DAILY NEWS Stream – February 17, 2026

UK and Malaysia hold their first Green Transport Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], sharing policy, planning and technology insights to advance sustainable, integrated mobility in Malaysia (Gov.uk)

Iran’s president says the nation is ready for nuclear inspections and any verification of its program, insisting it does not seek nuclear weapons (VTV)

UN peacekeepers prepare reconnaissance flights to Uvira [Democratic Republic of the Congo] to support a Qatari-mediated ceasefire between Congo’s government and AFC [Alliance Fleuve Congo]/M23 [March 23 Movement] rebels (Reuters)

The US and Taiwan (Formosa) finalize a reciprocal trade deal that locks in a 15% US tariff rate on Taiwanese imports, lowers or eliminates many Taiwanese tariffs on US goods, and commits Taiwan (Formosa) to sharply increased purchases of US products through 2029, including energy, aircraft, and high-tech equipment (Channel News Asia)

A federal grand jury in Michigan [US] charges a third leader of the Kingdom of God Global Church [US] in a multi-state forced-labor conspiracy, alleging that executives ran abusive call-center operations to solicit donations and used the proceeds to fund personal real estate, travel, vehicles, and other luxury expenses (US Department of Justice)

Israel’s education minister invites US President Donald Trump to Israel in April to receive the “Israel Prize for Lifetime Special Contribution to the State of Israel and the Jewish People,” marking the first time the award will be given to a foreign leader (New York Post)

India’s aviation regulator fines Air India US$110,350 for operating an Airbus A320 on eight passenger flights without a valid airworthiness certificate, saying the lapse reflected systemic failures and further eroded public confidence in the airline’s safety compliance (Channel News Asia)

Malaysia’s stricter anti-littering law sees its first offender sentenced to community service in Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], after a 25-year-old man was fined for discarding a cigarette butt in a public area and ordered to join other offenders in court-mandated street-cleaning operations across the city (Channel News Asia)

Kazakhstan reports nearly 2,000 measles cases as 2026 begins, with infections concentrated in the cities of Astana and Almaty, as well as the Zhambyl and Atyrau regions (Qazinform)

A sweeping Silent Spring Institute [US] study finds nearly all of 43 popular hair extension products — including human-hair varieties — contain dozens of hazardous chemicals linked to cancer and hormone disruption, prompting renewed calls for regulation as researchers identify flame retardants, phthalates, pesticides, and organotins [a type of man-made chemical] at levels that in some cases exceed international safety limits (SciTechDaily)

Health experts warn that prolonged sitting drastically increases risks of heart disease, diabetes, and premature death. This sedentary behavior slows metabolism and raises insulin resistance, which regular exercise may not fully offset. To protect overall health, specialists recommend standing every 30–60 minutes, using standing desks, and staying active during breaks to disrupt long periods of inactivity (Ilkha.com)

Small home changes help older Australians survive extreme temperatures as climate change worsens. Since aging reduces thermoregulation, experts recommend affordable fixes like weather stripping, curtains, and fans. These low-cost upgrades and better habits— like hydration and seasonal foods— improve heart and mental health. University of Melbourne [Australia] researchers continue studying these vital, budget-friendly solutions to reduce hospital visits and deaths (MedicalXpress)

A 25-year-old nurse in West Bengal [India] dies from cardiac arrest following complications from Nipah virus. Though she recently tested negative, severe secondary infections proved fatal. She is the state’s first-ever Nipah-related death in recent history. Authorities confirmed no further active cases remain (VTV)

Storm Nils kills three people and cuts power to thousands across France and Spain as heavy rain and strong winds topple trees and disrupt travel in the region (Vietnam.vn)

Severe drought worsens across North Carolina and Virginia [US], leaving rivers at unusually low levels despite recent snow, as hydrologists warn that persistent dry conditions threaten local ecosystems (WXII 12 Greensboro- Winston-Salem)

Residents in Inhambane, Mozambique, reinforce homes as Cyclone Gezani approaches, having already killed at least 40 people in Madagascar and damaging infrastructure. Mozambique is still recovering from previous severe floods in recent weeks (Reuters)

Experts blame poor urban planning and dense concrete development for worsening deadly floods in Portugal, warning that a lack of drainage and green spaces increases vulnerability to storms (Euronews)

The European Central Bank fines Crédit Agricole €7.55 million for failing to classify climate risks [not calculating how much of the bank’s portfolio could be in jeopardy due to future climate events], signaling a shift toward stricter enforcement and binding penalties for banking compliance (Reuters)

The UK Environment Agency expands its water-pollution enforcement workforce nearly fivefold to 195 roles as part of a tougher regulatory push, enabling record inspections, thousands of improvement actions for water companies, and new powers under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 to strengthen oversight and penalties (Gov.uk)

A global meta-analysis led by the University of Michigan [US] finds that human-generated noise disrupts bird-peoples’ behavior, physiology, and reproduction across more than 160 species, but researchers say the predictable patterns of impact mean targeted noise-reduction measures in built environments could effectively mitigate the damage (Phys.org)

HCM CT [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)] launches Âu Lạc (Vietnam)’s first cross-sea postal UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle or drone] route connecting Cần Giờ and Vũng Tàu, with Vietnam Post and CT UAV company operating licensed drone flights that carry small parcels across a 12-kilometer route in about 15 minutes as part of a new low-altitude logistics network (Tuổi Trẻ)

Barbados signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Danish firm Wavepiston to develop a 50-megawatt pilot generator using its new wave-power technology, which captures the energy of moving ocean waves through flexible panels to produce both electricity and desalinated water, marking the system’s first commercial-scale deployment phase (Interesting Engineering)

Linda McCartney Foods reformulates its signature Vegemince vegan product to be entirely gluten- and egg-free. The new recipe, launched in February 2026, is designed specifically to help UK schools accommodate rising allergen requirements while meeting government standards for a non-dairy protein to be offered 3 or more days a week (FoodBev Media)

Researchers at The Ohio State University [US] develop a two-step fermentation process that eliminates up to 99% of off-notes in vegan (plant-based) proteins. The breakthrough, published in the journal Foods, removes the “beany” or “grassy” aromas that often deter consumers from soy, pea, chickpea, and other protein products (Mirage News)

American vegan bodybuilder Torre Washington has made history as the first fully vegan, natural athlete to qualify for Mr. Olympia 2026 [the most prestigious bodybuilding competition]. Following a vegan lifestyle since 1998, the 51-year-young International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Pro secured his spot after dominant wins in the Men’s Physique categories at two recent competitions (Men’s Journal)

A dog-person is rescued after falling through a frozen lake in Massachusetts [US] as police and firefighters brave icy water for about 10 minutes and return him safely to his family without serious injuries (Tag24)

During Storm Goretti, Crush, a rare, cold-stunned loggerhead turtle-person is found and taken for emergency care in the Bailiwick of Jersey. She will next be flown to Weymouth, UK, for rehabilitation and later be released in spring (BBC)

An endangered silver pheasant-person is released in Hòa Bình Province [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)] after a resident found and protected the 1.5 kilogram bird friend that arrived in her garden. Authorities returned the healthy bird-citizen to the Thượng Tiến Nature Reserve (Báo Phú Thọ)

Enlightening quote of the day: “They, who have no eyes in their face, are not called blind. They alone are blind, O Nanak, who stray away from their Lord.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Guru Angad Dev Ji (vegetarian) Second Sikh Guru (Ritiriwaz.com)

Previously, in Part 1 of 2 of Douglas Knake’s near-death experience, Douglas described collapsing from meningococcal meningitis and waking in a darkness deeper than anything he had ever known. Terrifying creatures rushed toward him, but in the midst of that fear, a familiar voice broke through the blackness: “Do not be afraid. I’m with you.” And Douglas realized he knew exactly Who that was. Now, in Part 2 of 2, his encounter continues.

And as soon as God said that, it got absolutely beautiful. I mean, it got brilliant. The foundations of Heaven just showed up. And I mean, Heaven is massive. It’s huge. And to this day, I still cannot tell you what the colors are. I can see them, but I can’t tell you. I don’t even know how to describe it. It was like it was translucent, but yet it was solid. And it had all these different colors to it. The next thing I know, I’m like going through the streets of Heaven like super fast. And I’m like looking, from a builder standpoint, I’m looking at all these buildings, and I’m going, “Wow, this is amazing.”

The next thing I know, I’m sitting on a grassy knoll. I’m just sitting there, and all of a sudden God says my name, and He said, “Doug, do you understand what your choices make and what they do and where do they go?” All of a sudden, this pond appears, just comes out of nowhere. And you can hear the water moving, and you see the mist moving across the top of the water. I’m looking at all this stuff. And then He drops a pebble in the pond, and He says, “You see those ripples?” He says, “Those ripples are your choices.” And they just keep going. They keep touching wherever they go. And He says, “That’s how you affect people. That’s how your choices affect people.”

God showed Douglas three different scenarios— vivid like movies with emotions attached— demonstrating what his choices could lead to. Then God told him He was sending him back. I pleaded with Him. I said, “Look, I don’t want to go back.” I said, “This place is absolutely amazing.” I said, “I’ve never felt such peace and love in all my life.” I said, “This is like the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” And He said to me, “Look, I’ve got something for you to do. I’m sending you back.” And that’s when I woke up in the hospital bed.

When Douglas began waking from his coma, the neurologist asked him basic questions, but he looked like a stroke victim — half his face sagging, his right arm shaking uncontrollably, and complete deafness in his right ear — yet the most shocking symptom was the memory loss.

I was 50 at the time. I lost 30 years of memory. When she asked me what year it was, I told her it was 1969. Then she asked me, “Who’s the president?” I said, “Nixon’s president.” And I had no idea that I was a custom home builder or principal broker, none of that. And the crazy thing is, my daughter walks into the room and she hands me a CD, and I look at it, and I go, “What’s that?” She goes, “A CD, Dad. It plays music.” And I said, “No, they’re black and about this big around— vinyl records.”

Douglas had no idea who his wife was. The neurologist asked me if I knew this lady sitting next to the bed, and I’m looking at her, and I’m already shaking my head, no. I said, “Look, you’re a beautiful lady, but I have no clue who you are.” And I mean, it was like these huge tears running down her face.

After three weeks in the hospital, Douglas went home unable to walk or dress himself, with severe memory loss and cognitive impairment. His wife had to reteach him everything—even what a computer was. And so, she flips open the lid, hits the power button. You know how they light up? I said to her, “Oh, it’s a TV.” And she goes, “No, it’s not a TV. It’s your computer.” My short-term memory loss was so bad at the time that when she would take me and put me in the shower, I would wash my hair five times because I just forgot I did it.

Two months after being home, Douglas was looking at family photos when something shifted. I’m sitting there looking at all these photos, and I kind of go, “Wow, she’s in a lot of these photos.” All of a sudden it was like this huge rush of emotion just filled my inner being. Feelings of love and passion for her just hit me like a ton of bricks. And then it finally dawned on me that this is my wife. I managed to get up, and I’m like holding on to the furniture and the walls, and I get out to the kitchen and I finally tell her I said, “I know who you are.” And she’s like looking at me, and I said, “You’re my wife. I just remembered you’re my wife.” And she puts her hands on my face and said, “We’re going to get through this. We’re going to get through this.”

Douglas spent years recovering, relearning his profession, and wrestling with why God sent him back. He kept his near-death experience secret for four or five years, struggling with feeling rejected by God the same way his father had rejected him. Eventually, his wife confronted him. She said to me, “Do you know how special you are?” And I told her, I said, “No, I have no idea how special I am.” She said, “Look, God picked you out of millions of people that die to send back and do something for Him.” She goes, “You’re chosen.”

That conversation began to shift his perspective. So, I completely changed my attitude, or I should say God changed my attitude. And I have shared my story with oh my gosh maybe 150, 200 people. I always know when God wants me to talk to somebody, it’s like the atmosphere changes or something, and He actually tells me you need to talk to this person.

You have to get to this place where you stop thinking about your pain. You stop thinking about everything that you went through and start pondering about the other person because that other person is trapped. That other person is broken, and he or she is stuck. They don’t know how to get beyond what they’re experiencing. So, it’s really important to me that I want to understand what other people are trapped in.

As Douglas reflects on redemption and transformation, his story returns to the foundation of his faith — the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and what it truly cost. Being a carpenter, I have shot myself with nails in my hands, and I mean that’s nothing compared to what they drove through Him. I mean, it’s like a railroad spike that they nailed Him to the cross with. Jesus’s death and His doing what He did was to glorify God. He did everything to glorify God so that [through] His death we could actually have a path back to God. (God Encounters with Janie DuVall)