DAILY NEWS Stream – December 08, 2024

UN Security Council holds emergency meeting as Syrian rebels launch major offensive in north, capturing territory as Russia supports government counterattack with airstrikes (VẤN ĐỀ HÔM NAY)

Syria: Opposition forces seize Aleppo amid weakened regime control, as Russia and Iran’s diminished presence creates opportunity for peace talks (Al Jazeera)

Opposition parties in South Korea submit an impeachment motion against President Yoon after his controversial martial law declaration (VẤN ĐỀ HÔM NAY)

Analysis shows Russia’s military power is seriously weakened as Ukraine continues lobbing strategic strikes using Western-supplied missiles (Lù Gaming)

Sweden is becoming Russia’s worst nightmare as it abandons centuries of neutrality to become a major arms supplier to Ukraine, providing US$1.2 billion in military aid despite Russian threats and geographic proximity (The Icarus Project)

Analysis: China-Russia “unlimited partnership” shows strain as Ukraine war drags on, revealing historic tensions and diverging interests as China is concerned about being dragged down by a failing Russian economy and weakening alliance stability (Thế Giới Tiêu Điểm)

Ukraine launches missile attack on Russia’s Kursk region using US-provided ATACMS missiles, causing casualties and damage to military command center, while UK and France discuss peace talks (TOÀN CẢNH 24H)

Russia recruits Yemeni fighters for Ukraine war as Moscow struggles with heavy casualties after over 2 years of conflict (Financial Times)

Netherlands pledges €22 million for Ukraine’s air defense and cyber resilience through NATO projects, emphasizing continued support (RBC Ukraine)

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy signs law for US$50 billion G7 loan to be repaid only through Russian reparations (RBC Ukraine)

Europe records around 100 suspicious incidents in 2024 linked to “Russian hybrid attacks, espionage and influence” operations; in response, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky says, “We must send a strong message to Moscow that we will not tolerate this” (Tagtik)

Russia suffers record 45,680 casualties in November 2024, with daily losses exceeding 1,500 soldiers amid intensified offensives across multiple fronts (Evening Standard)

China is trembling from AUKUS [Australia, UK, US] defense partnership and warns New Zealand against joining, as the pact counters China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region (Quân Sự Mở)

Syria: More than 500 killed including 92 civilians due to resumed fighting between HTS [Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham]-led rebels and government troops in the northwest, as UN chief calls for immediate ceasefire (KÊNH VTC9)

Meta [Facebook] CEO Mark Zuckerberg seeks an “active role” on President Trump’s tech advisory board, hoping to support Him in maintaining America’s global tech leadership following a meeting between the two last week at the President’s residence in Mar-a-Lago [Florida] (The Guardian)

US: Video of President Donald Trump’s 18-year-old son Barron speaking publicly for first time in years goes viral, prompting discussion of his potential bright future political career (Sky News Australia)

US: Second season of “Art of the Surge” docuseries will follow President Trump’s transition to the White House, produced by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson’s executive producer Justin Wells (Daily Beast)

US: Democratic lawmakers criticize Biden’s pardon of son Hunter, breaking campaign promise as Republicans attack decision as abuse of power (THVN)

Rwandan farmers transform logistics with innovative electric trucks from UK- based startup Ox Delivers, reducing crop spoilage and transport costs while offering cargo sharing solutions (Reasons To be Cheerful)

Vietnam’s capital reports 319 measles cases in a week with one death, as authorities urge vaccination amid outbreak (Tuổi Trẻ)

Vietnamese study shows social media reduces confidence and verbal communication skills among youth, as students prefer messaging apps over face-to-face interaction (Tuổi Trẻ)

Vietnam: Dating apps linked to increase in sexually transmitted diseases, with hospitals reporting 75,000 cases in 2023, as people meet faster than ever and establish more temporary relationships, putting them at higher risk of infection (VNExpress)

Vietnam: Two-year-old hospitalized after family mistakes toxic daffodil leaves for chives and adds them to baby’s porridge; the child has since stabilized. Doctors recommend parents carefully study information about lookalike indoor plants to ensure the safety of their children (VnExpress)

US study finds air pollution exposure harms both male and female fertility by damaging egg, sperm and embryo development during critical stages (The Guardian)

UK study confirms walking increases longevity through cardiovascular health improvement, with benefits highest for previously sedentary individuals (Giáo dục và Thời đại)

Research shows spinach juice lowers blood pressure and cancer risk through high nitrate content and acid-balancing properties (Thanh Niên)

US: Great Lakes region hit with massive 152-centimeter snowfall, disrupting transport and prompting National Guard deployment across state of Pennsylvania (VnExpress)

German holiday firm TUI [Touristik Union International] cancels Lapland [northernmost Finland] Christmas trips due to lack of snow, as climate change brings unseasonable warmth to Rovaniemi, Santa’s “official home” (Euronews)

United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP] identifies drought, land degradation, industrial farming, chemical pollution and dietary choices as major causes of global soil health decline (UN Environment Programme)

Rawalpindi [Pakistan]: Lawyer Altamush Saeed fights to protect 5,200 stray dogs from culling, advocating sterilization and vaccination instead (ProPakistani)

Tens of thousands of storks gather in buffer zone of Tràm Chim National Park [Đồng Tháp, Vietnam], aiding farmers by keeping destructive pest populations in check (Truyền Hình Đồng Tháp)

Did you know: Rainforests produce 20% of Earth’s oxygen, house over 50% of species, and provide 25% of Western medicines while regulating global climate, making protecting them crucial to sustaining life as we know it (The Puzzlarium)

New Zealand startup OpenStar Technologies creates 300,000ºC plasma, a key milestone on the road to fusion power generation, achieved through an upgraded “levitated dipole” reactor design (Công Luận)

Iraq: University of Anbar Professor Abdulsattar Abduljabbar creates mobile bus library in war-damaged Mosul, carrying 1,000 free books to revive reading culture after ISIS occupation destroyed most of the city’s libraries (HTV)

German Animal Welfare Association recommends feeding native songbirds in winter, emphasizing hygiene and natural garden design to support native species, which are increasingly threatened by industrial animal operations and high use of pesticides (Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.)

Limbani the chimpanzee rescued from Florida roadside zoo and brought to Save the Chimp Sanctuary [Florida, US] by PETA campaigners, joining 24 other rescued chimps now living at spacious sanctuaries (PETA)

Vietnamese doctor advises heating arrowroot powder, turmeric, water and salt for a healthy drink to cleanse the liver and kidneys and improve overall health (Handmade VN)

Health experts explain benefits of drinking warm water for digestion, immunity, detoxification and circulation, recommending a glass of warm water on an empty stomach in the morning for a healthy start to the day (Kingbooks Official)

Vietnam’s National Assembly Vice Chairman Trần Quang Phương meets with the Chinese International Exchange Association led by former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Ji Bingxuan to discuss cultural, educational and scientific cooperation ahead of the two nations’ 75th diplomatic anniversary in 2025 (baotintuc.vn)

US Senator Bernie Sanders says

Elon Musk is right about the waste of the Pentagon’s US$886 billion defense budget after the defense headquarters fails its seventh straight audit (VnExpress)

Russian soldiers abandon weapons and equipment and flee Damascus [Syria] en masse (Artur Rehi)

Aleppo falls to Syrian rebels within 3 days as Russian-backed Assad forces lose control, threatening Russia’s naval and air bases in Syria (Jake Broe)

US is concerned over South Korea’s brief martial law declaration, fearing threats to the stability of its democracy as a key ally in East Asia (ABC7)

Russia’s military faces desertion crisis as North Korean troops refuse to fight and defect to Ukraine, undermining Putin’s desperate attempt to bolster forces (The Military Show)

Analysis: President Trump’s master plan for peace in Ukraine aims to weaken Russia economically while leveraging US military presence in Europe to pressure Putin toward negotiations; the swift end to the Ukraine war will expose Russia’s reliance on its wartime economy, leading to likely economic collapse under ongoing sanctions (The Military Show)

“Predator” Putin is swallowing Georgia into Russia, occupying 20% of its territory while threatening Georgia’s EU and NATO aspirations, warns Georgian opposition party leader Tina Bokuchava (Times Radio)

Analysis: Russia’s summer offensive failed despite 1.3 million troops, as it walked straight into Ukraine’s trap with F-16 fighter jets and NATO support, leaving Russia’s military and strategic position severely weakened (The Military Show)

Ukraine residents turn to solar panels and alternative energy sources to overcome another winter of power shortages (VTV)

Yakutia [Russia]: 70-centimeter-diameter meteor lights up the sky turning “night into day” as European Space Agency confirms fireball seen at 1:15 AM local time on December 3 (baotintuc.vn)

Vietnamese electric motorcycle startup Selex Motors becomes world’s first two-wheeler manufacturer to register carbon credits under Gold Standard, which certifies that its operations reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development, with financial support from the UN Development Programme [UNDP] (CafeF.vn)

University of Edinburgh [Scotland, UK] researchers use bacteria to extract rare metals from electronic waste for the development of green technology (KhoaHoc.tv)

Apple users shocked after learning an official iPhone charging accessory Belkin BoostCharge Pro contains BPA chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, and hormone disruption (Thanh Niên)

Spain records hottest November on record at 12.4ºC, highlighting growing impact of climate change (HTV)

Mekong Delta ends rainy season and begins its 2024-2025 dry season, with saltwater intrusion expected to increase from December but remain below historical averages (Truyền Hình Đồng Tháp)

Vietnam’s capital faces dense fog and dangerous fine dust levels, affecting visibility and air quality across multiple districts (ANTV - Truyền hình Công an Nhân dân)

Vietnam’s two biggest cities face severe air pollution crisis with hazardous red alert levels, prompting health warnings and calls for stronger government action (Thanh Niên)

Inspirational quote of the day: “You try to pull away the experiences until you get to the core of humanity, and you find that Light that exists in everybody. It's that Light that I'm searching for in all of my work – it’s that connective thing, that ether that enters all of us – you know what I mean? That's a part of God.”

– Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker (vegetarian)

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