DAILY NEWS Stream – January 02, 2025

Syria: Maysaa Sabrine becomes nation’s first female central bank governor, overseeing reforms amid US sanctions and depleted foreign reserves in the post-Assad era (Reuters)

Ukraine and Russia swap over 300 prisoners, with Kyiv welcoming 189 Ukrainians home, including soldiers, officers, and civilians (Reuters)

International outrage as the Taliban intensifies restrictions on Afghan women, banning nonprofits that employ them in move that severely restricts delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance (AP)

China waives visa fees for Cuban citizens from January 1, 2025, celebrating 65 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries (VTV.vn)

President Trump endorses Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson [Republican-Louisiana], calling him a “hardworking, religious man” ahead of Congressional leadership vote (BBC)

Canadian businessman and “Shark Tank” television show producer Kevin O’Leary says half of Canadians support merging with US as President Trump proposes making Canada the 51st state (The Daily Beast)

“Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary wants to go to Mar-a-Lago [Florida] to discuss US-Canada merger with President Trump amid Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s waning power (The Daily Beast)

President Trump says Democrats illegally paid Beyoncé, Oprah and Reverend Al Sharpton millions of dollars for Harris campaign endorsements, questioning source of funds (New York Post)

President Trump’s team warns sanctuary cities of legal consequences for impeding immigration enforcement and the President’s deportation plans (Fox News)

Tech billionaire and Efficiency Commissioner Elon Musk rents cottage at Mar-a-Lago [Florida, US], gaining convenient access to President Trump while advising on policy and personnel decisions (The New York Times)

Efficiency Commissioner Elon Musk shapes Republican debates on immigration while many Democrats support his government spending cuts, creating alliances across the political spectrum (Semafor)

Newly released photos reveal Biden met his son Hunter’s Chinese business partners, contradicting claims he “never” discussed business with his son (Fox News)

Vietnamese parents worry as children increasingly prefer AI [artificial intelligence] chatbots over human interaction, with experts warning of social development risks; parents advised to turn AI into a common tool for the whole family to chat, with parents explaining the answers to their children, to help kids see their parents as reliable friends (Thanh Niên)

Vietnam warns of scammers using AI face-swapping technology on Facebook video calls to impersonate relatives and request emergency money transfers; it is advised to call your relatives again via a known phone number to verify it was really them and not to rush to transfer requested funds (Thanh Niên)

Singapore consumers battle addiction to online shopping as free returns, constant sales, and the convenience of smartphone shopping apps drive impulsive purchases, leading to uncontrolled spending (VnExpress)

Trinidad and Tobago declares state of emergency following spike in gang violence, with increased police powers but no curfew imposed (AP)

US COVID-19 cases up around the holidays during “silent surge”; doctors recommend testing for anyone with flu-like illness (Spectrum News)

Nigeria: Climate change extends dry seasons and increases Lassa fever transmission through greater rodent activity, with over 1,100 confirmed cases in 2024 (Premium Times)

Man rushed to emergency room after excessive daily banana consumption raises his blood potassium to dangerous levels, prompting doctors’ warning about winter fruit consumption (Kenh14.vn)

HCM CT hospital reports surge in sexually transmitted diseases during holiday season, when parties and festivals are more common, with doctors warning against risky casual encounters (Thanh Niên)

Winter brings high risk of laryngitis [voice box inflammation] in children, requiring warmth and proper care. Parents should monitor children’s breathing, maintain warm temperatures, and seek medical help for severe cases (Tuổi Trẻ)

Parents should consult a doctor if their child has a cough lasting over a week. At home, use medication exactly as prescribed by the doctor, provide nutritious meals, give plenty of warm fluids, and clean the child’s nose and throat 2-3 times daily with physiological saline water (Tiền Phong)

Four-meter waves strike coasts of Ecuador, Peru and Chile, killing three and forcing port closures through January 1, 2025 (Thanh Niên)

Bến Tre [Vietnam]: Giao Hòa river is intruded with saltwater 40 kilometers away from the sea, disrupting water supplies for a month and damaging fruit orchards before farmers could adjust in time (Tuổi Trẻ)

Kenya faces worst drought in 40 years as rivers dry up, forcing millions to rely on unsafe water while seeking climate adaptation support at 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (Al Jazeera)

Analysis: Deadly effects of Cyclone Chido, which impacted Southeast Africa in December 2024, were made worse by illegal immigration in Mayotte and regional conflicts in Mozambique (Phys.org)

Scientists discover Antarctic ice sheets melted rapidly 20 million years ago, warning modern emissions could trigger similar devastating instability (SciTechDaily)

Greenland [with Denmark] glacial lake releases 3,000 billion liters of meltwater in weeks, ranking among largest glacier floods ever documented (Phys.org)

South Korea forecasts 4.5ºC sea temperature rise and 295 days of marine heatwaves yearly by 2100 amid worsening climate impacts (ChosunBiz)

UK: One in 13 critical flood defenses poorly maintained as climate change brings extreme weather, leaving 6.3 million properties at risk amid funding concerns (The i Paper)

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urges immediate climate action as 2024 concludes a decade of record-breaking heat and escalating weather extremes (The Guardian)

UK: Animal welfare groups demand stricter anti-hunting laws as illegal foxhunting continues, with 186 fox pursuits reported since August 2024 (The Guardian)

Nainital [Uttarakhand, India]: Resurfaced video from 2011 shows tiger tied to an elephant’s back, sparking outrage from animal rights activists over cruel treatment (The Daily Guardian)

Australia’s Animal Justice Party criticizes New Zealand chicken factory’s intensive confinement of 360,000 chickens, pointing to fundamental ethical and public health problems caused by the animal raising industry (VeganFTA)

Did you know: Wine, in addition to damaging the body and brain, often uses animal products like isinglass - taken from dead fish - and gelatine – extracted from dead pigs or cows - while vineyard animal exploitation is common (VeganFTA)

Analysis: Wars and conflicts not only devastate human lives but also inflict catastrophic harm on animals and the environment, from habitat destruction and pollution to species endangerment – making peace all the more precious to keep (Vegan Food & Living)

Mumbai [India]: New fleet of 20 electric buses offers eco-friendly, efficient transport for tourists visiting the historic Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring unique Buddhist frescoes, carvings, and ancient mysteries from over 2,000 years ago (FAHOKA; KnockSense)

Vietnamese companies transform food waste into export products, with coffee grounds becoming air fresheners and coconut fiber becoming pallets for global markets (Người Lao Động)

University of Adelaide [Australia] PhD candidate Mel Nguyen wins recognition at international Visualize Your Thesis competition for her bioplastics innovation made from food waste (Green Queen)

Rare “black moon” [second new moon] appears on December 31, 2024, offering excellent stargazing conditions with minimal moonlight interference (Người Lao Động)

Global electric vehicle sales reach 1.83 million units in November 2024, marking 32% increase from November 2023 and seventh consecutive month of growth (Người Lao Động)

Perth [Scotland, UK]: Rascals Vegan Cafe helps former prisoners rebuild their lives, as recently released inmate Lee Jack transitions from organized crime through social enterprise support (BBC)

Dana Point [California, US] witnesses spectacular “dolphin stampede” as 5,000 dolphins leap through ocean, amazing onlookers with highly synchronized display (USA TODAY)

Sri Lanka government pledges to advance Animal Welfare Bill with an up to US$425 fine and 3-year prison term for animal abuse (The Daily Morning)

University of Texas [US] School of Law’s Animal Legal Defense Fund wins national Co-Student Chapter award for promoting animal law education and advocacy (Southeast Texas Record)

Northern Mariana Islands [US] lawmaker Representative Edwin K. Propst [Democrat-Saipan] says he’s grateful for what animal rights groups have done the past several years, calling for grants to support them and better enforcement of the islands’ animal protection laws passed in 2020 (Saipan Tribune)

Five rare Hawaiian crows return to Maui [Hawaii, US] forests through restoration program after extinction in wild, marking potential comeback for the smart, tool-using species (Mongabay)

Philippines Senator Grace Poe named PETA Asia’s 2024 Person of the Year for her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of animals via legislation and advocacy (Inquirer.net)

Nonprofit Animal Ethics republishes English philosopher Lewis Gompertz’s “Moral Inquiries,” one of the first books to defend veganism and antispeciesism, now free to download on its 200th anniversary – more info at animal-ethics.org (Animal Ethics)

PETA India launches multi-city billboard campaign featuring cows, goat, and other animals saying “Keep us alive in ‘25. Please, go vegan!” (The Hans India)

Curaçao: Specially-abled donkey named Wonder gets new prosthetic leg for Christmas, allowing her to walk better and grow with her needs (New York Post)

UK research firm New Wave Biotech raises €1.2 million to expand its team and customer base and is known for its AI-driven bioprocessing software that helps companies producing alternative proteins to scale up (Green Queen)

Danish fermentation startup Unibio rebrands to focus on scaling up vegan protein commercial production (Green Queen)

French vegan pork maker La Vie earns The Grocer magazine’s Top Launch of the Year award for 2024 (Green Queen)

Irish startup Nuritas secures US$42 million to expand its AI-powered vegan peptide [or building blocks of protein] platform, aiming to improve public health and sustainability by finding new bioactive peptides in different plants (Green Queen)

Berlin [Germany]-based biotech Formo raises US$61 million to scale its Koji-based vegan cheeses using innovative fermentation (CNN)

The Top 10 European destinations for vegans, based on highest number of vegan-friendly eateries: 1) London, UK; 2) Rome, Italy; 3) Paris, France; 4) Barcelona, Spain; 5) Berlin, Germany; 6) Madrid, Spain; 7) Milan, Italy; 8) Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 9) Vienna, Austria; 10) Lisbon, Portugal (Plant Based News)

Did you know: Simple facial exercises can reshape your nose, improve firmness, and prevent aging effects naturally, avoiding costly surgeries and complications (Soi Sáng) SupremeMasterTV.com/NWN

Uplifting quote of the day: “Nobody needs a smile so much as the one who has none to give. So get used to smiling heart-warming smiles, and you will spread sunshine in a sometimes dreary world.” – Reverend Lawrence G. Lovasik