DAILY NEWS Stream – January 01, 2025

Airlines from Kazakhstan, Israel, and Azerbaijan halt flights to Russia after fatal Azerbaijan Airlines crash caused by Russia

(Báo VietNamNet; Politico)

Russia faces economic challenges with 9.5% inflation expected in 2025, record high-interest rates, and increased military spending amid Western sanctions (Báo Mới)

US: Investigation reveals former Speaker of the House of Representatives Pelosi and her husband profited immensely from the 2021 COVID bailout funds that she pushed through Congress, in one case earning up to US$5 million from an investment in a luxury hotel that received millions in relief, sparking ethical concerns (RealClearInvestigations)

Global elites struggle as US President Trump’s political philosophy spreads worldwide, with traditional parties facing rejection in the UK, France, Germany and across Asia (BTV Epoch Times)

President Trump’s Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seeks to ban drug advertising on television, which would be a major blow to the Big Pharmaceutical industry and mainstream media outlets that rely on such advertising (Tinh Hoa TV)

US homeless population increases by record 18% in 2024, impacted by rising rents, inflation and immigration (VnExpress)

Vietnam: Student scammed thousands of dollars by fake online job offer, in which he entered his bank account info and then deposited money to the scammer, then lost even more to a fake lawyer on Facebook who charged increasing fees to “fix” his problem; experts warn scams like these targeting students are on the rise, with common forms of fraud including recruitment scams, fake online sales, impersonating school officials or authorities, and fake financial investments or virtual currencies (Thanh Niên)

Japan faces record aging crisis with elderly comprising 29.3% of population, prompting increased senior employment and immigration as solutions (HTV Tin Tức)

Study of 768 students shows wearing a backpack on one shoulder or crossbody triples risk of scoliosis [sideways spinal curvature] compared to using both straps (VnExpress)

Hội An [Vietnam] declares emergency as coastal erosion reaches 225 meters long and 7 meters deep, threatening properties and infrastructure (Dân Trí)

Large waves hit Peru’s northern coastal communities, damaging boats and forcing closure of 91 ports through January 2025 (HTV Tin Tức)

HCM CT [Vietnam]’s largest flower village struggles due to erratic weather, forcing 30% production cuts and a switch to smaller, cheaper plants (VTV24)

Armed guards protect world’s last two northern white rhinos in Kenya using GPS and drones, as scientists attempt artificial reproduction to save the species (Tuổi Trẻ)

HCM CT [Vietnam] forestry officials release 28 endangered animals including pangolins and monkeys into U Minh Thượng National Park (Báo Tuổi Trẻ)

London [UK] researchers develop shape-changing handheld device to help visually impaired people navigate as effectively as sighted individuals (HTV - Đài Hà Nội)

Vietnamese company Enfarm uses AI and smart sensors to measure soil nutrients, helping farmers reduce fertilizer waste by 30% while increasing crop yields through real-time data analysis (VnExpress)

Scientists build underwater telescopes KM3NeT in Mediterranean Sea to detect neutrino particles, using glass spheres on vertical cables to study cosmic events (baotintuc.vn)

US space agency NASA discovers tilted black hole in galaxy NGC 5084, 80 million light years away, with unusual X-shaped plasma streams suggesting past cosmic collision (Tiền Phong)

Rare bird “Austen’s brown hornbill” who got caught in a net is rescued by residents and entrusted to forest rangers’ care in Tuy Hòa [Phú Yên, Vietnam] (Thanh Niên)

Experts share seven houseplants that can purify indoor air and reduce respiratory illnesses through natural filtration: 1) English Ivy; 2) Bamboo Palm; 3) Blood Horn Tree; 4) Gerbera Daisy; 5) Ferns; 6) Laceleaf; 7) Rubber Fig (Báo Mới)

Seven key signs of iron deficiency revealed: fatigue, cold extremities, frequent headaches, abnormally pale skin, frequent feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness, weak or brittle hair and nails, and cravings for ice [especially in pregnant women or adolescents] (VnExpress)

Expert identifies three plants that attract snakes: white-flowered snake tongue, wild leadwort, and Amomum longiligulare; and five plants that repel snakes: lemongrass, garlic vine, kudzu, snake plant, and chives (NongLam.NET) SupremeMasterTV.com/NWN

Ontario [Canada]’s ##taxpayer-funded animal welfare investigators issue first-ever news release, marking important step toward increased transparency amid marine park investigation and animal cruelty cases (Global News)

Syria’s de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa says elections could take up to 4 years as the country’s different forces hold political dialogue and rewrite a strong, lasting constitution (AP)

Syria’s new leader al-Sharaa plans to dissolve his Islamist group at key national dialogue summit to be held January 4 to 5, 2025 in Damascus (AP)

Türkiye offers electricity to Syria and Lebanon, sending team to assess infrastructure and supply options (Reuters)

Syrian leader al-Sharaa meets Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha ##as Kyiv [Ukraine] sends 500 metric tons of wheat aid to Damascus [Syria] (Reuters)

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev reveals passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan was shot down from Russian territory, even as Russia tries to cover up the truth (Thanh Niên)

Azerbaijan’s president condemns Russian “lies” surrounding the crashed plane that killed 38, which Putin fails to take responsibility for (Euractiv)

Georgia: Crisis deepens as pro-Russian President Kavelashvili takes office amid protests, as former President Zourabichvili, backed by Georgia’s four main pro-EU opposition parties, calls the new leader illegitimate due to Russian election interference (Reuters)

Guatemala is open to receiving citizens of other Central American nations who are deported from the United States, as the country looks to build a positive relationship with President Trump and His incoming administration (Reuters)

Camaçari [Brazil]: 163 Chinese workers rescued from “slavery-like” conditions at a BYD electric car factory construction site and moved to hotels as local Brazilian officials investigate human trafficking (AP)

Lahore [Pakistan]: Free motorcycle driving school program empowers women with independence through affordable transportation amid economic crisis (Reuters)

China: Record 3.4 million youth apply for civil service jobs amid economic slowdown, seeking stability despite local government fiscal challenges and wage issues (Reuters)

Türkiye announces US$14 billion development plan for its mainly Kurdish southeast through 2028, aiming to boost regional income amid rising hopes for peace (Reuters)

France: Three migrants die trying to cross the Channel to UK, with 76 deaths recorded this year (France 24)

Tea enthusiasts explore unique teapots at Teapot Island museum in Kent [England, UK], ##celebrating British traditions and cultural significance of this cherished item (France24)

Uganda’s Nyaka Grandmothers Program empowers 20,000 elderly women to foster 80,000 HIV-orphaned children, providing homes, education and community support (Africa News)

Followers of Afro-Brazilian religions celebrate New Year at Copacabana beach [Rio de Janeiro, Brazil], honoring sea goddess Yemanja and asking for world peace (Africa News)

Lagos [Nigeria] Dog Carnival celebrates pet companions with costumes, blessings and catwalk events, promoting Africa as a dog-loving continent (Africa News)

UNESCO adds Ghana’s traditional Kente cloth to Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognizing its cultural significance and intricate handwoven patterns (Africa News)

Brazil’s unemployment reaches record low 6.1%, the best employment figure since 2012 data series began (Reuters)

“It’s not going away”: COVID cases have doubled across Queensland [Australia] this festive season as new strain spreads across state (Sky News Australia)

China pilots monitoring system for pneumonia of unknown origin, anticipating a rise in respiratory diseases during winter (Devdiscourse)

Malaysia reports over 1,400 dengue cases and two deaths in one week, bringing total to more than 121,000 cases and 116 deaths in 2024 (MalayMail)

Chinese study finds Salmonella bacterial strains in asymptomatic food workers handling meat, raising concerns about transmission risks, with at least five variants showing antibiotic resistance (Food Safety News)

Parents advised to immediately consult a doctor if their daughter shows signs of early puberty [before age 8], and to adjust her diet to less processed, more vitamin-rich foods, encourage physical activity, and create a safe, supportive environment (Tiền Phong)

New experimental medications to increase dogs’ lifespan may someday extend human lifespan, as researchers find similarities in aging processes between dogs and humans (Tiền Phong)

Heavy rains in Quảng Ngãi [Vietnam] force residents to evacuate four times in two months as rivers rise above warning levels (Tuổi Trẻ)

Philippines: 5.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Luzon’s Bangui town. No damage expected but aftershocks likely from shallow quake (Reuters)

Peru declares environmental emergency after Petroperu oil spill affects 10,000 square meters of ocean and seven beaches (Reuters)

Canadian scientists develop breakthrough electric car battery technology enabling 15-minute charging and 800 charging cycles, promising more affordable electric vehicles (Thanh Niên)

Warning: Google search habits can endanger users as hackers exploit search engine optimization to create fake websites capturing personal data. Always exercise caution online, even when browsing “top” webpages (VTV.vn)

Scientists revive 1,000-year-old Biblical seed from Judean Desert into 3-meter tree named “Sheba” with healing properties, potentially solving mystery of ancient “Tsori” resin associated with healing in the Bible (Doanh nghiệp Việt Nam)

Southern whales can live up to 150 years, double scientists’ previous estimates, based on four decades of data tracking nearly 2,500 female whales (Tiền Phong)

“The most powerful weapon in the world is a camera”: Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, 74, vows to continue fighting illegal whaling through camera documentation after his release by Denmark (France 24)

Cao Hớn [An Giang, Vietnam]: Mr. Anh Út was saved by wild mountain dogs and now takes care of them, establishing canine sanctuary (Thích Lang Thang)

“We all owe him a debt of gratitude”: President Trump pays tribute to former US President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at age 100 in Georgia, praising him for doing “everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans,” and offering condolences to his family (The Economic Times)

President Trump criticizes 2023 Congressional deal that suspended US debt ceiling until January 1, 2025 and demands immediate House of Representatives vote to extend or abolish the debt ceiling to avoid a legislative battle after He takes office on January 20 (The Independent)

Love-in-action quote of the day: “Live and allow others to live; hurt no one; life is dear to all living beings.” – The Venerated Enlightened Lord Mahavira (vegan)

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