Vietnam has successfully enrolled 70 million citizens into its digital biometric identity system using a combination of adaptable software and portable fingerprint scanners. The South Asian country faced geographical challenges, with many citizens living in rural and hard-to-reach areas. However, collaboration with a spinoff of the Hanoi University of Science and Technology and a US-based fingerprint sensor company allowed for the successful implementation of the system. Vietnam is now exporting its model for ID enrollment to other countries, such as neighboring Laos. This development highlights the increasing importance and use of biometrics in digital identity systems.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of disrespecting the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by choosing to celebrate the New Year in Vietnam during the national mourning period. The Congress has hit back, labeling the BJP's accusations as a mere diversion tactic and denying any disrespect towards Singh's death. This latest political controversy comes just days after the cremation of Singh with full state honours, which saw tensions rise between the two parties.
Vietnam's birth rate has been steadily decreasing for the past few years, reaching a record low of 1.91 children per woman in 2024. This has led to concerns about the country's population potentially beginning to shrink after 2054. The Ministry of Health is drafting a new Population Law to encourage women to have more children, including abolishing penalties for having a third child and encouraging women to get married and have children at a younger age.
The Philippine Men's National Team is gearing up for the 2024 ASEAN Championship with their eyes set on the ultimate prize. The team will be playing both home and away games against their Group B rivals in hopes of securing a top two spot and advancing to the knockout stage. Joining the Philippines in Group B are Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Laos. Check out the team's lineup and schedule for this highly anticipated tournament.
Despite a penalty save from captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, India gave away an easy goal to Hoang Duc Nguyen in a friendly match against Vietnam. Up-and-coming star Farukh Choudhary's goal in the second half secured a draw for India. Fans are now eagerly awaiting India's next match in the ongoing international football season.
A video claiming the collapse of Howrah Bridge in Kolkata has gone viral on social media. However, India TV's fact check has found this claim to be completely false. The video is actually from Vietnam where a bridge fell into a river due to a storm. People are advised to be cautious of such false claims on social media.
Vietnam's goalkeeper Lam, who is half-Russian, has expressed confidence in his team's ability to give a tough fight to Russia in their friendly match on Thursday night in Hanoi. With temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity, Lam believes that the hot weather in Asia will be a major challenge for the Russian players who are used to playing in much cooler conditions back home. The match will also see the Vietnamese team embrace the spirit of never giving up in front of their home fans.
The Brazilian government has announced new restrictions on Asian migrants using Brazil as a way to enter the United States and Canada. This move, starting on Monday, affects those who require visas to remain in Brazil and have used the country as a layover before continuing their journey north. The increasing number of migrants at the airport in Guarulhos, near Sao Paulo, has raised concerns and led to this decision. This comes after an AP investigation found many migrants from India and Vietnam using Brazil as a route to the US.
India secured their spot in the quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Junior Mixed Team Championship with a 3-2 victory over the Philippines. With a win over Vietnam in their tournament opener, the Indian team made a couple of changes to their lineup for their second match. Tanvi Sharma, Rounak Chauhan, K. Vennala, Shravani Walekar, Arsh Mohammad, Sankar Sarawat, Bhargav Ram Arigela, and K. Vennala all played a crucial role in securing India's victory. India will now face hosts Indonesia to determine the group winner.
Truong My Lan, a well-known Vietnamese businesswoman, has been sentenced to death for her involvement in a massive financial fraud case amounting to $12.5 billion, nearly 3% of the country's 2022 GDP. This shocking development highlights the country's intensifying anti-corruption drive and the risks associated with wealth and power in the emerging market. This news also sheds light on Lan's rise from selling cosmetics in a market to becoming the chairwoman of one of the country's richest real estate firms, and her marriage to Hong Kong investor Eric Chu Nap-kee. This is a rare occurrence of a death sentence being handed out in a financial crime case in Vietnam, adding to the gravity of the situation.