Lifestyle

Highlights from April 7, 2023

Discover the most up-to-date news about Vietnam and Hanoi in The Hanoi Times.

8 April, 2023

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TikTok Criticized for Six Major Flaws, According to MIC

TikTok, a popular social media platform, has recently come under fire for six major flaws, as reported by the Media Intelligence Company (MIC). These issues, which include a lack of transparency, inadequate security measures, inappropriate content, problematic user data handling, and potential interference by foreign governments, have been a cause for concern among many users.

In terms of transparency, there is a lack of clarity regarding how the platform collects, stores, and uses its users’ personal data. This includes data that can be used to track users’ activity, such as location and search terms. In addition, there have been reports of inadequate security measures, such as weak password policies and two-factor authentication, which could potentially lead to user accounts being compromised.

In terms of content, there have been numerous reports of inappropriate material being shared on the platform, including inappropriate videos, images, and text. This has been a cause for concern for parents, as young children can be exposed to such material.

Furthermore, MIC has expressed concern about the platform’s user data handling, claiming that the company has not been transparent in how it uses user data for advertising and recommendation purposes. In addition, there have been reports of potential interference from foreign governments, including China, which has been accused of using the platform to spread pro-Chinese propaganda.

As a result of these issues, many users have expressed concern about the platform, and have called on the company to address these issues in order to ensure user safety and privacy.

TikTok app on Google Store. Photo: AFP/VNA

The Minister of Information and Communications on April 6th declared that the popular social media platform, TikTok, does not have the resources to effectively combat the proliferation of false information and toxic content, nor the illegal sale of counterfeit drugs and supplementary items which could pose a danger to the public, in particular, children.

The platform has also facilitated negative trends and individuals to draw the attention of the young generations, while violating the rules on the protection of individual identity and information. In response, the ministry has announced plans to inspect TikTok’s Vietnam-based operations. The mass social network has committed to working with the authorities and updating its community standards by April 21.

A brave boy was saved from a 20-storey height after a daring rescue operation. The boy, who was stuck in a precarious position, was rescued by a team of firefighters who worked tirelessly to bring him to safety. The rescue team was able to lower the boy to the ground by using a rope and harness. The boy was unharmed and is now safe and sound. The bravery and quick thinking of the firefighters has been praised by the public, who are thankful for their heroic efforts.

A 10-year-old boy was successfully rescued from being stuck on the 20^th floor of an apartment building in Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung District late on April 6. Residents of the area noticed the boy and immediately contacted the local police department. In response, the Fire and Rescue Police Division, under the Hai Ba Trung District Police Department, quickly deployed a team to take care of the situation.

After being saved, the rescuers sent the boy to his family for medical treatment. Unfortunately, accidents amongst Vietnamese children have become increasingly common in recent years due to inadequate parental supervision. In January 2023, a 10-year-old tragically fell into a 35-meter deep concrete pit in Dong Thap Province and, despite 100 hours of rescue efforts, was declared dead.

Vietnam Climbs Up in FIFA’s World Rankings

Vietnam has moved up slightly in FIFA’s latest world rankings. The Southeast Asian nation now sits at number 116, four places higher than in the previous rankings.

The boost comes after Vietnam’s impressive run in the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers, in which they finished second in their group and secured a spot in the tournament proper.

The team’s recent success is largely attributed to their coach Park Hang-seo, who has overseen a dramatic improvement in the team’s performance since his appointment in 2017.

Vietnam’s rise up the rankings is also part of a wider trend, with other Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand and Indonesia also making significant strides recently.

The Vietnamese men’s national football team climbed one spot to 95^th in FIFA’s world rankings without playing an official match. Kyrgyzstan, which failed to win either of its two previous friendly matches, enabled Vietnam to make this jump in the rankings. Furthermore, Vietnam ranks 16^th among all Asian nations and is the highest-ranked team in Southeast Asia.

Thailand, Vietnam’s biggest rival, dropped three places in the world ranking to 114^th after suffering three consecutive losses, while Malaysia climbed to 145^th from 138^th due to two wins. Argentina rose to the 1^st spot on the global scale, and France rose to 2^nd place, while Brazil fell to 3^rd. Japan ranked 20^th and was the highest-placed Asian country, followed by Iran, South Korea, and Australia.

The bodies of presumed-Vietnamese individuals are set to be tested for further investigation.

Vietnamese and Taiwanese authorities will perform DNA tests on some of the reported dead bodies to address whether they are Vietnamese or not, Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said on April 6. As reported, 20 bodies were found on the western coast of Taiwan in March. Of the victims, nine were Taiwanese, seven were presumed Vietnamese as they carried Vietnamese identifications, and four were unidentifiable.

According to a spokesperson, Vietnamese authorities are collaborating with local government agencies in Taiwan to address the issues related to the dead bodies. The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei has taken the appropriate steps to safeguard the local Vietnamese population. Moreover, Vietnam’s foreign affairs ministry is also working in conjunction with domestic authorities to raise awareness about legal migration and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan was established to foster greater collaboration and cooperation among the various Vietnamese associations in the country. It seeks to create a platform for sharing resources, information, and experiences, as well as to foster solidarity among its members. The Union also works to promote the interests of Vietnamese people living in Japan, including promoting their rights and advocating for more inclusive policies. It also works to promote cultural exchange and understanding between Japan and Vietnam through various activities and events.

A union of Vietnamese associations in Japan was established on April 6th to strengthen the bonds between Vietnamese communities in the host country. The union is managed by a nine-member standing board made up of esteemed representatives from local Vietnamese societies.

Pham Quang Hieu, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, highly regards the union as an essential driving force for Vietnamese people in Japan. He expressed his hope that the union will help to create better programs for overseas Vietnamese, preserve and promote Vietnamese culture in the host nation, and further strengthen Vietnam-Japan relations. Currently, there are around 500,000 Vietnamese living in Japan.