The Japanese government and ruling coalition plan to submit a bill to this year's ordinary session of parliament that would give legal force to the use of maiden names in daily life by people who have changed surnames upon marriage.

TOKYO -- Japanese astronaut Makoto Suwa will make a long-term stay at the International Space Station around 2027, marking his first space mission, science minister Yohei Matsumoto told a press conference Friday.

Canada will provide more than CA$81 million (about US$58.4 million) to fund ten development projects in Vietnam, Canadian Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai announced during his three-day visit to the country, which concluded on Thursday.

Ca Mau Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital in southern Vietnam said on Thursday that its doctors had saved two young children who swallowed extremely dangerous foreign objects, including one case involving a perforated duodenum and another in which a sharp metal object became lodged dangerously close to the aorta.

Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai visited the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday afternoon as part of his three-day official visit to Vietnam from January 6 to 8.

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper has reviewed major milestones in Vietnam-U.S. relations, highlighted Ho Chi Minh City’s pivotal role in bilateral cooperation, and reaffirmed his continued commitment to advancing ties as he prepares to conclude his tenure.

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean initiative to boost the IPO market with a fast-track route to a Nasdaq dual listing has garnered a warm response from potential issuers, though bankers caution thin liquidity and a high valuation requirement could limit take-up.

The international community has spoken highly of Vietnam's economic performance in 2025 and expressed confidence in its outlook for 2026, according to information released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

The real estate market in Ho Chi Minh City has shown signs of recovery after a prolonged downturn, with business activity returning to positive growth from late 2024 and continuing to improve through 2025, city authorities said on Thursday.

Leaders of foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam praised the country’s young talent for driving future growth in digital technologies, particularly crypto and blockchain, heard a panel discussion held in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

LAS VEGAS -- AI companies are on the hunt to design the ideal device to deliver AI's superpowers, and some new enterprises are convinced that headphones or earbuds are the way.

Good morning from Vietnam!

A «serious medical condition» with a crew member aboard the International Space Station has led NASA to bring the astronaut and three crewmates back to Earth months earlier than planned, the first such emergency return in the orbiting laboratory's 25-year history, senior space agency officials said Friday.

TOKYO -- Asian black bear sightings in Japan from April to November 2025 totaled 47,038, marking the highest figure since comparable data became available in fiscal 2009, according to the Environment Ministry.

TOKYO -- Japan's program to effectively eliminate high school tuition from fiscal 2026 is heightening concerns among public high schools that a shift toward private education will increase further.

The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has effectively walked back the previous administration's policy of expanding production of rice, Japan's staple food, under pressure from farming groups.

A fire erupted at a seven-story house in Hanoi on Thursday morning, leaving one person injured after he jumped from a height to escape the flames.

Hundreds of workers are racing to meet construction milestones at Hanoi’s new West Lake Opera House, a landmark cultural project with a total investment of more than VND12.7 trillion (US$483.5 million).

Many hospitals in northern Vietnam are reporting a growing number of peripheral facial nerve paralysis cases, mostly caused by cold exposure, as the region experiences its coldest weather since the start of winter.

SHANGHAI - Furniture retailer IKEA is closing seven stores in China from February 2, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Good morning from Vietnam!

The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion under the Ministry of Health will need about 122,000 units of blood in the first three months of 2026 to treat patients at more than 180 medical facilities across northern Vietnam.

Foreign investors and local businesses should act quickly and step up investment in various key sectors in Vietnam, focusing on value-chain upgrading, ecosystem development, reliability, and sustainability, John Low, managing partner for Southeast Asia at Roland Berger, told the Vietnam Vanguard Summit 2026, held in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

TOKYO -- Volunteers from Japan's Children and Families Agency have launched an awareness-raising campaign to alleviate the anxiety of children who struggle to talk about their problems with adults.

Doctors at Children’s Hospital No. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City have successfully treated a premature South Korean newborn weighing just 1.2 kilograms who suffered from neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, hospital officials said.

In the early days of 2026, many public spaces across Ho Chi Minh City have taken on a fresh new look, with flowers, decorative installations and greenery drawing large numbers of residents and visitors for strolls and photo-taking.

Japan's Tamagotchi toys were a 1990s playground craze and the virtual pets that demand food and attention are still a hit among retro-loving Gen Z and nostalgic parents.

Sa Pa, a tourist hub in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam, emerged as Asia’s fastest-growing travel destination in 2025, soaring 15 places in Agoda’s ranking of the region’s top 100 destinations amid a surge of interest from international travelers, according to the digital travel platform.

Starbucks Vietnam has apologized to customers and delivery drivers after a technical glitch caused several beverages to be listed at zero-VND prices on delivery apps, triggering a surge in orders, many of which were later canceled.

Ho Chi Minh City has agreed in principle to allow the installation of battery-swap cabinets for electric motorbikes on sidewalks and in public spaces, a move meant to promote green transportation and support Vietnam's net-zero emissions goals.

Temperatures on the summit of Fansipan in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam have dropped to their lowest so far this winter, with thick frost forming across the peak and creating a crystal-like landscape.

Ho Chi Minh City is determined to complete its International Financial Center by 2027, positioning it as a key driver of double-digit economic growth and deeper global integration.

Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 has begun allowing overnight parking at a limited number of stations, the operator said, as authorities move to ease access to the city’s first metro line and expand passenger facilities.

Meta said on Tuesday it has decided to pause international expansion of its Ray-Ban Display glasses due to short supply and strong demand in the United States.

Vietnam’s under-23 national team opened their campaign at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup with a 2-0 win over Jordan in their Group A match in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.