The girl, identified by the pseudonym Xiaoling, had been diagnosed with severe anorexia nervosa and passed away after more than 20 days in a deep coma, South China Morning Post reported Wednesday. She was trying to gain the attention and affection of a boy she had a crush on, who had reportedly fallen for a girl thinner than her. A girl drinking water. Illustration photo by Unsplash After going for 50 days from January to mid-March consuming nothing but water, Xiaoling fell into unconsciousness and was hospitalized. "She is as light as a quilt. We are not sure if she can regain consciousness," an unnamed doctor said in the video documenting Xiaoling’s treatment, which went viral on social media. The situation lasted for 20 days before her parents came to the heartbreaking decision to stop the treatment and let her go. Chinese netizens were left questioning the country’s rigorous beauty standards. … [Read more...] about Chinese teen starves herself to death after crush chooses thinner girl
5 health benefits of drinking water
Vietnam to consider downgrading COVID-19 to flu-like status
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan has said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh would chair a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control this weekend to deliberate the downgrading of COVID-19 from its current placement in Class A infectious diseases down to Class B. Lan told the National Assembly that on May 29 that the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that COVID-19 no longer constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the designation that was attached to the viral disease more than three years ago, but the pandemic is not over yet. In accordance with the guidance of the Government leader, the Ministry of Health was also coordinating with other ministries and agencies to review the legal regulations, consult the experience of other countries, and review practical measures for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Vietnam, Lan noted. The Ministry … [Read more...] about Vietnam to consider downgrading COVID-19 to flu-like status
Vietnamese Government urged to ban e-cigarettes
Vietnam has the 15th largest population of smokers in the world, and approximately 40,000 people die each year from diseases caused by smoking. National lawmakers have called on the Government to ban all e-cigarette products in Vietnam soon, citing health concerns. A no-smoking sign is labeled at a bookstore in Hanoi. Photo: Văn Sinh/The Hanoi Times The Government should amend the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and related regulations to stop the trade, circulation and use of e-cigarettes in Vietnam, Hanoi deputy Nguyen Anh Tri said on June 1. All these actions should be dealt with under the Penal Code, he said. Tri said new generations of cigarette products, including e-cigarettes, may contain illegal drugs and cause severe damage to people's health. However, he said, hardly anything was done to prevent these products from adversely affecting society. He called on the government to reduce the smoking rate to 30% by 2030. "The Government needs … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Government urged to ban e-cigarettes
Vietnam PM holds phone talk with Russian counterpart, focusing on oil cooperation
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam will facilitate Russian-invested oil and gas projects. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 24 held a phone talk with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev to keep a close watch of cooperation activities, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds talks with Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Dec 24. Photo: Baodansinh The talk, which is described as of “openness and trust”, focused on results of the implementation of agreements signed in PM Phuc’s Russia visit in May 2019, and measures to boost the efficiency of bilateral coordination in different fields. The two leaders hailed joint work to lift barriers for agro-aquatic and seafood products, helping to fully tap advantages of Vietnam – Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (Vietnam-EAEU FTA) amid global economic uncertainties. PM Phuc emphasized that Vietnam always … [Read more...] about Vietnam PM holds phone talk with Russian counterpart, focusing on oil cooperation
World Bank approves 176-million-USD fisheries project in Philippines
Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The World Bank (WB) on May 31 approved a 176-million-USD loan to fund a fisheries project that aims to improve fisheries management, enhance the value of fisheries production , and raise income s for coastal communities in the Philippines. The project is expected to benefit more than 1.5 million fisherfolk, small-to-medium businesses, and residents in coastal communities, the multilateral lender said in a statement. According to the WB, the fisheries sector contributes 1.3% to the Southeast Asian country's gross domestic product. It provides approximately 1.6 million jobs, or around 4% of the labour force, including for low-income families engaged in subsistence fishing. However, the sector has faced challenges, with fish stocks declining by an average of 20% over the past decade due to over-exploitation, destructive fishing methods, habitat degradation, and negative impacts from land-based activities. This … [Read more...] about World Bank approves 176-million-USD fisheries project in Philippines
VIMC, Adani cooperate on seaport development
At the meeting, Karan Adani, CEO of APSEZ and Nguyen Canh Tinh, CEO of VIMC discussed the cooperation possibilities between the two sides. Tinh said that VIMC's fleet in India had received cooperation and support from Adani. As a government-run enterprise, VIMC will implement a strategy of strong breakthroughs in maritime service infrastructure, development of seaports, especially deep-water seaports in key economic regions of Vietnam. VIMC and APSEZ signed a MoU on May 24 “VIMC has always considered Indian enterprises like Adani Group as an important strategic partner in developing its shipping fleet, container fleet in inner Asia and the world, including the Indian market to develop a connection chain with key economic regions of Vietnam,” Tinh said. Adani said that VIMC and Adani were both leading enterprises in the maritime sector in each country, making important contributions to the countries’ economic development, and having similarities in providing … [Read more...] about VIMC, Adani cooperate on seaport development
New Quang Binh adventure tour
Quang Binh Province, famous for cave tours, is offering a new travel experience that allows tourists to slide down a 600-metre-long line amidst a hidden valley inside Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Quang Binh, home to UNESCO heritage site Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, is famous for its pristine caves and beautiful tourism sites. Along with famous places such as Thien Duong Cave, Chay River - Dark Cave, Nuoc Mooc Stream, Ngoc Bich Valley in Phong Nha-Ke Bang has become an emerging tourist destination. Ngoc Bich is located in Chay Lap Village, Phuc Trach commune, Bo Trach District. Covering 12 hectares, the valley is surrounded by high mountains, green jungle with Chay River flowing through, creating a beautiful natural landscape in the heart of Quang Binh. The most ideal time to visit Ngoc Bich Valley is in the summer. Due to its location right next to Dark Cave, the valley has a section of the Chay River flowing … [Read more...] about New Quang Binh adventure tour
Nghe An elderly woman needs help to support disabled son
An elderly woman in the central province of Nghe An's Quynh Luu District is in desperate need of help to support her disabled son. Ho Thi Van and her disabled son Nguyen Ba Cuong Ho Thi Van, 78, said that she has three sons who all have weak health caused by Agent Orange that she might have been exposed to when joining the American War during the 1960s. While the eldest Nguyen Ba Hung, 49, and the youngest Nguyen Ba Phuong, 38, have better health condition, her second son Nguyen Ba Cuong, 47, suffers serious amyotrophia and only weighs nearly 10 kilos. "I was not afraid of death while joining the war, but now I'm afraid of it," Van said. "I want to live to take care of my disabled son. However, my left eye has gone blind and my right eye also has poor sight. Now I can only do some light housework." According to the mother, Cuong was born ailing and has had to depend on others for all daily activities. Her husband died many years ago, and she has raised three … [Read more...] about Nghe An elderly woman needs help to support disabled son
Symposium urges youths to quit smoking
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) - The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU), the Health Ministry’s Fund for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and the Global Public Health Organisation Vital Strategies held a symposium in Hanoi on May 31 to discuss the harmful effects of e-cigarettes in schools. The event attracted the participation of over 600 students from the Hanoi University of Industry. They had a chance to join a mini-game to learn about the detrimental effects of e-cigarettes. Nguyen Tuan Lam, an expert in non-communicable disease prevention at the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s office in Vietnam cited data from the WHO as saying that there are currently about 20,000 flavorings in e-cigarettes, many of which are yet to be fully evaluated for health hazards. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong from the fund also warned that e-cigarettes could contain drugs that cause addiction, especially among young people. She said the … [Read more...] about Symposium urges youths to quit smoking
Ho Chi Minh City celebrates International Children’s Day
Activities and programs honoring the International Children's Day (June 1) are taking place across Ho Chi Minh City from Thursday through the weekend. Among the activities being held to celebrate the occasion are a book garden program at the zoo, a southern fruit festival at Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City, and several theatrical performances. Fees waived for children at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens In honor of the International Children's Day, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in downtown Ho Chi Minh City allows children under 1.3 meters tall to enter and participate in activities free of charge. The zoo has also opened a book garden so that children can enjoy an outdoor reading space surrounded by over 1,000 children’s books. Free admission is offered to kids under 1.3 meters tall at the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City on the International Children's Day , June 1, 2023. Photo: Bach Nam / Tuoi Tre Students … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City celebrates International Children’s Day