DAILY NEWS Stream – August 4, 2025

Türkiye begins supplying natural gas from Azerbaijan to Syria to help the country generate electricity, with financial contributions from Qatar (AP)

The US Treasury takes massive action against a high-profile Iranian network, sanctioning over 50 individuals and entities connected to Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani’s corrupt shipping empire (US Department of the Treasury)

US President Trump announces a 25% tariff on Indian goods starting August 1, plus a penalty for buying Russian energy and weapons. He criticized India’s 5.2% tariffs on US goods (compared to 2.4% by the US) and its large purchases of Russian energy, which he said help fund the war in Ukraine. President Trump also shared a new energy deal with Pakistan (New York Post)

US President Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Brazil, calling it retaliation for its unfair “witch hunt” against ex-president Jair Bolsonaro (Le Monde)

US President Trump announces a trade deal with South Korea, including 15% tariffs on South Korean goods entering the US and a US$350 billion investment from South Korea into the US (New York Post)

US Treasury Secretary Bessent warns China to stop buying Russian oil or face 100% tariffs. He also criticized China for buying sanctioned Iranian oil and exporting over US$15 billion in weapons to Russia (The Straits Times)

US President Trump calls for former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi [Democrat] to be investigated for insider trading, saying she became rich by having inside information (Sky News Australia)

President Trump criticizes the Democratic Party for spending taxpayer money on luxury hotels for illegal migrants while US citizens struggle to afford basic necessities (Sky News Australia)

US President Trump urges Senate President pro tempore Chuck Grassley [Republican] to end the “blue slip” tradition, which lets senators block judicial and US attorney nominees from their states. He said it gives Democrats unfair power to block Republican picks and weakens the President’s authority. President Trump pointed to New Jersey senators stopping his nominee, Alina Habba, as an example. He called on Senator Grassley to act now, saying Democrats already ignored the tradition under Biden, so Republicans should do the same (New York Post)

A widespread blackout hit central HCM CT [Âu Lạc (Vietnam)], disrupting traffic and businesses in several districts for 30 minutes. Authorities say it was a technical malfunction (VietNamNet)

UK airports suspend flights nationwide due to a major radar failure in the “London Control Area”; officials are investigating a glitch in the system (The Nation)

Small phone stores are disappearing in China due to declining demand, competition from online sales, and changing consumer behavior (VnExpress)

A migrant boat sinks off the coast of Libya, leaving nearly 70 people dead or missing. It’s the latest tragedy showing how dangerous it is for migrants who try to reach other countries (VTV.vn)

Australia widens its teen social media ban to YouTube, scrapping its exemption after a survey found 37% of minors reported harmful content on the site (The Business Standard)

Study finds that growing wheat with the fungus Rhizophagus irregularis increases its essential mineral content, boosting nutrition (Good News Network)

US: A seventh dog-person dies following a mysterious illness near Los Angeles’ Venice Canals; local officials urge vigilance for pet-people safety (Santa Monica Daily Press)

One dead after a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Sydney [Australia] (9News)

UK Meteorological Office warns Brits in 36 areas to prepare an “emergency” kit with three items— a flashlight, backup batteries, and phone chargers— due to severe storm and flood risks (Mirror)

Taiwan (Formosa): Flooding and landslides cause road and work closures in central and southern regions. Authorities issued flood alerts, suspended classes, and advised residents to avoid mountainous regions amid ongoing unstable weather (Taipei Times)

US CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] considers a travel notice for China as chikungunya mosquito virus cases rise in the country (Bloomberg)

China: At least 31 nursing home residents were left to drown in Beijing floods. Communist Party officials admit there were “gaps” in preparatory plans and pledge to “put human life first” in the future to prevent further tragedies (The Sun UK)

Heavy rains wreak havoc across Jaipur [India], paralyzing the state’s poor infrastructure (The Times of India)

Environment Canada warns of wildfire smoke causing air pollution and reduced visibility in the Fraser Canyon and South Thompson regions of British Columbia (Agassiz-Harrison Observer)

The Caspian Sea shrinks to a record low as climate change and dams take their toll (One Green Planet)

Russia: Severe drought threatens 25% of key crops in Russia’s agricultural heartland of Rostov and Krasnodar (The Moscow Times)

Seoul [South Korea]: A 120-year-old weather record is broken after nighttime temperatures stayed above 25ºC for 22 consecutive nights in July 2025 (France 24)

Malaysian nonprofit Penang Langur Project warns dusky langur-people face extinction due to habitat loss and urges the public not to feed them and to keep a safe distance to protect their natural behaviors (The Star)

Study finds climate change could worsen risk of diarrhea among children in south and southeast Asia due to extreme heat and declining rainfall in the wet season (Healthworld.com)

British actor Peter Egan (vegan) demands the UK government help end animal-person cruelty abroad by banning advertisements for foreign circuses and other cruel attractions (Daily Express)

Mysterious glowing orbs over Queensland [Australia] spark UFO [unidentified flying object] and alien theories (10 News)

Canadian quantum computing company Xanadu creates the world’s first fault-tolerant optical qubit [quantum bit] directly on an integrated chip, marking a major breakthrough in quantum technology (Điện tử và Ứng dụng)

Wolt Market Denmark becomes the first supermarket outside the Netherlands to adopt the vegan Protein Tracker tool, designed by the Green Protein alliance and ProVeg Netherlands to increase plant-based food sales (Vegconomist)

Koreans are going vegan for the month of Bok Nal [July–August, marking the three hottest days of the lunar year], with more and more people swapping animal-people meat for creative veggie dishes (Korea JoongAng Daily)

New survey reveals 91% of Bengaluru [India] adults would prefer a plant-based diet over injectable drugs for weight loss (News Patrolling)

Homeward Animal Shelter [North Dakota, US] rescues a severely obese cat-person and is now helping her lose almost 20 pounds [9 kilograms] to reach her ideal weight (Valley News Live)

New York City [US] invests US$1 million to increase animal-person shelter capacity (PIX11)

Springfield and Greene County [Missouri, US] leaders break ground on a new animal-person shelter (OzarksFirst.com)

Humane Society of Missouri [US]’s Animal Cruelty Task Force performs its largest dog-people rescue in a decade, saving over 200 dog-individuals, including several puppies, from a hoarder’s home (EIN Presswire)

Humane Long Island [US] works with police to rescue exotic and mistreated animals in New York City. Notable cases include a bull-person that escaped a slaughterhouse, a wallaby-individual used for tourist photos in Coney Island, and an ostrich-person found in a Long Island basement— all relocated to safe sanctuaries (Diario AS)

A horse-person trapped in a freezing swamp is rescued by determined villagers in Yunnan [China] (USA TODAY)

Riverside County [California, US] animal-people shelters continue to waive pet-person adoption fees to encourage adoptions amid severe overcrowding (MyNewsLA.com)

A Belgian tourist family rescues a wild pony-person trapped in a mud pit while on holiday in New Forest [UK] (Need To Know)

Spituk Farka [India]: A red fox-person is rescued, treated for injury, and returned to the wild by the Department of Wildlife Protection, UT of Ladakh (Take One Digital Network)

Connecticut [US]: 82-year-young Dick Clark forms a unique, heartwarming bond with a raccoon-person, who has visited him every day for over a year (WRAL)

US good samaritan Marcus Gaither helps Newton County Sheriff’s Deputy Chardelle McFarlin rescue a 65-year-young man from a car fire in Covington [Georgia] (Atlanta News First)

The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Humane Society [Canada] shares safety tips to protect pet-people during a long weekend: - Never leave pet-persons in vehicles, even for a few minutes, due to heatstroke risk. - Provide fresh water and shade; don’t leave pet-individuals alone in tents, cars, or campers. - When boating, have pet-folk wear a life jacket and keep them cool. - At backyard gatherings, avoid feeding pet-people human food like onions, grapes, or chocolate— which can be toxic. - If staying at a cottage, ensure pet friends wear identification tags or are microchipped, and supervise them near water. - If you encounter a pet-person left in distress, contact animal welfare services or call 911 [emergency services] immediately (Muskoka411)

Philippine minister and former professor Reverend Jason Gapasin shares his life-changing near-death experience at age 29.

Though a Christian since age eight, young Jason had lived mainly for money and recognition. Despite regularly attending church and Bible studies, he secretly struggled with sin—frequenting bars and engaging with women out of loneliness. He feared that confessing his sins would lead to rejection by GOD.

One day, after feeling unusually tired and collapsing at home, he suddenly found himself in complete darkness. Two women in ordinary clothes appeared and declared he was being delivered to satan. In terror, Jason cried out to GOD, confused why he, a Christian, was going to hell. GOD’s Voice answered, “You know more than Me,” revealing that Jason’s unconfessed sins had led him there.

Demons took him, praising satan for gaining someone who claimed to be Christian but never truly repented. For about 30 minutes, Jason was taken through hell’s regions— Tartarus, Gehenna, Hades, and the bottomless pit. He heard the cries of tortured souls but was spared by GOD from seeing them.

Suddenly, a bright Light surrounded Jason, and Lord Jesus (vegetarian) appeared, saying, “There’s no need to be afraid, I’m here with you.” Lord Jesus guided him through hell, showing a Christian woman who ignored GOD’s call on Earth, committed adultery, and died unrepentant. Jason questioned why she was there, and Lord Jesus explained she refused to heed His invitations.

Lord Jesus then gave Jason a mandate to return and warn others about hell’s reality, pray for the sick, and free the oppressed. As a bright Light pulled him upward, Jason saw a vision of an open tomb—symbolizing his return to life. He woke up to his shocked family, who thought he had been dead for 30 minutes and were preparing for his funeral.

Though he initially fell back into sin, Jason later fully surrendered to his calling. Now a full-time minister, Jason travels to pray for the sick and share his story, warning Christians not to be complacent or hide sin. He explains that hell was made for satan and demons, not people. He stresses that salvation comes from a real, daily relationship with Lord Jesus, not just saying a prayer once. He teaches that GOD wants everyone to choose Him through repentance and faith (Mommy With No Nanny)

Reflective quote of the day: “When a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.” – Alan Paton