Archive
Saigon Sentinel · All articles
Browse every article we've published, from the latest news to long-form analysis and practical guides.
- East Coast
Legionnaires outbreak in Manhattan surpasses Harlem: new law fails to prevent recurrence
Nine people have died from Legionnaires disease on the Upper East Side, surpassing the death toll from last year's Harlem outbreak — despite the 30-day cooling tower inspection law that originated directly from that inci…
- Politics
White House Ballroom: A Legal Gamble Racing Against Time
The White House state dining room lawsuit involving a $400 million project is not merely a construction dispute, but a test of executive power limits when the project is already 65% complete while courts still debate its…
- US
Forms I-539 and I-765 Updated; Old Versions Rejected from September 15, 2026
USCIS confirms there will be no transition period for the two most commonly used forms in nonimmigrant immigration cases, making the choice of the correct submission date a decisive factor in whether an application is ac…
- Guides
Adding a second number to your iPhone: keep your US line in Vietnam, keep your Vietnamese line in the US
Summer is when people fly home. And every summer, somebody buys a second phone to hold a Vietnamese SIM, or pays international roaming for three straight weeks — without knowing the phone already in their hand does the j…
- Digest
News Digest 15/08: Immigration Tightens, Middle East Tensions Rise, and Kuril Islands Heat Up
From a family torn apart at a green card interview to ICE's electric shock gloves, plus a barrage of international news on Hormuz and the Kuril Islands — a packed day of essential reading that Saigon Sentinel is not divi…
- World
Declaring Hormuz 'US Territory': Campaign Promise or Strategy for Indefinite Blockade?
Trump's 'U.S. territory' declaration has no legal basis, but it accurately reflects a prolonged naval blockade that both sides have yet been unwilling to end — with the real cost falling on American consumers and troops.
- World
US draws AI technology line: allies must choose a side
A diplomatic letter, not tariffs, is becoming Washington's new tool to force allies to choose sides in the AI race with China — and the G42 precedent shows the price is not small.
- Politics
The Electromagnetic Catapult System and the Cost of a Story Trump Has Been Telling for 8 Years
A story Trump retold for nearly a decade has now become an order to the Navy: remove the electromagnetic catapult when nearly half the equipment for that system is already built, bringing cost risks that the manufacturer…
- Guides
Three Generations, One Home: The Communication Secret That Keeps Vietnamese Families Together
When school schedules change, all three generations easily get out of sync at once: grandparents worry, parents get overwhelmed, and children grow tired. These are specific techniques to make everyone feel truly heard, e…
- Digest
News Digest 14/08: Court Blocks Trump Policy, Immigration and Cybersecurity in Focus
From a federal judge blocking homelessness budget cuts in Los Angeles to a wave of state laws banning ICE from schools, today is a day of legal battles. Plus news on Taiwan cybersecurity and a rare astronomy discovery.
- Politics
The 90-Day Race: U.S. Supreme Court Under Pressure to Decide the Fate of Mail-In Ballots Before Midterm Elections
Three months before the midterm elections, the U.S. Supreme Court stands between two conflicting rulings on federal control of mail-in voting — a decision that could directly affect millions of older voters and voters ne…
- World
The economy of a few minutes of darkness: Spain's solar eclipse and the astronomical tourism boom
A few minutes of darkness along a narrow strip of land pushed Reykjavík hotel prices up twofold and accommodation searches in Spain up 245%, while most security costs and wildfire risks fell on little-noticed locations.
- Politics
Nevada's 'fake electors' case dismissed for second time: why the law still hasn't convicted anyone
A judge in Nevada just dismissed for the second time a case against six people who once claimed to be legitimate electors for Trump in 2020 - and the legal gap that has made this case difficult to prosecute does not lie …
- Guides
Which state? Texas, California, Georgia and Washington, compared in numbers
Our earlier guide to work in America carried one piece of advice: pick the state first, then the occupation. The advice was right but unfinished, because it never said which state.…
- Digest
News Digest 8/13: Homelessness, Military Medicine, and Disputed Asian Waters
From the budget battle over homelessness in Los Angeles to mental health crisis aboard a US aircraft carrier, and disputed islands between Japan and Russia — a day of news spanning multiple continents that the overseas V…
- US
Father kills entire family in Kansas: Why warning signs failed to prevent tragedy?
A father in Kansas called 911 to report he had killed his entire family and was about to take his own life — police had received warnings about his unusual behavior just weeks earlier. The incident raises broader questio…
- Houston
Apache Helicopter Crash Near Fort Hood: Why the U.S. Military Keeps Casualty Identities Secret
The Apache helicopter crash near Fort Hood is more than just accident news: the 24-hour identity protection rule and the military investigation process are what military families need to understand.
- US
US Tax Agency Automatically Waives Penalties, Opens New Window for COVID-Era Refunds
The IRS is replacing its request-based penalty relief program with an automatic mechanism starting in the summer of 2026, while simultaneously confirming that a federal court decision could enable tens of millions of peo…
- US
USCIS Extends Work Authorization for El Salvador Citizens Until September 9, 2026
USCIS announces that expired work permits for certain Salvadoran citizens will be automatically extended until September 9, 2026, just before the entire temporary protection designation ends.
- Guides
Protecting Personal Data Online: Simple Tips Anyone Can Do
A shared password for every account, or a single scam call impersonating the IRS, can open the door for criminals to steal your identity in minutes. These are simple habits that help each person close those security gaps…
- Digest
News Digest 12/08: Natural Disasters, Food Safety, and Notable U.S. Policies
From deadly earthquakes in Colombia to school shootings in Thailand, and a series of U.S. news stories that directly affect the Vietnamese community—housing in California, food safety, tribal healthcare. Here's what's wo…
- World
When Court and Senate Try the Same Threat: The Legal Chess Game Around Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte
A single threat is being tried along two paths simultaneously: criminal court and Senate impeachment, putting the Philippines face to face with the question of whether political power can delay justice.
- US
Medicaid and CHIP Halt Coverage of Hormone Therapy and Gender Transition Surgery for Minors
CMS confirms that Medicaid and CHIP will stop paying for puberty blockers, hormones, and gender transition surgery in minors starting in October 2026, but will provide a six-month transition period for children currently…
- Tech
421 vulnerabilities in one month: when AI finds bugs faster than vendors can patch
421 vulnerabilities patched in one month, but the more striking figure is the two-month gap between when North Korea's Lazarus began exploiting a Windows flaw and when the patch was released.
- World
How Much Cultural Heritage Has the Russia-Ukraine War Destroyed? What You Need to Know
After more than four years of war, the Ukrainian government has documented nearly 2,000 cultural heritage sites and over 2,600 cultural infrastructure facilities damaged or destroyed — a dramatic increase compared to UNE…