DAILY NEWS Stream – January 13, 2025

Assad’s former aide Kamel Saqr says the deposed Syrian president was “tricked” by Putin, who said he would help send reinforcements, then ignored Assad’s pleas for help for three consecutive days, after which Assad fled the country (60 Giây | Tinh Hoa TV)

EU sends Ukraine first US$3.1 billion installment from frozen Russian assets as part of G7 [Canada, EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and US]’s US$50 billion loan package to counter Russian invasion (VnExpress)

President Trump reveals “Putin wants to meet and we are setting it up,” aiming for swift peace in Ukraine (Tuổi Trẻ)

US: Evidence emerges that January 6, 2021 Capitol protest was staged to frame President Trump, as then-Defense Secretary Chris Miller ignored President Trump’s security orders, Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell rejected reinforcement requests, and Capitol officers facilitated entry of protesters – some of whom were potentially hired and transported onsite to cause trouble at an otherwise peaceful gathering (Tinh Hoa TV)

US: President Trump criticizes Democrats over Los Angeles wildfires, blaming state water policies while calling for California Governor Newsom’s resignation for his refusal to make adequate preparations (VnExpress)

Vietnam warns of rising scams on Signal app, as fraudsters use fake investment platforms, romance scams, impersonate officials or family members, or send links containing malicious code to steal personal information. To avoid scams, experts say it is necessary to slow down, carefully check identities, review investment opportunities, and absolutely do not share sensitive information online. Don’t share OTPs [one-time passcodes], passwords, or financial information. Always authenticate any strange links, accounts, or organizations before taking action (Luật sư Việt Nam)

“The gender gap in Vietnam is getting worse,” says former Deputy Director of Communication and Education Mai Xuân Phương, with projected 1.5 million surplus males by 2034 due to selective abortions, fueled by the dangerous concept that “to give birth to a son is a traditional obligation to keep the family's name and legacy” (VnExpress)

Mexico offers money to people who surrender guns, with cash rewards up to US$1,300, as its “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” program aims to reduce violent crime (VnExpress)

EU launches medicine shortage monitoring platform to improve data sharing and crisis response across European countries, with industries legally obliged to participate (Euronews)

Singaporean writers sign statement protesting National Library Board’s AI [artificial intelligence] initiatives, warning of threats to intellectual property and a decline in writing development, as they say generative AI is not an adequate substitute for human writing (The Straits Times)

Analysis: Nepal lacks AI [artificial intelligence] regulations amid growing youth adoption, raising concerns over deepfakes [fake, lifelike videos/photos of real people], cybercrime, and impaired cognitive development, as children as young as seven use and increasingly rely on AI tools (The Kathmandu Post)

Quảng Ninh [Vietnam]: Five men poisoned, with one dead after drinking wine soaked with forest tree roots (VnExpress)

Tokyo [Japan] offers pregnant mothers up to US$16 million in subsidies for painless childbirth services, using anesthetics to reduce mothers’ stress and boost declining birth rates (VTV.vn)

Health experts warn storing food in plastic bags in the refrigerator leaches toxic chemicals into the food and impedes airflow, accelerating spoilage (Video AloBacsi)

Chinese doctors reveal peanuts contain more protein than beef, and they protect heart health and reduce risk of diabetes thanks to a host of beneficial vitamins and compounds (Kenh14.vn)

Alcohol-free initiatives like Dry January are gaining popularity across Europe, with millions participating to achieve healthier lifestyles (Euronews)

China mobilizes more than 12,000 people for earthquake relief after massive earthquake struck Tibet on January 7, 2025 (SGGP)

Tibet’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake triggered avalanches near Bhutan’s glacial lakes, raising concerns about potential flood risks, with some residents permanently relocating to higher ground (Kuensel)

Cần Thơ [Vietnam] official reports rising sea levels and land subsidence outpacing forecasts, threatening millions of residents in Mekong Delta with extreme weather and livelihood impacts (Tiền Phong)

Vĩnh Long [Vietnam]: Severe erosion threatens homes in Cồn Thanh Long, leaving residents uneasy and worried and forcing some to leave despite local government support (ANTV)

Rising sea levels and land subsidence occurring faster than predicted in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, affecting millions of residents’ livelihoods, especially in Cần Thơ city (Tiền Phong)

Vietnam: Environmental experts warn Hanoi’s air pollution costs will rise drastically the longer the city delays action. Poor air quality threatens residents’ health, with PM2.5 fine dust posing the gravest risk (Tiền Phong)

Hanoi [Vietnam] encourages residents to switch from gasoline cars to electric vehicles to combat severe air pollution – which is mainly caused by vehicle emissions – offering financial incentives for electric vehicles and aiming for an all-electric bus fleet by 2035 (VnExpress)

Northern Vietnam’s rural areas face severe air pollution near craft villages and industrial zones, with PM2.5 fine particle levels exceeding standard limit by up to 3.5 times (VnExpress)

Southeast Asian countries face rising temperatures, with cities, workers and elderly most at risk amid high humidity and rapid urbanization. To address the negative health impacts of global warming, researchers can study vulnerable groups, explore cooling solutions, and examine traditional heat injury treatments. Policymakers can collaborate with sectors to adapt, implement workplace regulations, and develop early warning systems. Individuals can raise awareness, protect vulnerable groups, and improve heat tolerance through cardio exercise (The Straits Times)

Study reveals China’s Three Gorges Dam disrupts natural fish migration, with some species reaching massive sizes in nutrient-dense water reservoir before becoming extinct, fueling stories of giant “sea monsters” at the world’s largest dam (Tiền Phong TV)

Study reveals animals adapt to human impacts, with species evolving shorter wings, smaller sizes, and building nests from artificial materials to survive urban environments, while elephants are born without tusks to reduce targeting by poachers (baotintuc.vn)

Netherlands’ “Tegelwippen” eco-campaign replaces sidewalk and yard paving stones with trees and green spaces, with citizens replacing 5.5 million tiles in 2024 in fun yearly challenge that is entertaining, combats climate change’s effects, and beautifies urban spaces (SGGP)

Singaporean company Flint unveils eco-friendly paper battery that completely decomposes in just six weeks and is around 10 times less expensive than lithium-ion batteries to produce, showcased at CES [Consumer Electronics Show] 2025 in Las Vegas [Nevada, US] (VnExpress)

Award-winning Cambodian company Eco-Bricks transforms plastic waste into construction materials, claimed to last over 100 years and be 5 to 6 times stronger than standard red clay bricks (The Phnom Penh Post)

New Chinese study finds the Moon had a magnetic field 2 billion years ago, one-twentieth of Earth’s strength, challenging previous theories and affecting lunar water research (VTV.vn)

Nvidia’s Project Digits unveils “world’s smallest AI supercomputer” 1,000 times more powerful than laptops, set for May 2025 release, with a portable design giving scientists and students convenient access for AI innovation (Tiền Phong)

University of Washington [US] study reveals most atoms in the human body traveled outside the Milky Way galaxy on a “cosmic conveyor belt” called the circumgalactic medium, before returning to our galaxy prior to the solar system’s creation (Thanh Niên)

US company Rictor unveils Skyrider X1 electric flying car that can travel at 100 kilometers/hour for 40 minutes, aiming to avoid traffic jams, with prototype planned for launch in 2026 (VnExpress)

US startup Invo Station developing 400 kilometer/hour electric flying saucer called “Invo Moon” with disc-shaped design, autonomously carrying three passengers up to 480 kilometers, hoping to launch in “all major cities including London” by end of decade (VnExpress)

University of Đà Nẵng [Vietnam] students create car-mounted device that warns drivers about damaged roads and flooding through sensors that monitor road conditions (VnExpress)

China plans to deploy elderly care robots, aiming to introduce humanoid robotic caregivers with AI capabilities by 2027 to address aging population crisis affecting 216 million seniors (VnExpress)

Scientists discover unusual new snail species Calybium plicatus – Vietnam’s first recorded gastropod mollusc on land – in Sơn Đoòng Cave, the world’s largest cave system, in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park (Tiền Phong)

Japan: Automated production of induced pluripotent stem cells – key to regenerative medicine and artificial organ creation – planned in Osaka using German technology starting April 2025, aiming to reduce costs from US$316,000 to US$6,300 per patient (baotintuc.vn)

Vietnamese student Phan Võ Thành Phát, 19, returns over US$15,000 to owner, after finding it in a bag by the road and giving it to local police (VnExpress)

Melbourne [Australia] student Hadi Nazari, 23, survives two weeks lost in Kosciuszko National Park by eating berries and drinking stream water before being found near country’s highest mountain (baotintuc.vn)

Hanoi [Vietnam]: New book “Eating Vegetarian Correctly - Scientific Standards” by Đặng Danh Ngọc (vegan) launches, featuring guidelines for healthy vegan eating, with over 100 experts and guests attending launch event (Sức khỏe & Đời sống) SupremeMasterTV.com/NWN

US and Arab mediators report progress in Gaza ceasefire talks, aiming to conclude before January 20, 2025 inauguration of President Trump, who has warned Hamas of serious consequences if their hostages are not released by then (Reuters)

At meeting with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirms Germany’s support will continue after the February German federal elections (Euronews)

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sees US President Trump, defending Western interests and continuing engagement with Ukraine to deter Russia (Reuters)

Noble-hearted quote of the day: “Peace has higher tests of manhood, than battle ever knew.” – John Greenleaf Whittier