DAILY NEWS Stream – January 16, 2025

EU considers lifting sanctions on Syria, scheduling foreign ministers’ meeting on January 27 in Brussels [Belgium] to discuss conditions, as new Syrian government shows positive developments (VTC NOW)

Serbia abandons some Russian weapons contracts, citing Western sanctions, and pivots to other suppliers, signaling pro-EU shift (VTC NOW)

US officials prepare for potential summit between President Trump and Russia’s Putin, with discussions ongoing regarding format and Ukraine’s possible participation, as Switzerland offers to host (VNEWS)

US: President Trump urges Republican lawmakers to unite behind His agenda, including tax cuts and border security, as House Speaker Johnson plans to accelerate the process through “budget reconciliation” bill, aimed for arrival on the President’s desk by late April 2025 (Tin Tức Mỹ | Tinh Hoa TV)

US: Biden administration pressured Facebook parent company Meta into removing accurate warnings about COVID vaccines, says CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who expresses support for President Trump and Elon Musk’s transparency approach, planning to end censorship on Meta platforms (Tinh Hoa TV)

Medical experts warn of six silent leukemia [blood cancer] symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, bruising, bleeding gums, red spots [often on the ankle], and pain in the left abdomen [caused by enlarged spleen]. Seek medical help right away if you experience any of these symptoms (Thanh Niên)

Los Angeles [US]: Hollywood stars shocked to see their multi-million-dollar houses burned to ashes in devastating wildfires, which have ravaged thousands of hectares as firefighters still struggle to contain them (VTC NOW)

Los Angeles [US]: Unauthorized drone collides with firefighting plane, forcing it to ground for repairs. Federal agents investigate who operated the drone against flight restrictions, facing potential imprisonment and a fine of up to US$75,000 (VTC NOW)

Brazil: Heavy rain triggers deadly landslide in southern city of Ipatinga, killing at least 10 people and forcing evacuations as authorities declare emergency (HTV)

Italy: Deadly avalanche kills three, with two more evacuated in Piedmont region near border with Switzerland (VNEWS)

Investigation reveals thousands of popular mobile apps can be hijacked to expose users’ locations, with or without the app makers’ consent. One such hijacker, a US company called Gravy Analytics, has compromised millions of people’s precise GPS [global positioning system] location histories after Russian hackers got in, exposing countless people to potential stalking, blackmail, or espionage (Thanh Niên)

Five of Singapore’s Best Vegan-Friendly Food Spots: 1) Greendot Plus [inside Jewel Food Court in Singapore Airport]; 2) Gokul Raas; 3) Lotus Vegetarian; 4) Fortune Centre food court [many options]; 5) Chinatown Food Market [many options] (Rated V for Vegan) SupremeMasterTV.com/NWN Syria’s interim government blocks Russian warships from accessing Tartus naval base, leaving military personnel and equipment stranded amid ongoing evacuations, as Syria reorients its foreign policy away from Russia (Tiền Phong)

Hamas accepts draft agreement for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages, officials say, marking major progress in peace talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US (AP)

Growing number of Israeli soldiers say they will lay down arms if there is no ceasefire in Gaza, wishing end to 15-month conflict (AP)

HCM CT [Vietnam] police warn of scammers luring Vietnamese to Cambodia with false high-paying job offers and being forced to do hard labor or work for Chinese online scam centers, unable to leave unless their family pays a large ransom (Thanh Niên)

China limits children’s gaming to 16 hours maximum during month-long winter break [January 15 to February 14, 2025], aiming to prevent youth addiction (baotintuc.vn)

Experts share warning signs of poor blood circulation: numbness, tingling, and cold hands, fingers, feet or toes. To improve blood circulation, experts recommend regular exercise, no smoking, keeping a healthy weight and diet, and managing stress, consulting medical professionals as needed (Thanh Niên)

Experts warn of six toxic shampoo ingredients to avoid: 1) Sodium Lauryl/ Laureth sulfate [SLS] – causes skin and eye irritation, hair dryness and frizz; 2) Diethanolamine [DEA] – may form cancer-causing compounds, harming organs like the liver; 3) Parabens - disrupt hormones and are linked to cancer and reproductive issues; 4) Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Agents - cause cancer and allergic reactions; 5) Methylisothiazolinone [MIT] - triggers skin irritation and allergic reactions; 6) Phthalates [often labeled “artificial fragrances”] – linked to hormonal disruptions, reproductive and developmental problems, and cancer. Opt for natural, cruelty-free alternatives to protect your health and animals (One Green Planet)

Health experts explain how to safely bathe a baby with pneumonia but no fever, using warm water, quick baths, and proper drying 1 to 2 times per week, and just a warm, damp cloth the rest of the time to avoid worsening symptoms. Do not bathe an infant with a high fever above 38 degrees Celsius [100.4 degrees Fahrenheit] (Tiền Phong)

Los Angeles [US] officials ask residents to stay away from evacuation zone for their safety, describing the fire-ravaged areas as “war zones,” with more than 100,000 people forced to evacuate and over 10,000 buildings destroyed (VnExpress)

Americans say they’ve “lost almost everything” due to Los Angeles wildfire disaster, as property, family keepsakes, and documents all suddenly vanish into flames (VietNamNet)

Los Angeles [US]: Dog dad Colvin reunites with missing pet Oreo after 5 days apart during devastating wildfires (VnExpress)

Tech billionaire Elon Musk to provide free Wi-Fi to wildfire-devastated areas of Los Angeles [US], deploying Tesla Cybertrucks carrying Starlink satellite internet connection plus snacks and clean water for victims (VnExpress)

Cyclone Dikeledi kills three in Madagascar and hits Mayotte [France] with heavy rains as nation still recovers from devastation of Cyclone Chido (The Guardian)

Australian startup Morse Micro unveils long-range, high-speed Wi-Fi router HaLow that “covers the whole community,” enabling web surfing and smart device connections up to 16 kilometers [10 miles] away using sub-gigahertz [low-frequency] transmission (Thanh Niên)

Sichuan [China]: Elderly couple spends their entire pension caring for stray dogs and cats for over 10 years, feeding them twice daily while taking in the most vulnerable, who are blind, injured by car crashes, or have diseases, despite the couple’s own hardships (VietNamNet)

Cần Thơ [Vietnam]: Mr. Lê Văn Sơn, 78, has been quietly patching up potholes along rural roads for 10 years after witnessing accidents firsthand, earning certificates of merit from local authorities for his shining example (ATGT.VN)

Analysis: Adopting a vegan diet is the most effective way to make our diets carbon-negative, as a global switch to plant-based foods could restore 3.1 billion hectares of farmland to nature, transforming our planet when viewed from space and removing 8 billion metric tons of CO2 [carbon dioxide] annually for 100 years. This shift would make food systems carbon negative, reducing emissions from 2,000 kilograms to negative 160 kilograms CO2 per person (BBC)

Escambia County [Florida, US] animal shelter’s longest-staying resident ever finds home after 578 days, as Daisey the dog gets adopted (WEAR)

Nottinghamshire [UK] woman Joanne Baker adopts rescue dog Sarah after 1,000 days in kennels following BBC appeal (People)

Tortilla UK debuts Beyond Steak Chimichurri Burrito, a flavorful vegan option available for Veganuary [Vegan January] until February 6, 2025 (VegNews)

German supermarket Aldi launches its largest Veganuary [Vegan January] range in the UK, including Plant Menu Vegan Egg for versatile cooking and baking (VegNews)

Upright quote of the day: “Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Mencius (vegetarian)