DAILY NEWS Stream – March 21, 2025

Russia’s Putin agrees to a partial ceasefire on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following 90-minute call with US President Trump, with an “understanding” that a complete ceasefire will be pursued. The phone call, which covered many topics including the Middle East and restoration of US-Russian relations, may lay the groundwork for a face-to-face meeting (Sky News Australia)

Taiwan thanks the G7 countries [Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US] for pledging to help Taiwan uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait (The Statesman)

Leaders of Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC] and Rwanda meet in Qatar and call for immediate ceasefire in eastern DRC amid violence from Rwanda-backed M23 rebels (Al Jazeera)

“You got a lot of reading”: President Trump’s administration releases 80,000 uncensored pages on former President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination, fulfilling President Trump’s campaign promise (Sky News Australia)

Stranded US astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore thank President Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk for bringing them home from the International Space Station after being abandoned by the Biden administration for eight months (Truth Social; RTTNews)

England [UK]: 4.8% of people report having long Covid – symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, and heart palpitations – and nearly one in 10 believe they have it, indicating many in need of diagnosis, treatment, and support (BBC)

Bird flu: UN experts raise alarm over growing risks to global meat and dairy amid widespread poultry infections and spillover into other animals (Euronews)

Vietnam records nearly 40,000 suspected measles cases in 2025 so far; Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính issues guidelines to accelerate vaccinations (Viet Nam News)

Tangail District [Bangladesh]: Pineapples chemically-treated to accelerate their growth and size raise health concerns as some farmers in Madhupur County use excessive hormones to maximize profits during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan (The Daily Star)

Study finds that obese people with heart disease who gain or lose a lot of weight are at increased risk of death from all causes (BBC)

Secrets of longevity from the world’s “blue zones,” where more people live past 100: - Eat a whole-food, high-fiber, plant-based diet. - Do sustained mild-intensity exercise daily, like walking 10,000 steps a day or gardening. - Wake up with a sense of purpose, such as helping the next generation, the community, or your church. - Build a caring community; connect face-to-face with others daily; live with extended family members and spend time with them every day. - Have a strong spiritual or faith practice, including a day per week dedicated to deep prayer. - Get enough sleep; go to bed early and wake up early; try short 20-minute naps during the day. - Don’t stress about your health; with the right environment, or smart life organization, you can live a healthy life without trying hard (Fox News)

Dhaka [Bangladesh]’s deadly air pollution, one of the worst, claims many lives every year. Here are some ways to address it: Short-Term Measures: - Enforce regulations on industrial emissions. - Develop a green belt [open land with no buildings] around the city. - Protect green space and urban forestry. - Map pollution sources and hotspot areas in the city. - Develop an air pollution forecast system. - Strictly ban vehicles emitting black smoke. - Impose traffic congestion fees to reduce cars on streets. - Regularly inspect brick factories and other polluting industries. - Relocate brick factories and solid waste dumping sites. - Develop a dust pollution control mechanism. - Implement efficient solid waste management strategies. - Install air purifiers in homes, schools, and workplaces.

Long-Term Measures: - Install air quality monitoring stations. - Develop a locational database of respiratory disease patients. - Comprehensively research links between air pollution and disease. - Promote and improve low-emission public transit. - Introduce pedestrian-friendly footpaths for bicycle lanes and parking zones. - Encourage industries to shift to cleaner energy. - Encourage clean cooking technologies. - Upgrade brick factory chimney technology (The Daily Star)

Pakistan: Incoming water shortages threaten wheat and sugar crops in Sindh and Punjab provinces (Dawn)

Australian study forecasts climate change will drive a doubling or even tripling of heart disease globally in the next 25 years if current warming trends continue, as our hearts must work harder to help us cool down (Al Jazeera)

Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya is suing German energy company RWE for its role in global pollution. He took action after a 2013 study linked RWE to 0.5% of climate change since the 1850s. Now, he wants the company to cover 0.5% of the cost to protect his hometown, Huaraz, from climate-related flooding. Experts say this case could set an important precedent for holding polluters accountable, especially since RWE has never operated directly in Peru (Euronews)

England [UK]: Mass of plastic nurdles [small pellets] spotted in the North Sea after crash between a US tanker and Portuguese- flagged cargo ship, raising concerns for wildlife safety (Euronews)

Japan consortium sets targets for 15% recycled plastic in cars made in 2031, and over 20% from 2036 onward (The Japan News)

Singapore: First solar-powered electric ferries will operate on the Singapore River by April 2025. Manufactured by local maritime startup Pyxis in collaboration with river cruise company WaterB, the boats are also the first in Singapore with vehicle-to-grid technology, meaning the excess energy they generate can be transferred onshore for other uses (The Straits Times)

British television star Jason Isaacs reveals he’s vegan and encourages others to try it for better sleep, energy, weight loss, and overall health (Plant Based News)

Bulgarian Member of European Parliament Emil Radev urges stricter measures to combat animal cruelty, the illegal animal trade, and the online distribution of animal abuse content (Bulgarian News Agency)

West Hollywood [US] considers co-sponsoring a vegan event “Food Day in WeHo” organized by Plant-Based Treaty Los Angeles to promote plant-based living and sustainable food systems, scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2025 (WeHo Times)

Reassuring quote of the day: “This human being is a guest house Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Rumi (vegetarian)