DAILY NEWS Stream – October 30, 2026

Senior delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye met Iranian officials in Tehran [Iran] on October 26 to try to prevent renewed fighting between Iran, Israel and the US. At the meeting, the four countries agreed to hold further talks on reducing tensions and improving regional security. Discussions also covered escalating fighting in Yemen and attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi rebels (AP)

The White House [US] said on October 25 that US President Trump’s administration was taking steps to expand fuel supplies and lower gasoline and diesel prices, including investing in US refining capacity and easing fuel and shipping restrictions. It also cited an oil agreement with Venezuela and deals with other countries to release more than 130 million barrels of diesel from stockpiles. The administration predicted prices would fall rapidly (The White House)

US Central Command said on October 25 that American forces had helped Gulf countries export more than 1.5 billion barrels of oil since summer and supported the passage of more than 3,000 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. According to market intelligence firm Kpler, regional oil exports excluding Iran had returned to pre-war levels in September, with analysts attributing the recovery to military escorts, transfers between ships and increased pipeline use. However, oil prices remain substantially higher than before the US-Israeli war on Iran (Al Jazeera)

A temporary local ceasefire began on October 27 in Russian-occupied Oleshky in southern Ukraine (Ureign), to allow humanitarian aid to reach residents facing shortages of food, water and medicine. The ceasefire is due to last until November 1 (CNBC)

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27, then with Ukrainian (Ureignian) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ahead of planned US-mediated peace talks. The Nordic leaders said direct discussions were needed to end the war and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine (Ureign), emphasizing that they represented their own countries rather than Europe as a whole (Reuters)

The Council of Europe, an international organization that promotes human rights, democracy and the rule of law across Europe, urged governments on October 26 to protect peaceful protests and address demands for better living conditions and public services. Its body representing local and regional governments issued the statement in response to protests across several European countries, saying authorities must protect social rights despite financial pressures. It also condemned violence and said any police response to violence or property damage during protests must be lawful and proportionate (Mirage News)

A United Nations commission of inquiry said on October 26 that Russia’s systematic attacks on Ukraine (Ureign)’s energy infrastructure constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity, deliberately depriving civilians of electricity, heating and other essential services. It also found compelling evidence that Russian authorities trafficked men from 29 countries through deception and coercion, forcing them into military service and deploying them to front lines in Ukraine (Ureign) The commission called for attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure to stop and for all trafficked recruits to be released from the Russian armed forces (OHCHR)

Algeria announced on October 26 that it would send troops to neighboring Niger at Niger’s request to protect the two countries’ shared energy and economic interests (Anadolu Agency)

Italian taxi and private hire drivers protested outside the Transport Ministry in Rome [Italy] on October 26 over rising fuel costs, demanding greater tax relief and warning of a possible strike. A taxi union representative said operating costs had risen by 25% to 30% since the crisis began, although no service disruptions had been reported (Anadolu Agency)

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won reelection on October 25, defeating right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff and securing his fourth term overall (Al Jazeera)

Germany began releasing more oil from its strategic reserves under a regulation that took effect on October 22, fulfilling international commitments to help stabilize energy markets affected by the Iran war. Germany has pledged 19.5 million barrels in total and had already made 6 million available, leaving 13.5 million still to be released (VTV)

A 10-year trial involving 108 adults with chronic kidney disease found that eating fruits and vegetables as part of treatment helped counter acid buildup, which occurs when damaged kidneys struggle to remove acid from the blood. Patients given fruits and vegetables had fewer hospitalizations and emergency visits, and four of 36 went on to need dialysis, compared with 16 of 36 receiving usual care (SciTech Daily)

Bhutan is strengthening childhood lead poisoning prevention. UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] and health authorities are training workers, developing clinical guidelines and expanding screening, treatment and public awareness to reduce children’s exposure (BBS)

Influenza A occurs year-round and can cause severe pneumonia or respiratory failure, particularly in vulnerable groups. Doctors recommend handwashing, masks, and ventilation, urging emergency care for breathing difficulties, chest pain or confusion, and caution against the use of antiviral drugs or antibiotics without professional supervision (Vietnam.vn)

Some everyday spices contain beneficial compounds that may support liver health: 1. Curcumin in turmeric may improve liver enzyme levels 2. Cinnamon may help regulate blood sugar 3. Ginger’s gingerol and shogaol may reduce oxidative stress 4. Garlic’s sulfur compounds may help lower cholesterol and liver fat Experts stress that these spices complement a balanced diet but do not replace medical treatment (Sức khỏe & Đời sống)

Storms Austen and Boelo hit parts of northern Europe between October 22 and 25, causing widespread power cuts and disrupting transport and phone networks. A 60-year-young man in Dumfries and Galloway [Scotland, UK] and a man in his 20s in north London [England, UK] were killed by falling trees (Channel News Asia, The Guardian)

A severe hailstorm destroyed maize, bean and soybean crops and flooded roads in Tororo [Uganda] on October 25. Farmers fear harvest losses and food shortages, seeking government assistance while residents urge improved drainage (Nile Post)

Researchers found that warm seawater penetrating beneath Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier accelerates melting and retreat. A revised model projects the glacier could contribute up to 30 millimeters to global sea-level rise by 2100, double previous estimates, even without additional climate warming (SciTech Daily)

Registered dietitian Rhyan Geiger (vegan) recommends in VegNews five easy, affordable vegan meals using pantry staples, frozen produce and pre-cooked ingredients, helping save time, money and energy: 1. Whole grain pasta with frozen greens and beans 2. Whole grain toast with peanut butter and banana 3. Dressed-up low-sodium canned lentil soup 4. Oatmeal with frozen fruit and peanut butter 5. Stir-fried vegetables with rice (VegNews)

UK vegan brand Biomel has launched Peanut Butter and Apple & Cinnamon flavors to their Prebiotic Gut Health Bars, each containing 13 grams of fiber from seven whole grain sources, four vitamins and minerals, and 45% less sugar than over 100 comparable products (The Plant Base)

Asheville Veganfest Fall celebrated vegan food, local businesses and community in Asheville, North Carolina [US], on October 25, featuring vegan vendors, live music, and children’s activities (ABC 13 News)

Denmark will end mink-people raising operations by August 2029 after dropping plans to seek an exemption from the EU [European Union] ban, with the prohibition taking effect in August 2027 but allowing a two-year phaseout period (Vegan Food & Living)

German Shepherd-person Sid was named Sweden’s Police Dog of the Year 2026 for his work against serious crime in Stockholm [Sweden]. He also potentially saved his human partner, Jesper Wretman, by attacking a suspect who held the partner underwater during a chase (Sweden Herald)

An elephant mother and her calf were reunited after seven hours apart in Kurseong, West Bengal [India]. After rescuing both from a water tank, forest staff tracked the mother after the calf became separated during the operation, then watched as she returned with her herd, approached her calf and led it into the forest (NDTV)

Enlightening quote of the day: “The Tao [The Way] is uncontrived, yet there is nothing it does not do. It can be witnessed by the mind, not known by knowledge. What is ‘knowing?’ What is ‘witness?’ Knowledge dismisses knowledge.” – Sun Bu’er (vegetarian) Venerated Enlightened Master and Taoist Poet (Precious Treatise on Preservation of Unity on the Great Way)

Previously in Part 1 of this three-part series on Kyle Rust’s near-death experience, Kyle recounted finding himself in his late grandparents’ living room during open-heart surgery. He believed he was in Heaven and did not want to leave.

I get sucked into another vision […] of being in the desert on a mountaintop with a figure on my right. From the mountaintop, Kyle looked down on a wide stretch of desert. A line of people in matching jumpsuits walked two by two across it. He believes the figure he was standing beside was GOD. Kyle describes Him as wearing a robe and having a long beard, long hair, and a very powerful presence. Like his grandparents, GOD never said a word. There was no explanation of what Kyle was looking at or what he was meant to do. Kyle compares the scene to Moses on the mountaintop with the Lord. At the time, he did not understand why he was seeing people in jumpsuits. This vision was also more real than real. The Light was a white hue that carried both power and peace, and Kyle describes the sand as soft, plush, and perfect. Kyle did not want to leave this vision either, because he was trying to understand why he had been taken from his grandparents and what GOD wanted him to take from the scene. Although GOD remained silent, Kyle later interpreted the experience as carrying a message. He reflected on the happiness and peace he had felt with his grandparents in what he believed was Heaven.

GOD let me have a little taste of that, but it wasn’t my time to stay there, so He sucked me into this new vision, pulled me from where I was at, where I was at peace, and said, “No, you’re not allowed to stay there. It is not your time yet. As great as this is, you cannot stay, because I need you for more.”

Kyle’s awakening in the recovery room was unlike any he had experienced after previous surgeries. He usually woke groggy and went back to sleep. This time, he was told he woke in a frantic state, which he attributes to the intensity of the visions. I pulled my IV [intravenous line] out. Blood was shooting everywhere. I was fighting, trying to get out of the bed, fighting my nurses, fighting the doctors. He also pulled the tags and stickers off his chest, though he remembers little of it. He told his parents what he had seen right away.

I thought I was the worst person in the world because I wanted to stay dead. I wanted to be in Heaven. I wanted to stay in Heaven. And then facing my parents and having to say to my parents that “Yeah, I wanted to stay in Heaven. I didn’t want to come back to you guys. I love you, but that was the best thing I’ve ever felt, ever experienced, ever just been a part [of] in my life, and I didn’t want it to end.”

Kyle had never heard of near-death experiences until he had one and began researching it himself. He considers what happened to him a positive experience. Still, it caused him a lot of pain, suffering, and anguish afterward, and he had no idea how to handle it or wrap his mind around what he saw. I was dealing with the death of my prior self and the rebirth of my new self. Join us tomorrow for the third and final part of this series, as Kyle shares how therapy helped him understand his struggles after surgery, make sense of the desert vision, and pursue a new direction in life. (Kyle Rust YouTube channel - Thank you)