DAILY NEWS Stream – July 2, 2026

France and Oman back free and unconditional transit through the Strait of Hormuz, with France’s President Emmanuel Macron saying after talks with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on June 29 that both countries will work with partners to demine the waterway and secure maritime routes. Oman, which borders the southern side of the strait opposite Iran, says it remains committed to keeping the strait open, safe, and free for international navigation, as international concern grows over possible transit fees or restrictions (Bloomberg)

Iran and Oman hold the first meeting of their joint committee on the Strait of Hormuz in Muscat [Oman] on June 29, with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying the talks focus on current issues related to the strategic waterway and its future governance. Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi says the discussions are being held under paragraph 5 of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding and the sovereign rights of coastal states, as disputes continue over how passage through the strait should be managed (AzerNews)

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says peace and normalization with Lebanon are achievable if Israel’s northern border is secured and Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon ends. Speaking on June 29 to a parliamentary caucus promoting Israel-Lebanon peace, Mr. Sa’ar says Israel wants normal relations with Lebanon, but describes Hezbollah as an Iranian proxy and the main obstacle to any agreement (i24NEWS)

Speaking in an interview with a Russian journalist published on June 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he expects US negotiators to come to Moscow once the United States reaches an agreement with Iran over Middle East tensions. President Putin says Russia is ready to continue negotiations with US officials, after he was asked about US President Trump’s comments at the G7 [Group of Seven nations] summit that Russia should “make a deal” with Ukraine (Ureign) (The Guardian)

Ukraine (Ureign)’s military says it carried out a wave of strikes on June 28 and overnight into June 29 against Russian logistics sites, bridges, and command post targets in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian (Ureignian) territory (United24 Media)

Ukrainian (Ureignian) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemns Russia’s June 29 missile and drone attacks after strikes across Ukraine (Ureign) kill at least 11 civilians and wound 40 others. Ukrainian (Ureignian) officials say the attacks hit multiple areas, including Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy, causing civilian casualties and power outages, while President Zelenskyy urges European countries to strengthen Ukraine (Ureign)’s air defenses (AP)

Motorists in some areas of Russia now face limits on how much fuel they can buy, as Ukrainian (Ureignian) drone strikes reduce Russia’s fuel production and disrupt supply lines. The fuel shortages have spread from Russian-annexed Crimea to other Russian regions, including parts of Moscow, though the capital has no formal restrictions at this time (Reuters)

Ukraine (Ureign) secures more than €10 billion in international support and investment agreements at the Ukraine (Ureign) Recovery Conference 2026, held in Gdańsk [Poland]. Ukrainian (Ureignian) Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko says 160 agreements were signed covering financial support, transport, housing, infrastructure, energy, and defense (Kyiv Post)

US President Trump’s administration extends for another year a long-running national emergency declaration over North Korea, citing the “unusual and extraordinary” threat posed by North Korea’s weapons-usable fissile material, nuclear and missile programs, and policies toward the US. The declaration, first issued in 2008, was set to expire on June 27, 2026, but will remain in force as concerns grow over North Korea’s military advances and deepening cooperation with Russia and China (The Korea Times)

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun says South Korea will pursue a “phased and practical” approach to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula while strengthening its defense capabilities through the South Korea-US alliance and expanding cooperation with like-minded countries, including the G7 [Group of Seven nations] and partners in the Global South. Speaking at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, Foreign Minister Cho says South Korea will focus on sustainable peace, coexistence, and conflict prevention (The Korea Times)

The UK government launches its first climate security task force bringing together security, military, and academic experts to assess how climate change and nature loss could affect national security. Co-chaired by Climate Minister Katie White and Security Minister Angela Eagle, the group will identify gaps in the UK’s preparedness, assess risks to supply chains, access to food and water, energy systems, migration, financial stability, and geopolitical tensions, and recommend ways to strengthen resilience as climate-related heat, crop losses, and global instability increase (Gov.uk)

The UK government announces that thousands of households in England and Wales that heat their homes with heating oil will be eligible for £9,000 toward installing a heat pump, an electric heating system that transfers heat from the air or ground into a home instead of burning oil or gas, as part of efforts to help rural households move away from heating oil, reduce exposure to fossil fuel price spikes, and lower energy bills (Gov.uk)

The European Commission proposes to extend temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine (Ureign) until March 4, 2028. The proposal aims to provide legal certainty for displaced Ukrainians (Ureignians) in the European Union while supporting Ukraine (Ureign)’s ability to defend itself (European Commission)

Moldova enacts new anti-smoking rules expanding bans on smoking and vaping in public places as part of efforts to align its tobacco control policy with European Union standards. The rules prohibit cigarettes, heated tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and hookahs in more public areas, and ban smoking and vaping within 10 meters of public building entrances and ventilation systems. They also raise penalties for violations, prohibit the sale of oral nicotine pouches, including synthetic variants, and increase penalties for selling tobacco products to minors (Tobacco Reporter)

Global tobacco industry watchdog STOP [Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products] warns that nicotine pouch sales are surging among young people, driven by regulatory loopholes, flavored products, social media marketing, sports sponsorships, and the discreet nature of the small nicotine sachets, which are placed between the gum and lip. The group says an estimated 34 billion nicotine pouches were sold worldwide in 2025, up 660% from 2020 (euronews)

The World Health Organization says early nutrition screening is helping reduce preventable child deaths in Nigeria by identifying malnutrition earlier and connecting children to treatment before complications develop (World Health Organization)

Skipping vegetables harms digestion and long-term health, leading to constipation, nutrient deficiencies, weakened immunity, and chronic disease risks. Vegetables provide essential fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that support gut microbiome balance, blood sugar control, and healthy cholesterol. To maintain overall nutrition and prevent metabolic issues, experts advise adults to eat two to three cups of varied vegetables daily (VnExpress)

Health officials in Malta close a casino restaurant kitchen after a massive food poisoning outbreak sickens nearly 50 gaming employees from eating chicken noodles (Times of Malta)

A new Australian study suggests higher vitamin K1 intake from leafy greens like spinach or kale can lower chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk by 16%. Tracking over 179,000 participants for a decade, researchers find the benefit most pronounced in smokers and high-risk workers. Scientists believe the nutrient activates a protein that keeps lung tissue flexible and prevents long-term damage (Fox News)

Flash floods kill at least four people in Kentucky [US] as heavy rain wipes out roads and bridges and floods houses, prompting more than 60 water rescues and evacuations. Governor Andy Beshear declares a state of emergency across 13 counties, urges residents to avoid unnecessary driving and requests federal aid (CNN)

Three firefighters die and two suffer burn injuries battling the Snyder Fire on the Utah-Colorado border in the US. The blaze burns about 11,300 hectares and remains largely uncontained. Colorado Governor Jared Polis declares a disaster emergency and deploys the National Guard as evacuation warnings are given to nearby communities (Reuters)

Seawater pushes about 20 kilometers up Italy’s Po River as a summer heatwave drops its flow to the lowest June level on record. Farmers shut irrigation canals to stop saltwater burning crops in the Po Valley, which produces nearly a third of Italy’s food, raising drought fears (The Local Italy, AFP)

Indiana [US]-based Mocha Tree Organics celebrates 16 years of creating pH-balanced, vegan skincare products. Founded to treat infant eczema, the brand specializes in gentle formulations for sensitive skin types (WISHTV)

US vegan pioneer Miyoko Schinner reveals a simple three-ingredient recipe for cultured plant butter. Using refined coconut oil, liquid oil [such as avocado or sunflower], and plant milk [soy, oat, or cashew], the homemade alternative browns and tastes like traditional dairy (Plant Based News)

Vegan sloppy Joes recreate the classic American sandwich using animal-people meat-free alternatives like lentils, tofu, or vegan ground, delivering the signature messy texture, tangy flavor, and extra fiber (VegNews)

Amid Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes, rescue teams separately pull two 11-year-old boys from collapsed buildings just hours apart, and extract a newborn that spent 32 hours in the ruins of a fallen structure, as well as the baby’s mother (Daily Mail)

A Hà Nội [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)] pilot program helps dog- and cat-people meat vendors transition to new livelihoods like farming and online business. Supported by authorities and non-governmental organizations, the initiative promotes rabies prevention, stable income, and improved public health. Officials report 8 businesses have fully closed and 25 households are joining livelihood transition programs (Thanh Niên)

Switzerland’s Barryland museum celebrates its first anniversary, welcoming over 130,000 visitors. The world’s only Saint Bernard-person museum showcases the breed’s legacy of alpine rescues of hikers lost in snow and fog (Taipei Times)

Enlightening quote of the day: “If you want to know your past life, look at your present condition. If you want to know your future life, look at your present actions.” – Padmasambhava (vegetarian) Venerated Enlightened Master, Guru Rinpoche (Lion’s Roar)

Previously in Part 1 of this multipart series, Steven LaRussa and his wife Wanda were in their Lake Tahoe [US] hotel room when Steven’s left-side tingling and numbness intensified into severe pain. He told Wanda, “I think I’m dying,” and then his left side began to shake. As he prayed for his life, Steven says they began communicating telepathically for the first time in their 25-year marriage. He heard a voice tell him, “You’ve wasted enough time” — a warning he immediately connected to the spiritual calling he had been avoiding.

Nothing I did worked. I was praying, I was praying, I was asking; nothing worked. I was getting worse. That’s when I saw that I was in complete darkness. That’s when I saw myself traveling through space, through the stars, seeing stars, seeing the galaxy, outer space. And I was in that mode for a while. So, as I was getting worse and I felt myself slipping away, my wife said to me, “We’re transcending.” That’s what she said. And now remember, this is all telepathic, not out loud. She said, “We’re transcending.” So I said, “Oh my GOD, OK.” She must be feeling the same thing that I’m feeling. She must be going through this also. Because when she said “transcending,” I took that as we’re dying, or we’re dying together.

Later on, when we compared notes, she did feel those pains also in her left side. They weren’t nearly as severe as mine, but she was going through the same symptoms that I was. So, as I was praying and I was not getting better, I was steadily fading. I began to think, “OK, well, at least we’re going to die together.” So, at that moment, I told myself, “I’m just going to give in to this. I’m going to give in.”

As soon as I told myself I was going to give in, my wife telepathically started saying, “Steven, fight, fight, fight. Don’t quit, don’t give in.” When I heard this from her, this basically gave me a second wind. So, I began praying again to GOD. I said, “I know my calling. I’m sorry for procrastinating. I’m sorry for slipping back into old ways.”

And then the next, the voice from GOD. This is the second time out of three times I’ve heard His voice. The second time, He said, “All that I’ve shown you and all that I’ve given you, and this is what you do with it.” And I just felt horrible, because I knew exactly what He meant. A lot of people go through NDEs [near-death experiences], and they don’t know why, and what for, and what does it mean. I knew exactly what this was about. And I start crying and apologizing. And as I’m doing this, I’m convulsing, I’m shaking, because I’m still in pain, numbness, tingling, and it’s starting to spread throughout my body.

I begin to see the white Light. So, I think to myself, “OK, I don’t know what I’m fighting it for, because it seems like it’s falling on deaf ears. GOD’s not bringing me out of this. I’m steadily going to the Light. I’m just going to give in again.” So, as I began to give in again, something in me said, and I don’t know why I said this, I said, “Wanda, help me.” So, I said that to my wife.

Now, the interesting thing is, after we compared notes after this incident, my wife said she only heard one thing from GOD. GOD said to her, and she said He said it kind of sarcastically, He said, “And why should I leave you here?” And my wife said one word to Him. She said, “Jordan,” who is our son. So, she said that’s the only message she ever heard from GOD during the incident. But she, too, also heard the same voice of GOD that I heard.

In Part 3, after Steven cries out for Wanda to help him, she begins speaking in tongues — and he hears GOD’s voice a third time. And He said to me, “Steven, be quiet and listen to your wife.” I looked over at her, and at this time — here’s the part that blows my mind — she started speaking in an African language. Join us tomorrow for Part 3 of this multipart series on Steven LaRussa’s near-death experience. (IANDS [International Association for Near-Death Studies])