DAILY NEWS Stream – December 20, 2024

Kurdish-led militia Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] in northeast Syria calls for halt to all fighting and collaboration with Syria’s new interim government, proposing comprehensive dialogue and fair resource distribution after Assad’s fall (VnExpress)

Ceasefire between Türkiye and Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] extended to end of this week as US engages with both for a peaceful path forward (Al Arabiya)

Former US General Jack Keane says President Trump stopped Turkish attacks on US-backed Syrian Kurds in His first term through direct talks with Türkiye’s President Erdoğan, and says President Trump can do it again in His upcoming second term (Fox News)

UK announces £50 million Syria aid package to help over 1 million people, with £30 million through UN channels for essential services and £20 million to support Syrians in neighboring countries Lebanon and Jordan via World Food Programme [WFP] and UN’s refugee agency (HTV)

Damascus [Syria]: Schools reopen one week after Assad regime falls, a hopeful sign of stability as UN envoy calls for lifting sanctions to aid reconstruction and economic recovery (baotintuc.vn)

Normalcy is returning to Syria as petrol shortages ease while the Syrian pound strengthens by 20% relative to US dollar (The Guardian)

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy pledges humanitarian aid to Syria through food supplies and security assistance, emphasizing the importance of global stability for Ukraine’s own peace efforts (RBC Ukraine)

UK makes diplomatic contact with opposition group Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham to ensure “inclusive” governance (The i)

Qatar reopens Damascus embassy after 13-year closure, supporting Syrian people’s rights and reflecting diplomatic shift after opposition takeover led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Reuters)

Syria is not interested in conflict with Israel, opposition leader Ahmad al-Sharea says, emphasizing rebuilding the country is the new government’s number one priority (FT)

Over 7,500 Syrian refugees return from Türkiye following Assad’s fall, crossing at rate of 1,000 daily, as most of the approximately 3 million Syrians in Türkiye are called upon to return to their homeland by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (DPA International)

Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto declares readiness to send peacekeepers to Ukraine as part of conflict resolution, aligning with US President Trump’s plans for Europe to take the lead as peacekeepers deterring Russia in the east (Báo Nghệ An)

Kobanî [Northern Syria]: US troops regain control of base held by Russia since 2019, spelling major embarrassment for Putin as Russian troops continue fleeing the country (TSP)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1NZtkgcpJ4

Ukrainian special forces destroy Russian fuel train in Zaporizhzhia region [Ukraine], targeting 40 tank cars and disabling critical railway infrastructure through coordinated drone and missile strikes (24h.com.vn)

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy confirms Russia is now using a significant number of the 11,000 total North Korean troops in Ukraine as Moscow seeks to bolster forces amid heavy losses in Kursk (The Independent)

Ukrainian forces destroy 40 Russian fuel tanks worth US$4 million in coordinated operation using drones, rockets, and sabotage to disrupt supply lines running from Crimea to occupied Zaporizhzhia (RBC Ukraine)

Iran shuts schools and institutions across 12 provinces amid severe air pollution and energy crisis, with record gas consumption and freezing temperatures straining resources amid US sanctions (The Financial Times)

Analysis: President Trump is changing the world without even taking office yet, as He already shapes global affairs through social media and diplomatic meetings, influencing policies ranging from NATO to Middle East peace talks (The Telegraph)

US Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas blames recent New Jersey drone sightings to relaxed federal night flight rules, downplaying Americans’ worries about foreign involvement (New York Post)

Spanish infectious disease experts believe the next pandemic could come from the US as H5N1 bird flu continues to mutate and dangerously approaches humans (La Vanguardia)

Uganda: Mysterious illness dubbed “Dinga Dinga” affects 300 people, mostly women and girls, in Bundibugyo district, causing uncontrollable shaking and paralysis-like symptoms, though no deaths reported as antibiotics prove effective (Kenh14.vn)

HCM CT [Vietnam] Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital reports 30-35% of annual patients suffer from sinusitis [sinus inflammation], with rising air pollution and fine dust causing widespread health impacts (Thanh Niên)

Doctors advise in winter to sit for 20-30 seconds after waking up, then lowering your legs for about 1 minute before standing to prevent heart attacks and strokes, as blood vessels constrict in the cold season (Thanh Niên)

HCM CT [Vietnam] Traditional Medicine Hospital warns against improper joint cracking during massage, citing risks of nerve damage, paralysis and even death from incorrect techniques; experts clarify that in most cases of joint correction or reflexology, massage will not make a “cracking” sound at all (Tuổi Trẻ)

Thanh Thủy [Phú Thọ, Vietnam] Medical Center warns against burning coal indoors, even for heating a bath, after couple’s tragedy leaves one dead and the other in critical condition from carbon monoxide poisoning due to charcoal firepit use in their bedroom (Genk)

World Health Organization [WHO] reports over 20% of adults globally have genital herpes infection, highlighting need for improved testing, treatment and prevention strategies amid global rise in sexually transmitted infections (World Health Organization)

Nutrition experts recommend 5 nuts and seeds - almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts and chia seeds – for their omega-3 fatty acids and nutrients that help reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood (VnExpress)

Experts highlight three vitamin B6-rich foods suitable for vegans/vegetarians: nuts/seeds, sweet potatoes, and bananas, offering essential nutrients and health benefits for plant-based diets (Báo Lao Động)

Floods kill four in Duy Xuyên district and Tam Kỳ city [Quảng Nam, Vietnam] amid heavy rains exceeding 500 millimeters, with two 9-year-old children swept away by strong currents (VnExpress)

Heavy rains in Ninh Thuận [Vietnam] cause flooding in over 100 houses and landslides along coastal road 701, with six rockfalls reported and evacuation measures implemented (Tuổi Trẻ)

Global weather disasters intensify as UN chief António Guterres warns humanity is heading in wrong direction in climate fight, with CO2 emissions rising 1.2% above pre-pandemic levels (Tiền Phong TV)

Reuters photographers document devastating floods across 45 countries in 2024, with climate change intensifying rainfall and rising seas leading to over 1,000 dead, millions of people displaced and billions of dollars in damages reported – as experts say this is only the beginning of the world’s climate woes (Reuters)

Vietnam discovers 112 new species in 2023, including 106 native, as World Wildlife Fund [WWF] reports 234 new species across the Mekong region amid urgent conservation needs (Tiền Phong)

Bắc Giang [Vietnam] pilots first zero-emission waste treatment technology using biochemical thermal processing, converting 150 metric tons of waste daily into clean energy without producing ash, wastewater or odors (VnExpress)

Survey of 23,000 electric vehicle owners across 18 countries reveals 92% will continue to buy electric for their next vehicle, citing lower operating costs and environmental benefits, as very few wish to return to gasoline cars (Tuổi Trẻ) SupremeMasterTV.com/NWN

Hội An [Vietnam] reports significant decline in dog and cat meat consumption over past three years through official city partnership with global animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS, which has helped Hội An achieve rabies-free status and foster a safe, tourist-friendly, and progressive community image (Truyền Hình Đồng Tháp)

Scientists discover endangered binturong [bearcat] at Động Châu – Khe Nước Trong Nature Reserve [Quảng Bình, Vietnam], marking the first sighting of this bear-like endangered species in the region (Tiền Phong)

UK defense expert Lord Kerr argues for Austria-style “perpetual neutrality” for Ukraine - which would keep it permanently out of NATO - as a trade that could force weakened Putin into total withdrawal from Ukraine, but warns against territorial partition, citing parallels with 1938 Czechoslovakia being swallowed up by then-fascist-led Germany; he also calls for increased UK defense spending beyond 2.5% GDP (Times Radio)

The US is preparing for potential war with Russia by reinforcing NATO alliances, increasing military readiness, and addressing Russia’s nuclear and hybrid warfare tactics; contingencies include countering Russian cyber threats, destabilization efforts, and proxy conflicts, reflecting a renewed focus on Eastern Europe despite a strategic pivot to Asia (The Military Show)

Russia’s army closer to the WHITE FLAG Than EVER as it suffers ever-increasing losses, while Western support strengthens Ukraine and Russia’s economy destabilizes under US$200 billion in war costs (Prophet’s Sight)

China warns Russia against nuclear threats, with President Xi urging peace talks with Ukraine (The Military Show)

US confirms North Korean forces suffer heavy losses in Ukraine as Putin pushes more and more North Korean troops to front lines (Báo VietNamNet)

Russia faces severe labor shortage as military recruitment depletes workforce, with its defense industry lacking 160,000 specialists while arms exports drop from 21% to 11% of global market share (Oracle Eyes)

Analysis reveals Putin in a state of panic as he realizes the war is already lost amid heavy 2024 losses, replacing Defense Minister Shoigu with economist Bosov amid fears of internal threats and collapsing military capabilities (The Military Show)

Russian military faces systemic collapse with 643,750 casualties, widespread desertion including 18,000 from Southern District, and critical equipment shortages outpacing production threefold (The Military Show)

Putin’s empire CRUMBLES across former Soviet states as only Kyrgyzstan maintains support, while Kazakhstan, Armenia and others shift away amid Ukraine war’s impact on regional dynamics (Oracle Eyes)

Ukraine shocks Russia by revealing Peklo, a never-before-seen 700- kilometer-range hybrid drone-missile system with autonomous navigation, capable of targeting strategic Russian military bases from fighter jets and posing significant threat to multiple airfields (Oracle Eyes)

President Trump states readiness to end COVID vaccination programs if deemed unsafe, planning to speak with US Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the matter as secret Pfizer report reveals increasing cardiac risks among mRNA vaccinated individuals while research links mRNA COVID vaccines to significant excess death rates (Tinh Hoa TV)

Vietnam’s second-largest city faces severe air pollution with Air Quality Index [AQI] reaching hazardous levels, expected to last through Saturday, Dec 21, 2024 , as officials warn residents to limit outdoor activities (Tiền Phong)

UK and Norway sign new green partnership focusing on clean energy and carbon storage, with a key component involving exploring the feasibility of transporting captured carbon dioxide under the North Sea through pipelines (HTV Tin Tức)

Long An [Vietnam]: Farmer Nguyễn Văn Đắc innovates sustainable agriculture by growing vegetables on floating rafts made from plastic bottles and water hyacinth substrate, producing 300-400 kilograms of clean vegetables daily on his 3-hectare floating surface (Truyền Hình Đồng Tháp)

Tây Sơn [Nghệ An, Vietnam]: Timber forest “Father” Vừ Rả Tênh and his family have nurtured precious Pơmu and Samu trees for 30 years, creating a 100-hectare forest that attracts visitors while preserving rare tree species (Tiền Phong)

Vietnamese health experts recommend various immune-boosting winter drinks including soups, green tea with lemon, beet juice, and orange juice to prevent common cold-weather illnesses (VnExpress)

Nha Trang [Khánh Hòa, Vietnam]: Sudden floodwaters flood homes up to a meter deep as multiple reservoirs release water, prompting evacuation concerns (Báo VietNamNet)

Consciousness-elevating quote of the day: “The Tao is like a bellows: it is empty yet infinitely capable. The more you use it, the more it produces; the more you talk of it, the less you understand.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Lao Tzu (vegan)

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