U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will impose an additional 50% tariff on China if Beijing does not withdraw its retaliatory tariffs on the United States.

"Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

A global trade war touched off by Trump's sweeping tariffs escalated further on Monday, as Trump threatened to increase duties on China and the European Union proposed counter-tariffs of its own.

Financial markets across the globe posted a third day of losses as investors worried that steep trade barriers around the world's largest consumer market could lead to a recession. The S&P 500 closed lower after a rollercoaster session in which it touched its lowest level in more than a year.

Trump said the tariffs—a minimum of 10% for all U.S. imports, with targeted rates of up to 50%—would help the U.S. recapture an industrial base that he says has withered over decades of trade liberalization.

"It's the only chance our country will have to reset the table. Because no other president would be willing to do what I'm doing, or to even go through it," he told reporters at the White House. "Now, I don't mind going through it because I see a beautiful picture at the end."

Trump spoke hours after he ratcheted up a confrontation with China, the world's No. 2 economy.

He said he would impose an additional 50% duty on U.S. imports from China on Wednesday if it did not withdraw the 34% tariffs it had imposed on U.S. products last week. Those Chinese tariffs had come in response to 34% "reciprocal" duties announced by Trump.

The European Commission, meanwhile, proposed counter-tariffs of 25% on a range of U.S. goods, including soybeans, nuts, and sausages. Other potential items like bourbon whiskey were left off the list, according to a document seen by Reuters.

Officials said they stood ready to negotiate a "zero for zero" deal with Trump's administration.

"Sooner or later, we will sit at the negotiation table with the U.S. and find a mutually acceptable compromise," EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said at a news conference.

The 27-member bloc is already struggling with tariffs on autos and metals and faces a 20% tariff on other products on Wednesday. Trump has also threatened to slap tariffs on EU alcoholic drinks.

Trump said his administration would open trade talks with Japan, one of Washington's closest allies in Asia. Administration officials say dozens of other countries have reached out as well in hopes of heading off the tariffs of up to 50% set to take effect on Wednesday.

The back-and-forth injected further turbulence into global financial markets, which have fallen steadily since Trump’s announcement.

Attachment 2511034

A Texas district court judge has awarded over $6 million to four whistleblowers who were fired after reporting Attorney General Ken Paxton to the FBI.

By newsfactsnetwork

Judge Catherine Mauzy ruled Friday that the Office of the Attorney General violated the Texas Whistleblower Act by retaliating against the employees.

The court found the plaintiffs were dismissed after accusing Paxton of misusing his office to benefit Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, who allegedly employed a woman with whom Paxton was having an affair. Paxton has denied the allegations, including accusations of bribery.

“The court hereby renders judgment for plaintiffs,” Mauzy wrote, stating the whistleblowers acted in “good faith” and that the OAG did not dispute the lawsuit’s claims or damages.

Paxton called the ruling “ridiculous” and said he plans to appeal. He previously agreed to a $3.3 million settlement, but the Texas House rejected using public funds and instead launched its own investigation, which led to his 2023 impeachment. The Senate later acquitted him.

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Attachment 2511016

Elon Musk presented the fact that some noncitizens have Social Security numbers as shocking. But that’s how it’s supposed to work. And it doesn’t let them vote.

By Justine McDaniel and Lisa Rein

Elon Musk has pushed false claims that millions of dead people are collecting Social Security benefits. Now he’s peddling another specious story about the program: that immigrants are being given Social Security cards too freely, then collecting benefits and voting.

At a town hall-style event in Wisconsin on Sunday night, Musk and close ally Antonio Gracias — whom Musk has tapped to help with the U.S. DOGE Service’s efforts to make cuts at the Social Security Administration — displayed a bar chart that Gracias said showed a large increase in noncitizens getting Social Security numbers.

“This is a mind-blowing chart,” Musk said, as people in the audience lifted their phones to photograph the screen.

“This literally blew us away,” Gracias added.

Immigrants who are legally authorized to work in the United States do in fact receive Social Security numbers. That’s how the system is designed. The Social Security Act requires numbers be assigned promptly to immigrants who are legally in the country to work.

But Musk and Gracias presented the fact that some noncitizens have Social Security numbers as shocking, characterizing it as something they had stumbled upon and were exposing, with Gracias claiming federal employees who had shared the data had taken a “risk” to do so.

The numbers on Musk’s screen appeared to come from a government program that was set up to streamline the process through which immigrants get their Social Security numbers. A September 2023 government audit found that the Social Security Administration correctly processed noncitizens’ cases 99.8 percent of the time in that program and a related one.

“There’s no fraud here,” said David Bier, director of immigration studies at the conservative Cato Institute. The increase in the number of noncitizens entering the Social Security system, he said, had been predicted based on the increase in asylum seekers in the past few years.

The presentation by the two men appeared to be the latest step in Musk’s effort to undermine Americans’ confidence in Social Security by making unsupported claims of problems with the system.

Musk and Gracias claimed that undocumented immigrants are getting payments from Social Security, when in reality, they often help finance the system without being able to collect benefits of their own. Undocumented immigrants cannot collect Social Security, and those who pay into Social Security give billions annually — in 2022, an estimated $25 billion.

Undocumented immigrants who do not have legal work authorization do not get Social Security numbers. They must apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number, which they use to pay taxes while working without lawful status.

Musk and Gracias also inaccurately alleged some immigrants were receiving “max pay” in benefits, which is not a concept that exists in Social Security.

And they made claims of voter fraud by noncitizens that echo debunked theories from President Donald Trump and his allies.

In reality, having a Social Security card does not indicate anything about whether someone is receiving benefits, nor does it mean someone is registered to vote. Noncitizens’ Social Security cards are clearly labeled as valid for work only and cannot be used to register to vote.

“They have just done this over and over again on Social Security, just coming up with these wild claims that bear no resemblance to the truth,” said Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The Wisconsin event Sunday was part of Musk’s effort to influence the state Supreme Court race there. But for more than 10 minutes, he and Gracias focused on the noncitizen Social Security issue.

“You may have heard that we found 20 million dead people marked as alive in the Social Security database,” Musk said, “... and then you’ll notice there’s a strange trend here, where how many Social Security numbers were issued” to noncitizens.

The numbers displayed by Musk and Gracias were attributed on the screen to a Social Security program called Enumeration Beyond Entry. They showed more than 590,000 noncitizens getting Social Security numbers in fiscal year 2022, more than 964,000 in 2023 and more than 2 million in 2024.

Most people in the United States are given Social Security numbers, or are enumerated, at birth. States automatically share birth information with the Social Security Administration, which then issues Social Security cards to newborns.

The Enumeration Beyond Entry process parallels that one: When an immigrant receives work authorization, a green card or naturalization — after going through the proper processes with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including proving their identity — USCIS shares their information with the Social Security Administration, which then issues a Social Security number and card by mail. Some 2.9 million applications for cards were processed that way in fiscal year 2024.

Musk and Gracias inaccurately suggested that the process delivers Social Security cards without proof of identity, despite the fact that USCIS verifies applicants.

They “completely misrepresent[ed]” the program, Romig said.

“There was a lot of chat in that conversation between Gracias and Musk about playing by the rules. This is how you play by the rules: You get work authorization and you get assigned a Social Security number so you can pay into the program,” she said.

Before Musk and Gracias publicly highlighted the Enumeration Beyond Entry program, the Trump administration had moved to dismantle it. Last week, the Social Security Administration rolled out an experimental new policy that jettisons the data exchange between USCIS and Social Security, at least temporarily.

The Trump administration and DOGE — which stands for Department of Government Efficiency — concluded that the data-sharing system ran the risk that the government would send cards to immigrants who are not authorized to receive them.

Noncitizens and newly naturalized citizens are now required to make an appointment with a local field office to obtain their cards. The administration plans to test this approach for 90 days, then revisit the policy.

Even the 90-day pause in data-sharing, however, poses “legal risks” that the agency could be in violation of the Social Security Act’s requirement to promptly assign numbers to working immigrants, according to a legal assessment conducted by Stephen Evangelista, a top lawyer for Social Security, that was obtained by The Washington Post.

Evangelista also wrote that the decision to direct immigrants and new citizens to field offices may be construed as “arbitrary and capricious” and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, since the reasons are not documented with a “reasonable factual basis.”

The legal assessment also predicted that diverting immigrants and new citizens to field offices will cause “customer confusion” and additional burden on local workers who already are seeing a surge in foot traffic in response to other changes the agency is making to fight alleged fraud. The assessment estimates new costs as well — the administrative cost of a mailed Social Security card is $8 through the data-sharing agreement vs. $51,000 if it’s obtained at a field office.

There are other potential financial implications: If the noncitizens were not part of the system while working in the United States, it would be detrimental to Social Security’s finances, Bier said, because the immigrants pay into Social Security.

Musk and Gracias put forth other murky claims that painted a dark picture of the nation’s public benefit system. Gracias claimed that the Social Security system itself is creating an extraordinary “human tragedy” of human trafficking.

He argued that the system incentivizes immigrants to come to the United States and that they pay people whom Gracias characterized as human traffickers to help them cross the border.

“People don’t know and Americans need to know, that’s why I’m here,” Gracias said. “Human traffickers made $13 [billion] to $15 billion off of this.”

In fact, other factors such as leaving difficult circumstances in their home countries, seeking better work opportunities or reuniting with family members often compel immigration.

Social Security has “absolutely nothing to do with what’s motivating people,” Bier said.

And under the legal definition, intermediaries who take people across the border are taking part in human smuggling rather than human trafficking, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trafficking, as defined by U.S. law, is laboring under the conditions of force, fraud or coercion.

“These claims make no sense,” said Denise Brennan, a professor of anthropology at Georgetown University who has written on trafficking and border policing. “They are conflating or confusing smuggling with human trafficking.”

She said Gracias and Musk’s argument was rooted in misinformation and appeared to be part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to argue against protections for migrants — in this case, by “using the panics around human trafficking” to reach their audience.

Musk also returned to a conspiracy theory that aligns with the right-wing extremist “great replacement theory,” which falsely claims that liberals have a plan to “replace” native-born Americans with immigrants.

He has recently connected the idea to Social Security, claiming that Democrats are opposed to DOGE’s work because they don’t want the government to “turn off the payments to illegals.”

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Attachment 2511011

Trump’s tariffs in his first term led to the first agricultural trade deficits in decades.

Analysis by Glenn Kessler


“Four years of Joe Biden left American agriculture with a $50 BILLION trade deficit — totally erasing the Trump trade surplus he inherited. The price was paid by our small towns and rural communities, stricken by the worst times for American agriculture in nearly a century.”

— Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, in a social media post, March 28

As President Donald Trump prepares to levy massive tariffs on other countries this week, Rollins weighed in with a blast at the Biden administration regarding the trade deficit on agricultural products. In her telling, President Joe Biden squandered an agricultural trade surplus he inherited from Trump, harming farmers.

The agricultural trade deficit did soar in the final two years of the Biden administration. But it’s a stretch to say Biden inherited a trade surplus — and the roots of this problem started with tariffs that Trump imposed in his first term.

The Facts

We received a nonresponsive comment from the Agriculture Department (more on that below) but let’s first dissect Rollins’s post.

The federal government operates on fiscal years that start in October. In fiscal 2020, U.S. agricultural products ran a trade deficit of $3.7 billion, meaning that the value of imports exceeded exports by that amount of money. In the 2020 calendar year, however, there was a surplus of $3.4 billion.

Could Rollins have been referring to calendar years? If so, she was inconsistent. Her post refers to a $50 billion trade deficit. USDA’s Economic Research Service in February projected a $49 billion trade deficit for fiscal 2025.

In other words, it appears that Rollins is claiming a surplus under Trump using a calendar-year standard and a deficit under Biden using a fiscal-year standard. That’s not kosher. Under conventional government accounting, Biden inherited a trade deficit. Moreover, fiscal 2025 is really mostly part of Trump’s second term, which means it’s going to be recorded as his deficit.

Until Trump became president in 2017, for many years the United States ran a big surplus in agricultural trade, even as overall trade deficits kept rising. The 2024 fiscal year trade deficit ($32 billion) was only the fourth such deficit in 50 years; 2023 ($17 billion), 2020 ($3.7 billion) and 2019 ($1.3 billion) were also deficit years. It’s all rather recent — and the trend started in Trump’s first term.

There are many factors that affect trade deficits. Contrary to Trump’s rhetoric, trade deficits are not all bad. Often they occur because one country has a product that another country needs — and vice versa. Americans drink a lot of coffee but, with small exceptions in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, the United States barely grows any coffee beans. So the American coffee habit is going to add to the trade deficit, as coffee beans need to be shipped to the United States from other countries.

Betty Resnick, an economist at the Farm Bureau, which represents farmers and ranchers, points to another benefit of trade — ground beef. U.S. producers raise fattier beef (because Americans like premium steaks), so much of the beef imported to the United States are lean cuts that are mixed in with U.S. beef to produce ground beef. Trade is often mutually beneficial in these ways.

AgAmerica, which provides financing to farmers, and the Farm Bureau place most of the blame for the rising agricultural trade deficit on the strong U.S. dollar. That makes it cheaper for Americans to buy goods from overseas — but American products become more expensive for people in other countries. Shipping costs have also risen, which also makes American products more costly. So other countries have turned away from the U.S. market and sought substitution goods from less expensive alternatives.

This brings us to Trump’s first term. He imposed tariffs on China, and Beijing stopped buying U.S. soybeans, hogs, cotton and other products in response. In fact, U.S. farmers were so hurt by the tariff war in his first term that Trump authorized $28 billion in payments to make up their losses — which wiped out a good chunk of the revenue raised by the tariffs.

The legacy of those actions continues today. China began buying corn from Brazil, which in 2023 displaced the United States as the world’s biggest corn exporter. China, which accounts for 60 percent of soybean imports, also began buying more of its soybeans from Brazil than the United States. Before Trump imposed tariffs, the United States sold 62 percent of its soybeans to China — and that plunged to 18 percent in 2018, with most of the trade shifting to Brazil. The soybean trade with China never fully recovered, averaging just over 50 percent since 2020. “Efforts by China to become less dependent on agricultural imports from the U.S. are also having an impact,” Resnick said.

A final factor is that the rest of the world has been teaming up on free trade deals while the United States has stood aloof. Trump withdrew the U.S. signature on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but the other 11 countries in the deal remained on course, cutting tariffs for other exporters on the Pacific Rim and, according to Resnick, shrinking the market share for American products ranging from frozen fries to blueberries to pet food.

When we asked about Rollins’s post, we received an email from an unnamed spokesperson: “The tweet is correct in that the first Trump Administration had a trade surplus over four years and the Biden administration had a 2x bigger trade deficit over 4 years in agriculture.”

As we noted above, this was not responsive and even changed the meaning of the post, suggesting the agency knows her post was incorrect — both in claiming Trump left behind a surplus and in blaming Biden for fiscal 2025. Trump did not leave behind a trade surplus; he left behind a deficit. Biden, in his first two years, achieved surpluses, before he had two years of deficits. Trump also has two years of surpluses — until he began running deficits for the first time in decades. Now’s he’s on track to have a deficit again in the first year of his second term.
The Pinocchio Test

It’s par for the course for a Trump administration official to blame Biden. But Rollins incorrectly said Trump left behind a trade surplus — and sidesteps Trump’s role in his first term in making U.S. agriculture less competitive on the global market. Moreover, there are factors like a strong U.S. dollar that are largely beyond a president’s control — as Trump may well find. Rollins tried to blame Biden for the fiscal 2025 deficit, but that’s mostly on Trump’s watch.

Rollins earns Four Pinocchios.

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Attachment 2511004

The White House is comparing apples and oranges.

Analysis by Glenn Kessler

“In two months, there has been more Private Investment spoken for, and/or committed to, than in four years of the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration — A fact that the Fake News hates talking about!”

— President Donald Trump, in a social media post, March 31

Trump often trumpets his achievements, real or otherwise, but this claim was so astonishing that we had to check it out. Is it possible that companies have committed more money in the first two months of the Trump administration than during the entire Biden administration? After all, Joe Biden prided himself on focusing relentlessly on bringing manufacturing back to the United States.

This was not just another middle-of-the-day musing by the president. There are some real numbers attached to this claim — but it’s a matter of comparing apples and oranges. Or, to use another cliché, the president is counting his chickens before they have hatched.

The Facts

A White House official explained Trump’s math and provided a spreadsheet and links to corporate announcements. According to the White House tally, companies have announced more than $1.5 trillion in investments since Trump took office. About two-thirds of that total comes from just two announcements — Apple ($500 billion over four years) and an AI project called Stargate led by SoftBank, ChatGPT and Oracle (“as much as $500 billion”).

As for Biden, the official pointed to a detailed tally on the archived Biden White House website, Investing in America, that allows you to download a spreadsheet with every manufacturing deal claimed under Biden. Those announcements, many in green energy or semiconductors, add up to $1 trillion.

Score one for Trump? Not yet.

The difference is that the Trump deals are just announcements for future investments — and the Biden tally lists local announcements of a factory or facility being planned. There’s often a gap between the announcement and the groundbreaking.

For instance, shortly after Biden became president, Apple announced it would invest $430 billion over five years in the United States, including building a North Carolina campus. But in 2024, Apple, like many tech companies, scaled back expansion of its commercial real estate footprint and slowed its plans for a North Carolina facility. Despite Apple’s 2021 announcement, which was nearly as large as the one touted by Trump, the Biden tally does not include any factory or facility built by Apple.

Eli Lilly is on Trump’s list as having committed $27 billion in investments. But that’s on top of an earlier commitment. In 2020, Eli Lilly announced it would spend $23 billion over four years, and the Biden spreadsheet records a total of $18.5 billion spent to build four manufacturing plants.

Indeed, investments like this don’t happen overnight. The Stargate AI deal had been under discussion for more than a year. Biden signed a law to encourage semiconductor investment, and now Trump is reaping the benefits, just as Biden claimed credit for Eli Lilly factories built on his watch but announced in Trump’s first term. But Stargate, for now, really should only count as $100 billion, as that’s the initial investment. The $500 billion number is aspirational. We won’t really know the true value until Trump’s term is completed.

In Trump’s first term, he grandly announced he had scored more than $350 billion of business deals during a trip to Saudi Arabia — which he later claimed would create more than 500,000 jobs. (This was his excuse for not punishing the kingdom for ordering the murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi.) Not only were those jobs numbers wildly inflated, it turned out most of the jobs that would be created were in Saudi Arabia — not the United States.

After a phone call with Trump earlier this year, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince said the country would invest $600 billion in the United States. The contours of the investment are still vague, but that has not stopped Trump from touting it. (This announcement was not part of the White House tally.)

The flimsy nature of Trump’s claim of besting Biden is best illustrated by these numbers: The Trump spreadsheet lists 26 announced deals, while the Biden spreadsheet contains more than 675 construction projects.

The Pinocchio Test

It’s too early for Trump to make these comparisons to Biden. Two-thirds of his claim depends on just two announcements. He may well have bragging rights on luring investment when his term is completed. If so, we’ll happily update this fact check. But for now, his claim that he’s scored more deals in two months than Biden in four years is bunk. He earns Four Pinocchios.

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The scam began with minor payouts and escalated to a fake VIP ticket distribution scheme, prompting a police investigation.



On April 5, Hanoi Police reported that a woman from Thuong Tin District was scammed out of more than VND 700 million (approximately USD 28,200) while working as an online collaborator.

In early March 2025, Ms. L. (born 1991, from Thuong Tin) was invited to perform online tasks that promised commission payouts. Initially, she completed small tasks and received commission payments as promised. Gaining her trust, the scammers then persuaded her to take part in distributing VIP room tickets in exchange for higher commissions.

However, when Ms. L. began transferring and attempting to withdraw money multiple times on the associated website, she found she could only deposit funds but was unable to withdraw any. The scammers told her she had performed the transactions incorrectly and needed to deposit more money to be eligible for withdrawals.

Realizing she had been defrauded, Ms. L. reported the incident to the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Division of Hanoi Police. She was ultimately swindled out of more than VND 700 million.

Following the incident, Hanoi Police issued a warning urging the public to remain vigilant and to inform relatives and friends about this method of fraud to prevent others from falling into similar traps.

Authorities emphasized that when working as collaborators for businesses or service providers, individuals should thoroughly verify information about the products and the companies involved using multiple sources.

Promotions offering high commissions or interest rates are often fraudulent schemes designed to deceive. If a suspected scam is discovered, individuals are advised to report it immediately to law enforcement for prompt verification, prevention, and legal action against offenders.
VietBF@ Sưu tập

As Pi continues to plummet, experts cite transparency, liquidity, and regulatory issues behind its exclusion from major exchanges.


Pi is currently trading around USD 0.4/Pi. Screenshot

As of 1:00 p.m. on April 5, the price of the cryptocurrency Pi is trading around USD 0.44/Pi. Over the past week, Pi has seen a sharp decline of 45.70%, with no signs of recovery. Compared to its peak value of USD 2.99, Pi has lost over 86% of its value.

According to crypto experts, this downward spiral is inevitable as Pi tokens continue to be unlocked in large quantities for market trading. In March alone, over 71 million Pi tokens were unlocked. An additional 118 million Pi are scheduled to be released in April. The Pi Core Team has made no visible effort to stabilize or boost the coin’s value, allowing prices to fall freely.

Another major blow to Pi's prospects came when Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, opted not to list Pi despite prior community polling.

Why Binance hasn’t listed Pi

Nguyen Ha Minh Thong, founder of Cabo Capital in Ho Chi Minh City, explained that although Pi Network launched its mainnet at the end of 2024, it remains in an “enclosed” or partially restricted state. This means Pi transactions are still confined within its internal ecosystem, lacking true liquidity on open markets.

Binance typically requires that a coin operates on a fully functioning, public, and verifiable blockchain to ensure transparency and reliability. In Pi’s case, Binance cannot yet properly assess its level of decentralization or technical risk - making the coin unsuitable for listing on a platform of its scale.

Tokenomics and transparency concerns

Pi Network’s tokenomics are another red flag. Though the total supply is reportedly 100 billion tokens, the actual circulating supply (estimated at 6.8 billion) remains unclear. The Pi Core Team previously burned 10 million tokens without publicly explaining why, fueling concerns over potential price manipulation.

Binance enforces strict listing standards and requires clear data on token lock mechanisms, burning schedules, and distribution models. The lack of transparency makes Binance hesitant, as listing a non-transparent token could lead to price volatility or even legal accusations of supporting unreliable projects.

Legal risk and regulatory pressure

Binance is already under intense legal scrutiny in several countries - especially in the U.S. - over alleged money laundering and regulatory violations. As a result, it is extremely cautious when selecting projects to list. Although Pi Network boasts over 65 million app downloads, it lacks formal recognition by any regulatory authority. In Vietnam, cryptocurrency remains unregulated, while in China, Pi has been flagged as a “multi-level marketing” scheme. Listing Pi under such conditions could expose Binance to litigation or reputational damage.

To be listed, a cryptocurrency typically must demonstrate strong liquidity and price discovery on established exchanges or decentralized markets (DEX). Currently, Pi is only traded over-the-counter (OTC) - via Telegram groups or minor exchanges like OKX and HTX - with highly unstable pricing. Pi’s value is largely speculative and driven by community hype rather than actual trading activity.

Centralized control and lack of transparency

The Pi Network has also been criticized for its high level of centralization, as the Pi Core Team controls all mainnet nodes - contradicting the decentralization principles favored by exchanges like Binance. Additionally, the development team, led by Nicolas Kokkalis, remains tight-lipped and has not released a clear roadmap or open-source codebase, raising concerns among the crypto community about the project’s seriousness - or whether it might be a scam.

Thong emphasized that while Pi supporters may claim they don’t need Binance, the absence of any major exchange listing makes it difficult for Pi to escape skepticism or attain real market value.

In Vietnam, no legal framework currently governs cryptocurrency trading. The State Bank of Vietnam has repeatedly warned of the risks of owning, buying, and selling digital currencies like Bitcoin and others. It has stressed that these transactions are not protected by law.
VietBF@ Sưu tập

YouTube star Quang Linh, once beloved for his humanitarian work in Africa, now faces charges of fraud and producing counterfeit food.

Once a powerful source of inspiration for Vietnamese youth through his widely followed YouTube channel, Quang Linh Vlogs has now left millions of fans disappointed following his indictment and temporary detention in connection with the controversial promotion of Kera vegetable gummies.

From Angola to YouTube fame

Born in 1998 in Nghe An, Pham Quang Linh moved to Angola in 2016 as a labor export worker. During this time, he worked various jobs - including in a stone factory and construction sites.

It was in Angola that Quang Linh launched his YouTube channel Quang Linh Vlogs – Life in Africa, capturing the daily lives of Vietnamese laborers abroad and their interactions with local African communities.

In many videos, Quang Linh and his fellow Vietnamese workers were seen teaching locals how to grow wet rice and vegetables, or sharing traditional Vietnamese cooking techniques. These acts of kindness resonated with millions, turning him into a symbol of generosity and cultural exchange.

Beyond content creation, Quang Linh also initiated humanitarian projects such as building schools and homes, and drilling clean water wells for local residents. These contributions improved lives in Angola and helped promote the image of Vietnamese people to the world.

In recognition of his efforts, Quang Linh was recently elected as a member of the 10th Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (2024–2029), representing the overseas Vietnamese community in Angola.

A fallen idol


Beauty queen Thuy Tien, Hang Du Muc, and Quang Linh Vlogs during the Kera gummy promotional livestream. Screenshot

After years of building a reputation as a youth icon, Quang Linh is now facing criminal charges and the possibility of prison time.

The controversy began during a livestream in early 2025 where Quang Linh, alongside Hang Du Muc, promoted Kera vegetable gummies, a product of CER Group, where he was a board member.

In the livestream, Quang Linh claimed that "one gummy is equivalent to a plate of vegetables" - a statement that sparked widespread skepticism and was later deemed misleading.

In March, a TikTok user with over 590,000 followers sent the gummies for lab testing. The results, dated March 3, revealed that 100g of the product contained just 0.51g of fiber, equivalent to about one-sixth of a banana. Since a box contains 96g across 32 pieces, each gummy contained only 16mg of fiber.

This revelation ignited media and public outrage. Nutritionists soon weighed in, calling the health claims dangerously inaccurate.

On March 6, Vietnam’s Food Safety Authority (under the Ministry of Health) confirmed that the product showed "signs of violating advertising regulations" and ordered an immediate inspection.

By March 13, the Dak Lak Department of Health confirmed that the Kera gummies failed to meet their advertised fiber content.

For their misleading claims, Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc were each fined VND 70 million (approx. USD 2,850) by the Department of Broadcasting and Electronic Information and ordered to issue public corrections.

On March 24, the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Authority fined CER Group - the company behind Kera gummies - VND 125 million (approx. USD 5,090) for two violations and ordered a full product recall.

But the administrative penalties were only the beginning. Authorities soon expanded the investigation and uncovered more serious legal breaches.

On April 4, the Ministry of Public Security announced the indictment and arrest of five individuals, including Quang Linh Vlogs, for their roles in the fraudulent marketing and production of counterfeit food. Investigators cited violations related to fake food production and consumer fraud.

With that, the dazzling light that once shone around Quang Linh has dimmed. He has lost not only a promising career but also the trust and admiration once held by millions.
VietBF@ Sưu tập

Zach Yadegari, the 18-year-old CEO and founder of a healthcare startup, revealed that he was rejected by multiple prestigious U.S. universities, including six Ivy League schools.



Yadegari leads Cal AI, a nutrition-tracking app that uses artificial intelligence to analyze food images and monitor calorie intake. Under his leadership, Cal AI has experienced significant growth, reportedly generating US$30 million in annual recurring revenue and surpassing one million downloads.

In an interview with Yadegari in November 2024, Forbes wrote: "In an era where artificial intelligence is revolutionizing every aspect of our lives, a 17-year-old high school senior is making waves in the health and fitness tech space. Zach Yadegari, co-founder and CEO of Cal AI, has built a nutrition tracking app that's challenging legacy industry giants by leveraging AI and innovative marketing strategies."

Despite his business success, a 4.0 GPA, and an impressive ACT score of 34 out of 36, Yadegari faced rejection from several prestigious universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.

On April 1, Yadegari publicly shared on his X account the list of 18 universities he applied to, revealing he was accepted by only three: Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Texas, and Miami University.

The 15 institutions that rejected him included six Ivy League schools Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, and Cornell. He also got rejections from Stanford and MIT.

His post has since garnered over 27.3 million views.

In another post on X, also shared on April 1, Yadegari published his college admissions essay. In the essay, he described beginning programming at age seven and earning $30 an hour teaching others by age 10. By 12, he had launched his first app, and at 16, he left an online gaming company.

He founded Cal AI while still in high school, and the app quickly grew, generating millions in revenue. Initially, Yadegari didn’t think university was necessary, stating strongly that "I will never go to college," but later changed his mind, feeling he was "missing something."

"College, I came to realize, is more than a mere right of passage. It is the conduit to elevate the work I have always done. In this next chapter, I want to learn from humans–both professors and students—not just from computers or textbooks."

"Now, I see that individuality and connection are not opposites, but complements. We are all individuals, but we are also part of something larger. Through college, I will contribute to and grow within that larger whole, empowering me to leave an even greater lasting, positive impact on the world," he wrote.

While many commenters suggested the universities that rejected him missed out, others speculated that his previously strong stance against college education, expressed in the essay, may have contributed to his rejection.

Despite not gaining admission to Ivy League schools, Yadegari remains optimistic. Among the universities that accepted him, Georgia Tech is renowned for its engineering and technology programs, while the University of Miami offers other promising opportunities.

Many believe Yadegari’s entrepreneurial success highlights that traditional academic pathways are not the only routes to success.

VietBF@ Sưu tập

In a phone call with President Trump, Vietnam’s top leader called for mutual 0% tariffs and more U.S. investment in Vietnam.


General Secretary To Lam held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss trade and bilateral relations. Photo: VNA

During a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, General Secretary To Lam expressed Vietnam’s willingness to negotiate with the United States to reduce import tariffs on American goods to 0%, and in return, proposed that the U.S. apply the same tariff rate on Vietnamese exports.

The conversation took place on the evening of April 4 at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Also present during the call were Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chief of the Party Central Office Le Hoai Trung, and Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc.

General Secretary To Lam praised the constructive dialogue, noting that both leaders reaffirmed their desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation for the benefit of both nations, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and globally.

The two leaders agreed that the current U.S.-Vietnam relationship is progressing positively across multiple sectors.

Regarding bilateral trade, the leaders discussed several measures to further promote economic exchange. General Secretary To Lam stated that Vietnam is ready to engage in discussions with the U.S. to bring tariffs on American imports down to zero. At the same time, he proposed that the U.S. adopt a reciprocal tariff policy for Vietnamese exports. He also called on the U.S. to continue exporting more products that align with Vietnam's domestic demand, and to create favorable conditions for American companies to increase their investments in Vietnam.

Both sides agreed to continue consultations toward the early signing of a bilateral framework agreement to formalize these commitments.

On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam extended an invitation to President Donald Trump and the First Lady to visit Vietnam again in the near future.

President Trump graciously accepted the invitation and expressed his eagerness to reunite with General Secretary To Lam.

He also conveyed his warmest regards to the leaders and people of Vietnam through the General Secretary.
VietBF@ Sưu tập

The "Bac Bling" music video by Hoa Minzy has surpassed the one-billion-dong revenue threshold as it has become a ‘phenomenon’. However, it’s highly unlikely that YouTube revenue alone will help Hoa Minzy break even.


Singer Hoa Minzy in Bac Bling

The "Bac Bling" MV hit 100 million views after just 28 days, making it the most captivating music product in the Vietnamese market over the past five years.

YouTube’s revenue calculation primarily depends on the number of ad views and clicks displayed on the original video. The higher a video’s viewership, the more ad impressions it generates.

A digital music marketing expert explained that revenue varies per video on YouTube depending on ad impressions, views, or clicks. For a music MV, typically under five minutes, one million views bring in VND8-10 million in revenue. This is the average level for most revenue-generating artist videos.

So, with 100 million views for "Bac Bling," Hoa Minzy could earn around one billion dong. This is a very high YouTube revenue figure, considering the MV hit 100 million views in just a month. With the ongoing "Bac Bling" buzz, views will keep climbing, continuing to generate revenue for Hoa Minzy.

For "Bac Bling," Hoa Minzy didn’t partner with any brand. This allowed her full creative control over the MV as she wished. In return, she had to shoulder all production costs herself.

Experts estimate "Bac Bling" costs no less than VND3 billion. The priciest parts were equipment and the large workforce needed for outdoor shooting sets. Plus, Hoa Minzy paid for appearances by Xuan Hinh, Tuan Cry, and other actors.

To obtain revenue equal to the production cost, "Bac Bling" needs 3-4 times its current views. Hoa Minzy also has to share 10-30 percent of the revenue with the team in charge of managing, exploiting, and optimizing her YouTube channel.

"For an artist of Hoa Minzy’s caliber, most don’t think about breaking even when making a YouTube MV. Even with partial brand sponsorship, recouping costs is tough. After launching an MV, artists have to spend more money on promotion, thus ballooning the total investment," the expert said.

"Artists pour billions into MVs to boost their image and music. When a product hits massive success like 'Bac Bling,' YouTube or digital music revenue becomes peanuts. It opens up countless money-making opportunities, from gigs to ad contracts and brand ambassadorships," the expert added.

Hoa Minzy’s new position

Before "Bac Bling," Hoa Minzy had already cemented her firm position in the market with the success of "Thi Mau" and later "Bat Tinh Yeu Len" (Turn on the love). Over the past three years, the Bac Ninh native has built a positive image, shaping her path as a singer blending Vietnam’s traditional culture into music.

According to Tien Phong’s findings, before “Bac Bling," Hoa Minzy’s cachet for a brand event ranged from VND300 to VND400 million per show—a decent rate in Vietnam’s music scene over the last three years. With the "Bac Bling" fever, her status has soared to new heights, and her fee is sure to see a dramatic jump.

In Vietnam’s music market, singers’ earnings mostly come from three sources: digital music revenue, live performances, and collaborations with brands. For most artists, landing gigs is the top priority—a quick, efficient income stream that also boosts their career.

After "Bac Bling" successes, Hoa Minzy hasn’t appeared much on stage. Recently, the 1995-born singer performed at an event for a beauty clinic brand. In the coming time, she’ll undoubtedly be a name that brands eagerly chase.

With her current fee range, Hoa Minzy only needs a few brand gigs to obtain revenue equal to one-year YouTube revenue and digital music.

For digital platforms alone, revenue calculation is complex and varies by platform. On Spotify, "Bac Bling" is nearing 3 million streams. Compared to YouTube, Spotify pays better, averaging VND25-30 million per million streams.

The "Bac Bling" craze has lit up an entire team in Vietnam’s music scene. Hoa Minzy is now a top-tier star. Xuan Hinh has made a comeback after stepping away from the spotlight. Tuan Cry, once a lesser-known singer-songwriter, is now invited to numerous shows.

In the past month, Tuan Cry has been the busiest, performing "Bac Bling" live more than anyone in the trio. Recently, Hoa Minzy and Tuan Cry shared a stage to perform. Fans are now eagerly awaiting the first-ever "trio performance" of Hoa Minzy, Xuan Hinh, and Tuan Cry.
VietBF@ Sưu tập

A former chairman of An Giang Province was sentenced to jail on Wednesday for taking a US$300,000 bribe and allowing a company to mine sand illegally.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court awarded Nguyen Thanh Binh a sentence of eight and a half years.


Nguyen Thanh Binh, former chairman of An Giang Province, is escorted by police to a trial in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The judges said he had directed his subordinates to enable Trung Hau 68 Company to mine sand without going through the bidding process, causing a loss of nearly VND294 billion ($11.47 million) to the province.

The company's chairman, Le Quang Binh, also paid VND961 million to the province's vice chairman, Tran Anh Thu, and VND3.1 billion to Nguyen Viet Tri, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Binh was sentenced to 13 years in prison for bribery, six years for violating regulations on research, exploration and exploitation of resources and 12 years for money laundering. The 30 years he received is the maximum term in Vietnam after a life sentence.

The An Giang Province people's committee granted Trung Hau 68 a license to mine 300,000 m3 of sand between March 2022 and July 2023.

But the company repeatedly asked to increase the mining volume.

Though it failed to meet the requisite conditions, province leader Binh directed his subordinates to amend the license to allow the company to exploit 1.5 million m3 over two years to supply sand to southern expressway and highway projects.

However, Binh, the company chief, directed his deputies to mine more than 5 million m3 and also leased out the sand mines to other businesses.

With the ill-gotten profits he bought properties in HCMC and some southern provinces and luxury cars such as Mercedes S450 and Lexus 570.


VietBF@ Sưu tập

The United Airlines plans to add daily flights to Vietnam and Thailand in October, further expanding the network for the U.S.-based carrier that already has the most Asia service, reported CNBC.



In the expansion, its airplanes from Los Angeles and San Francisco that are headed for Hong Kong will then go on to the two new destinations: Thailand’s Bangkok and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, with service set to begin on Oct. 26.

On Oct. 25, United Airlines plans to add a second daily nonstop flight from San Francisco to Manila, the Philippines, and on Dec. 11, it will launch nonstops from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia, which will operate three days a week.

The news site noted that the carrier has been adding far-flung destinations not served by rivals to its routes, like Nuuk, Greenland, and Bilbao, Spain, which will start later this year. Getting the mix right is especially important as carriers seek to grow their lucrative loyalty programs and need attractive destinations to keep customers spending.

VietBF@ Sưu tập

Both red-fleshed and white-fleshed dragon fruit are packed with beneficial nutrients, but the choice between the two largely depends on individual preferences and health needs.

According to Dr. Huynh Tan Vu from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, 100 grams of dragon fruit contains 60 calories, 13 grams of carbohydrates, 1.2 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and is rich in vitamins such as C, B1, B2, and B3, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, and phosphorus—while being completely fat-free.

Red-fleshed dragon fruit has a sweeter taste compared to its white-fleshed counterpart. This is due to its higher sugar content—100 grams of red-fleshed dragon fruit contains 11.5 grams of sugar, whereas the white-fleshed variety has only 7.65 grams.

Both types of dragon fruit have a low glycemic index (GI), ranging from 48 to 52, making them suitable for people with diabetes. The high fiber content helps slow down the absorption of sugars and carbohydrates, promoting stable blood sugar levels. However, for those with diabetes or those trying to lose weight, Dr. Vu recommends opting for white-fleshed dragon fruit due to its lower sugar content.

Red-fleshed dragon fruit is richer in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, vitamin C, and carotene, which help neutralize free radicals in the body and reduce cell damage. These antioxidants can be beneficial for preventing inflammatory conditions such as gout, diabetes-related inflammation, and arthritis. While white-fleshed dragon fruit also contains these compounds, they are found in lower amounts.

Red-fleshed dragon fruit is rarer and often more expensive, with many varieties being imported. On the other hand, white-fleshed dragon fruit is more widely available and affordable.

Dr. Vu suggests that if you’re after a larger quantity of fruit flesh, go for larger white-fleshed dragon fruits. If you prefer a sweeter, richer flavor, opt for the rounder, red-fleshed dragon fruits instead.

Important Considerations When Consuming Dragon Fruit:
For individuals with diabetes, it is recommended to consume two servings of dragon fruit per day, with one serving being around 120 grams.

Those who often experience stomach discomfort, loose stools, or bloating should avoid eating dragon fruit.

Women during their menstrual period are advised to refrain from consuming dragon fruit.

Pregnant women should carefully consider eating dragon fruit, as it contains high levels of plant-based protein, which some individuals may be allergic to.

While red-fleshed dragon fruit is rich in nutrients, it should be consumed in moderation. Excessive consumption can cause dark red-colored stool and urine, which may have negative health effects.

According to Healthline, walking is an effective way to target visceral fat, which accumulates around the abdomen and can be harmful to your health. A 2021 review found that walking was successful in reducing visceral fat when done three times a week for 30 to 60 minutes. By incorporating walking into your daily routine, you can reduce belly fat and enhance your overall health.

This is primarily due to walking’s ability to help your body burn calories, a crucial factor in losing belly fat. Physical activity requires energy, and walking increases your calorie expenditure. A 2021 study showed that walking burns about 107 calories per mile (1.6 kilometers), depending on factors like weight, gender, and pace. This calorie burn helps create a calorie deficit, which is essential for weight and belly fat loss.

In addition to burning calories, regular walking helps preserve lean muscle mass, which is essential for maintaining a healthy metabolic rate. Since muscle burns more calories than fat, keeping muscle mass helps your body continue to burn calories efficiently, even at rest, preventing the accumulation of fat. Walking helps prevent muscle loss, making it easier to keep belly fat off.

For optimal results, Harvard Medical School recommends engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days of the week, such as brisk walking at a comfortable pace. According to Medical News Today, brisk walking involves maintaining a pace of up to 4.5 miles per hour.

It is also beneficial to find ways to incorporate more movement into your daily routine. For example, park further away from your destination, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or stand while talking on the phone to increase your physical activity.

Vietnam has declared a two-day national mourning period, from April 4 to 5, to honor Khamtay Siphandone, former President of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee. This decision reflects the deep and special relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

The announcement was jointly issued by the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the National Assembly, the State President, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee. It emphasized the significance of Khamtay Siphandone’s contributions to Laos and to the friendship between the two nations.

During the mourning period, all government offices and public institutions across the country, as well as Vietnam’s representative bodies abroad, are required to fly the national flag at half-mast with mourning bands as prescribed. At the same time, all public entertainment and celebratory events will be suspended.

Khamtay Siphandone was born on February 8, 1924, and passed away at 10:30 a.m. on April 2, 2025. He served in various top leadership roles in Laos, including President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of National Defense.

As a pioneering leader of the Lao revolutionary movement, he played a vital role in the ultimate victory of the Lao revolution and in guiding the country on the path to socialism. He was widely recognized for his dedication, strategic vision, and long-standing service to his country.

Khamtay Siphandone was also a close and trusted friend of Vietnam. He made significant contributions to strengthening and developing the two countries’ great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation.

His passing is regarded as an immense loss for Laos and for the Vietnam–Laos relationship. Vietnam’s national mourning is a solemn tribute to a man whose legacy will continue to be remembered and honored by both nations.

Japan could face economic losses of up to US$1.81 trillion and nearly 300,000 fatalities if a long-feared megaquake strikes off its Pacific coast, according to a new government report released Monday.

The projected cost—270.3 trillion yen, or about half of Japan’s GDP—represents a sharp increase from the previous estimate of 214.2 trillion yen. The updated figure accounts for inflation, new terrain and ground data, and expanded tsunami flood zones, as revealed by the Cabinet Office.

Key details from the report:
Expected magnitude: 8 to 9, centered in the Nankai Trough—a seismically active zone off southwest Japan’s Pacific coast, about 900 km long.

Fatalities: Up to 298,000, especially if the quake hits at night during winter, increasing vulnerability.

Evacuations: An estimated 1.23 million people could be displaced—roughly 10% of Japan’s population.

Damage: Thousands of buildings could collapse, and massive tsunamis are expected to follow.

Why this is such a serious risk:
Japan lies on the Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active areas in the world. The Nankai Trough is a known hotspot where the Philippine Sea Plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate, building up strain that historically leads to megaquakes every 100 to 150 years.

In fact, the government estimates an 80% chance that such a quake will strike the Nankai Trough region within the next few decades.

Japan even issued its first-ever megaquake advisory last year after a magnitude-7.1 tremor struck near the trough's edge—raising concern that it could be a foreshock for something bigger.

The memory of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake still looms large. That magnitude-9.0 quake caused a tsunami, over 15,000 deaths, and led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster—a tragedy Japan is determined not to repeat.

The new report highlights not only the human toll such a disaster could take, but also the economic devastation, reinforcing the urgent need for preparedness, infrastructure resilience, and community-level disaster planning.

Want a quick breakdown of what this might mean for Japan’s future disaster policy or global economic ripple effects?

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced Wednesday that the names Beryl, Helene, Milton, and John will be permanently retired from future use in naming tropical storms due to the severe destruction and loss of life they caused. These storms were among the deadliest in recent memory: Beryl, Helene, and Milton in the Atlantic, and John in the eastern Pacific.

To replace them, the WMO has added Brianna, Holly, and Miguel to the Atlantic storm name list, and Jake to the eastern Pacific list. These names, like all on the WMO’s storm rosters, are selected for being short, clear, and easy to pronounce, rotating every six years and alternating between male and female.

Storm names are retired when the hurricanes or cyclones they’re attached to are so devastating that reusing the names in future seasons would be insensitive or confusing. For example, in 2024:

Hurricane Beryl became the earliest-ever Category 5 storm in the Atlantic, severely impacting the Caribbean.

Helene and Milton caused catastrophic destruction in the U.S.

John unleashed deadly flooding across Guerrero, Mexico.

Experts warn that climate change is intensifying these storms. Tropical cyclones, which include hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons, draw energy from warm ocean waters and moisture in the air. As sea surface temperatures rise, so does the intensity and frequency of powerful storms.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season marked the ninth year in a row with above-average activity. There were 18 named storms, of which five became major hurricanes—reaching Category 3 or higher with winds over 178 km/h (111 mph), according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The WMO continues to emphasize that the proportion of severe storms (Categories 4–5) is likely to rise globally with ongoing global warming, making storm preparedness and clear communication more important than ever.

Nearly a week after a powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar, the official death toll has climbed to 3,145, the country’s military-led government reported Thursday. Search and rescue teams continue to uncover more victims, while humanitarian organizations race to deliver vital medical care and shelter to the survivors.

At a government briefing in Naypyitaw, Information Minister Maung Maung Ohn said that 4,589 people have been injured and 221 remain missing, according to a report by state-run broadcaster MRTV.

The earthquake, measured at magnitude 7.7, struck on March 28 with its epicenter located near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. The seismic event caused widespread destruction—collapsi ng thousands of buildings, cracking roads, and destroying bridges across multiple regions.

Although the official numbers are already grim, independent reports from local media suggest the actual casualty count could be much higher. With communication networks severely disrupted and many remote areas still inaccessible, officials fear the true scale of the disaster has yet to emerge.

UN Warns of Massive Humanitarian Impact
According to a Thursday report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the quake and its aftershocks have affected over 17 million people across 57 townships—more than 9 million of them severely impacted.

“The coming days will be critical in determining the full scale of the disaster’s impact and the response required to meet the needs of millions affected,” the U.N. stated.

In response to the worsening crisis, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres announced that U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher and special envoy Julie Bishop will arrive in Myanmar on Friday. Guterres made an urgent appeal for increased international aid and unhindered humanitarian access to reach those in need.

“The earthquake has supercharged the suffering, with the monsoon season just around the corner,” Guterres warned.

Healthcare System in Crisis
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that four hospitals and one health center have been completely destroyed, while an additional 32 hospitals and 18 health centers sustained partial damage.

With infrastructure crumbling and a surge in patient numbers, access to essential healthcare has become nearly impossible in the worst-hit regions. The U.N. warns that thousands are in urgent need of trauma care, surgery, and treatment for potential disease outbreaks.

To support local efforts, India has deployed a mobile hospital, and a joint Russian-Belarusian medical unit is now operating in Mandalay.

Relief and Recovery Underway
With many homes destroyed or unsafe due to aftershocks, large numbers of people are sleeping outdoors. In Naypyitaw, workers have been erecting large tents in open areas under scorching temperatures of up to 40°C (104°F) to provide temporary shelter.

In Mandalay, scenes of compassion were visible as locals handed out watermelon slices to exhausted Chinese volunteers working under the punishing sun.

According to a statement from the military, more than 1,550 international rescuers are now on the ground, operating alongside local teams. Seventeen countries have sent relief supplies and rescue equipment to aid the recovery efforts.

Earthquake Damage Spills Across Borders
The quake’s impact wasn’t limited to Myanmar. In Bangkok, Thailand, the tremor toppled a high-rise under construction, killing 22 people and injuring 35 others. As of Thursday, search crews continued scouring the rubble after sensors detected a possible sound from beneath the debris—but no survivors had been found by day's end.

Elon Musk Signals Starlink’s Vietnam Ambitions by Reposting Announcement Without Comment

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has drawn attention to his satellite internet company’s plans in Vietnam after quietly resharing a post on X (formerly Twitter) about the upcoming rollout of Starlink services in the country. While Musk offered no accompanying commentary, his repost has sparked renewed interest in SpaceX’s efforts to expand its global internet footprint into Southeast Asia.

The original post was made on Thursday by blockchain entrepreneur Mario Nawfal, who cited a Reuters report stating that SpaceX intends to deploy 10 to 15 Starlink ground stations in Vietnam, with the first to be established in Da Nang. Nawfal expressed excitement over what he described as a pivotal development for the region:

"SpaceX is sparking a real-deal shift and planting Vietnam on the satellite map!"

According to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter, Vietnamese authorities have granted initial approval for a trial phase, setting the stage for the launch of Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet services in the country. Groundwork for the first station, which will reportedly cost around US$3 million, is already underway.

Infrastructure Plans and Regulatory Framework
If all planned stations are successfully constructed, Vietnam could become one of the most infrastructure-rich countries in Asia for Starlink, potentially becoming a regional hub for satellite internet coverage.

To meet government requirements, SpaceX is building the ground stations in line with Vietnamese regulatory standards. This includes setting up a local legal entity and constructing a gateway station that connects satellite-generated traffic to the national telecommunications network.

At a recent meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, Nguyen Thanh Chung, head of the Authority of Telecommunications, confirmed the ongoing collaboration between SpaceX and Vietnamese agencies.

"They are preparing the necessary documents and equipment to bring to Vietnam," Chung said, noting that the process is expected to be finalized before the end of the year.

The Vietnamese government has authorized a trial phase that runs through January 1, 2031, allowing up to 600,000 subscribers during that time. This phase is subject to strict compliance with national security and cybersecurity standards, including the following:

All satellite internet traffic must pass through the Vietnam-based gateway.

User data must be stored domestically.

Service providers must take measures to prevent the spread of malware and harmful online content.

Commercial Viability and Market Challenges
Despite the growing excitement, Starlink faces notable challenges in Vietnam’s internet market. The country already has widespread broadband coverage and relatively low-cost internet access, meaning Starlink’s premium-priced services may not be widely adopted in urban areas. Analysts believe the company may need to offer additional or tailored services to compete effectively.

Still, in remote or mountainous areas, where connectivity remains limited, Starlink could fill key infrastructure gaps. Moreover, the presence of advanced satellite infrastructure might serve broader strategic or defense-related purposes, helping Vietnam bolster its digital capabilities.

Looking Ahead
Starlink's expansion into Vietnam marks a significant step for both SpaceX and the region’s digital ecosystem. With its infrastructure plans now public and early groundwork being laid, all eyes will be on how quickly and effectively the service rolls out.

Musk’s silent endorsement via repost suggests he’s paying close attention to the project’s development—and may have bigger plans for the region in the years to come.