fiber per serving and remains non-GMO [Genetically Modified Organism], gluten-free, and sugar-free (IPS News)

Putnam County [New York, US] firefighters rescue Rudy, a 14-month-old dog-person, after he falls off a cliff and plunges 4.5 meters onto a tiny ledge near a waterfall. Using ropes and utility task vehicles, crews lift the unharmed canine-individual to safety following his two-hour ordeal (6ABC)

A rock hyrax-person hitches a ride in a car engine and enters a Hermanus [South Africa] home to escape dog-people. Following expert advice, the homeowner safely traps and releases the unharmed “dassie” back into a coastal colony (Good Things Guy)

Wise quote of the day: “Everyone ought to pay attention to both words and actions to be sure their usefulness prevails over ostentation and that their tone is of truth rather than display.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Plutarch (vegetarian) (iPerceptive)

In Part 1 of 2 of Jamie Woodle’s near-death experience, American health coach and former preschool teacher Jamie shares how she nearly died after fire ant bites— and suddenly found herself face to face with Lord Jesus Christ (vegetarian). Jamie was living a stressful life in South Carolina. She taught preschool full-time while pursuing an online bachelor’s degree in counseling. As a military spouse with two young children, she carried extra responsibilities while her Air Force husband worked long hours. Jamie was over 90 kilograms, depressed, and unhealthy, pushing through each day under constant pressure.

In late 2019, Jamie and her family celebrated her husband’s birthday. The evening was bittersweet— he had just learned he would deploy to Afghanistan in a couple of months. After dinner, they returned home for chocolate cake. When they told the children about the deployment, the celebration ended in tears.

And I remembered my daughter had a science project that was due the next day. So I went ahead, and I took it. It was like that three-fold poster kind. And I’m carrying it out and putting it in the van. And as I’m standing out there, I have one foot on the ground and kind of one knee in the van. And I’m trying to shove this project, and I feel something bite, and I look down, and it’s a fire ant. Now, we lived in South Carolina at the time. We were stationed at Shaw Air Force Base. We’d been there 5 years, and fire ants were nothing new to me at all. They sting you, and it itches, and it can take a few weeks to go away, but it’s no big deal, more like a painful inconvenience. So I feel the sting, and I knew. I was like, “Oh, I know exactly what that is.” And I go to brush it off, and there are dozens of them crawling all over and up my leg.

Jamie stumbled back inside to find Benadryl, a brand of antihistamine, but suddenly felt heat rising from her feet. And so, I scramble over to the stairs, and I’m trying to get up the stairs, and I make it to our bed where my husband is holding my kids, and they’re all crying. And he sees the look on my face, and I said, “Go find the Benadryl.” And he darts downstairs. The kids don’t know what to make of this. And so my husband is downstairs looking for medicine, and all of a sudden, my eyes feel really heavy, and things start to kind of darken, almost like tunnel vision, and I feel myself wanting to collapse. And at the same time, this huge wave of nausea comes over me. And I see my daughter, and I look at her, and I said, “Tell Daddy to call 911.” And she is absolutely in shock, and I tell her to go, and she runs downstairs.

Her husband told her the ambulance was coming. And I, my eyes are closed at this point. I cannot open them, and I am praying, and I’m like, I can’t, I can’t get out of here. And I am calling out to God, “Please, please.” I knew I was dying, and I was begging God, “Please, please don’t take me yet.” And the firemen get there, and they’re asking me to open my eyes, and I’m like, “I cannot open my eyes. I can’t.” And they’re very concerned. And they’re scared, and they know exactly what is going on, but the paramedic hadn’t gotten there yet. And so eventually they lift me up, and I instantly pass out. And when I wake up, I am no longer in my bathroom. I am looking at wheat swaying in the wind right in front of my face. And it’s almost like when you wake up, kind of blink a couple times and get your wits about you. What is going on? And I feel such a peace, like you’re surrounded by love and there’s no burden.

It’s kind of amazing. You don’t realize, until you have an experience like this, what a burden it is to even breathe. There was no stress, nothing. And it was beautiful. I’m looking at this wheat swaying, and I’m realizing I’m crouched down on the ground, and I’m peering through the tops of these wheat. And the wheat is golden, like it’s ready for harvest. And I’m noticing the colors around me. It’s almost like they’re sparkling or moving — the color in them. The wheat is swaying itself, but the color is almost like it’s alive.

And as I peer past the wheat, I’m looking into the distance, and I see Jesus. He is standing in profile to me. So I would be looking at His left side. And I’m realizing I’m kind of on a small dune or a hill, and the embankment slopes down a couple of feet and turns into almost like a beach, but it’s a river or a lake. It’s not a giant ocean, and the water is lapping at His feet. And I remember just staring at the water. It’s amazing, and it’s hard to explain this because it doesn’t make sense in real life how I could be 20 feet [6 meters] away and have an image up closer of the water. But the water, just like the wheat and the things around me, they were sparkling like they were alive in color, and it was amazing. And it was lapping at His feet.

And so I gaze up, and He’s wearing white robes, and He is looking down at someone, and He’s talking to them, and I can hear that He’s talking, but I can’t hear what He’s saying. And so I look at this person, and this person is also in white robes, but they’re down, almost like in a warrior position, where they have one knee up, one knee down, one fist on the ground, and the other on their knee. And I just know in my head, even though I can’t hear what’s going on, that Jesus is giving this person orders, and I kept trying so hard to hear. And I look at the person again, and I realize that it’s me. And it’s not a recognition like I recognized my face. It was a knowing. That’s me. He’s talking to me.

But Jamie says the encounter with Lord Jesus Christ was suddenly interrupted. And then, like that, I’m pulled back. And all of a sudden, I can feel the firemen holding me and the paramedic rubbing my leg. Join us tomorrow for Part 2 of 2 of Jamie Woodle’s near-death experience. (Shaun Tabatt)