What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Society

-- On Thursday, Da Nang's traffic police department summoned a driver for installing unauthorized LED lights on their car, following public reports on social media, and documented the violation.

-- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, in collaboration with Vinh International Airport in north-central Nghe An Province, organized on Thursday a drill to practice firefighting and rescue operations for an aircraft emergency requiring a diversion and landing at Vinh Airport.

-- According to a newly released report by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, Thailand recorded the highest number of financial phishing attacks in Southeast Asia during the first half of 2024, with 141,258 incidents. Indonesia followed with 48,439 cases. In Vietnam, the figure stood at 40,102, while Malaysia reported 38,056 financial phishing attacks during the same period.

-- By midday on Thursday, several flights bound for Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City were forced to circle in holding patterns before landing due to adverse weather conditions. The disruptions resulted in cascading delays for subsequent flights.

Business

-- A survey of 184 senior executives from member companies of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam) in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang reveals a bright outlook for business performance in the coming year. More than 64 percent of the respondents expressed optimism about their operations over the next 12 months, with particular confidence noted in sectors such as materials.

-- The Asian Development Bank has revised its growth forecast for Vietnam, raising it to 6.4 percent for 2024, up from the earlier projection of six percent. For 2025, the forecast has been adjusted to 6.6 percent, an increase from the previous estimate of 6.2 percent.

-- In the first half of 2024, businesses in Vietnam faced over 1.44 million cyberattacks, averaging more than 8,000 incidents per day. These figures were released by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky on Thursday, highlighting the scale of web-based threats targeting businesses across Southeast Asia.

Lifestyle

-- Da Nang’s Tourism Department introduced on Thursday the Da Nang Food Tour, showcasing 400 curated dining spots. Visitors receive a 'culinary passport' offering increasing discounts the more they dine, blending gastronomy with tourism promotion.

Sports

-- Ho Chi Minh City will host the 2024 International Martial Arts Festival from December 20 to 23 on Le Loi Street in District 1. Featuring participants from countries like South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, the event highlights traditional martial arts and fosters global exchange and collaboration.

World News

-- Neanderthals and humans likely interbred during a brief window around 45,000 years ago, the Associated Press cited scientists as revealing on Thursday. By analyzing ancient DNA, researchers narrowed down the timeline, finding it to be slightly more recent than earlier estimates.

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