DAILY NEWS Stream – May 3, 2026

Taiwan (Formosa) says it has deployed naval and air assets after detecting two Chinese warships operating close to its Penghu Islands — a strategic base in the Taiwan Strait — amid a broader uptick in Chinese military activity around the island (Reuters)

The US President Trump administration fires all 22 members of the National Science Board, the independent body overseeing the National Science Foundation [NSF] — the federal agency that funds US science and engineering research — halting the board’s work and signaling broader changes under consideration for the NSF (Thanh Niên)

Russians across the political spectrum are openly criticizing the government’s sweeping internet restrictions, a rare burst of public dissent that coincides with falling approval ratings for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ahead of parliamentary elections (New York Times)

UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] warns that Afghanistan’s bans on girls’ secondary education and severe restrictions on women’s employment could eliminate more than 25,000 female teachers and health workers by 2030, deepening a collapse in essential services and possibly depriving over two million girls of their right to learn beyond primary school if the ban continues until 2030 (UNICEF)

Portugal unveils a €22.6 billion nine-year resilience plan to strengthen infrastructure and energy security after severe winter storms and last year’s major power outage that hit both Spain and Portugal, with investments targeting climate risks, power grids, and rebuilding damaged homes and businesses (Reuters)

More than 30 children’s toys sold in the UK since January 2026 — including products from retailers Tesco, Argos and Marks & Spencer — have been recalled after tests found asbestos contamination, and officials are urging parents to check the OPSS [Office for Product Safety and Standards] recall list and immediately remove any affected toys from children’s reach (Daily Mail)

Official UK OPSS recall list website: Here are 6 tips for cleaning your living space to prevent respiratory illnesses and allergies: 1. Clean Air Conditioners and Fans Regularly. 2. Control Indoor Humidity: Maintain ideal humidity levels between 30% and 50%. 3. Use Air Purifiers: It is recommended to use devices equipped with HEPA [High-Efficiency Particulate Air] filters to remove PM [Particulate Matter] 2.5 fine dust, pet dander, and microscopic allergens. 4. Wash Bedding and Curtains in Hot Water: Dust mites thrive in fabric items. 5. Vacuum Instead of Sweeping: It prevents you from inhaling dust while cleaning. 6. Minimize the use of floor carpets, stuffed animals, or heavy fabric curtains in bedrooms as they are dust-prone. (VnExpress)

After investigation, health officials in Nghệ An [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)] confirm Salmonella caused a mass food poisoning outbreak. Contaminated pâté and grilled animal-people meat from a local bakery sickened dozens, prompting fines and urgent public warnings regarding food hygiene, thorough cooking, and safe storage practices (VOV)

Health experts warn against three common mistakes: 1. Using thin plastic bags for hot liquids like soup; 2. Storing hot food in plastic containers or paper bowls with plastic film inside [types commonly used in takeout or delivery] 3. Microwaving food inside cling plastic wrap. These practices cause plastics to degrade, releasing harmful chemicals and microplastics into food and can harm the body (VnExpress)

China launches a nationwide campaign against Alzheimer’s as its rapidly aging population drives dementia cases to record levels, prompting major investments in early screening, expanded care facilities, caregiver training, and accelerated research into new diagnostics and treatments (Thanh Niên)

A World Meteorological Organization and Copernicus Programme report finds 95% of Europe recorded above-average temperatures in 2025, with wildfires burning over 1 million hectares. Scientists warn drought, melting ice, and rising sea temperatures are putting growing pressure on agriculture and ecosystems across the continent (Reuters)

A new University of Cambridge [UK] study tracking 20 years of ocean data confirms that rising deep-ocean water that is relatively hot is reaching Antarctica’s ice shelves from below, weakening the frozen barriers that stabilize global sea levels and raising fears of disruption to critical ocean currents worldwide (Daily Mail)

A wildfire near Everglades National Park, Florida, US, rapidly expands to over 2,023 hectares within 24 hours of igniting on April 27. Crews battle fast-moving flames with zero containment as smoke reduces visibility along US Route 41, prompting officials to close several park areas. No injuries or evacuations are reported (The Watchers)

A Solihull [UK] family discovers through their home cameras that their trusted pet-people sitters repeatedly abused two of their German Shorthaired Pointer companions, leading to an RSPCA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] investigation and seven-year animal-people caregiving bans for both sitters (Daily Mail)

A British startup is operating a mostly wind-powered catamaran service between Dover [UK] and Boulogne-sur-Mer [France], offering a low-emission four-to-five-hour English Channel crossing that relies primarily on sail power and is drawing growing passenger demand (Reuters)

Contractors working for Newark and Sherwood District Council [UK] mistakenly fell around 30 protected trees in Sherwood Forest, prompting resident outrage and a Forestry Commission investigation into the unauthorized destruction of the historic woodland (Daily Mail)

Fable Food Co launches pulled shiitake mushroom meat at UK grocery chain Waitrose, meeting demand for minimally processed, whole-food alternatives. The fiber-rich product offers a meaty texture and umami flavor for gut health (Vegan Food & Living)

Windrose Exchange in Fort Wayne [Indiana, US] provides jobs for workers with disabilities through its commercial kitchen. The nonprofit produces pre-made vegan meals, fostering culinary skills and career opportunities (Input Fort Wayne)

The Rome Vegan Festival 2026 launches a free three-day celebration in Italy beginning May 1, featuring street food, sustainability and animal-people rights talks, and live music. Over 100 artisan exhibitors will promote ethical products (Secret Roma)

Emergency teams in the mountains of Murcia, Spain, execute a daring helicopter rescue to save a climber stranded 30 meters high. Rapid coordination and expert rope techniques ensure her safe return to the ground near Fortuna (EuroWeekly News)

AA Dog Rescue will host a charity dog-person show on May 2 in Arboleas, Spain. The event will feature lighthearted pet-people contests, raffles, and crafts to raise funds and find homes for abandoned canine-folk in the UK and Spain (EuroWeekly News)

Rescuers in Germany successfully load a humpback whale-person named Timmy stranded off Germany’s Baltic coast onto a water-filled barge. The specialized vessel now transports the mammal friend toward the North Sea for a planned release into deeper Atlantic waters (Reuters)

Enlightening quote of the day: “Strength should always be complimented by softness. If you resist too much, you will break. Thus, the strong person knows when to use strength and when to yield, and good fortune and disaster depend on whether you know how and when to yield.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master and Taoist Philosopher Lieh Tzu (vegetarian) (One Little Angel)

And the feeling around me was pure and utter love, support, and acceptance. I often say to people, “You have no idea how loved you are. You have no idea.” In Part 1 of 3 of Alison Ward’s near-death experience, British spiritual mentor Alison shares how she left her body during a brutal knife attack and entered a realm of overwhelming love, peace, and acceptance.

In the summer of 1994, Alison was a young single mother living alone with her two-and-a-half-year-old son, Sam. She had recently separated from Sam’s father, Graham, an abusive partner, and was quietly rebuilding her life. She had just begun casually dating a man named Wayne when, on July 5th, 1994, Graham appeared unexpectedly at her door, claiming he wanted to talk about Sam. And he’d not seen Sam for two weeks. So, Sam came running over to him, but as he ran over to him, Graham put his hand up and pushed him away. And I remember thinking, why is he doing that? He’s not seen him for two weeks. You’d think there’d be a hug and, “How are you?” So, straight after that, the vibe in the room changed. And, as I turned to look at him, he just said, “Today’s the day you’re going to die. I’ve planned it all.” And then, with that, he headbutted me twice, got me in the corner of the room, straddled me, and pulled a knife out of his back pocket, and started stabbing at me with the knife.

As Graham attacked her, little Sam tried desperately to intervene. Sam would jump on his back and hit his back, trying to get him off me. But, obviously, I was concerned about that, because he would have been right near where the knife was in Graham’s right hand. So, I was sort of saying, “No, no, Sam. Stay over there. Stay over there.” And I could feel myself getting very woozy and losing consciousness. And I was desperately trying to stay awake, because I knew that, if I didn’t stay awake, that it would make it easier for him. So, I desperately was trying to stay awake. So, in my head, I was singing nursery rhymes: “Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock. Hickory...” And I just kept singing it over and over and over and over again.

Then Alison left her body entirely. The mind, the brain, is so incredible. When you’re in a threatening situation, it’s so incredible and still fascinates me as to what happens when you’re in that situation. And then, I literally felt myself leave the body, just like pop out of my body. It’s like the heaviest form of you just, you become lighter. So, like, we’re in this body now. We’re each in our bodies, and we can feel the density of the physicality. All that had gone. It was literally just like a corkscrew popping out of a bottle. And there was no stress with it. It was just natural, and the temperature was just right, and the Light was incredibly bright, and the feeling around me was pure and utter love, support, and acceptance. I often say to people, “You have no idea how loved you are. You have no idea.” And I often say, if you compare it to the first time you hold a baby, your baby, hopefully, you’ve got that feeling of that rush of love, and you multiply that by 100 million, you might just about get it. But there are no worries. I’m not scared at all of dying, at all, because there are no worries. There is no stress.

But I was moving at speed, and my hair was much shorter, but it was as if I was in the wind, so it was moving back. As that was happening, several things were happening simultaneously. Either side of me, I was getting snapshots, black and white snapshots, of people that I’d met in my lifetime. And it was interesting, because I was looking at the different photos as I was going through this near-death experience, thinking, “Oh, I’ve not seen her for a while. I wonder what’s happened to him. And, oh yeah, I remember meeting him,” and it was really bizarre. But, at the same time, I had no pain. Now, bearing in mind, I’d been headbutted. I’d been physically hurt. And I felt no pain. I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t terrified. I had no concerns about Sam. Everything was as it should be. Everything was incredibly peaceful. It was the most peaceful I’ve ever been.

In Part 2, Alison is suddenly pulled back into her body during the brutal knife attack and must fight for her life while protecting her young son, Sam. And then this very old-fashioned voice, a woman’s voice, said to me, “It’s not time to go yet, duck.” And as soon as they said that, I was back in my body in the room that was just a mess. Join us tomorrow for Part 2 of 3 of Alison Ward’s near-death experience. (T&H - Afterlife)