As domestic demand for sake remains sluggish, moves to seek opportunities abroad are spreading. One region drawing particular attention is Southeast Asia, often described as a 'center of global growth.' With young populations and rising income levels, countries across the region have become the focus of joint initiatives by both government and industry to raise awareness of the appeal of Japanese sake.

At least 13 people died and an unknown number were trapped on Wednesday after a massive fire engulfed multiple high-rise towers of a residential complex in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district, the government said.

TOKYO -- In the face of a serious shortage of drivers in the logistics industry, Japan's government and commercial vehicle makers are accelerating experiments aimed at putting self-driving trucks into practical use.

The number of people killed in historic floods across south-central Vietnam has risen to 98, while 10 are still missing and economic losses are estimated at VND14.325 trillion (US$545 million), according to a national disaster management report released on Wednesday morning.

Provinces across Vietnam’s Central Highlands and south-central coast began lowering reservoir levels on Tuesday to prepare for storm Koto, as authorities continue recovering from last week’s devastating floods.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has affirmed that the Vietnamese government considers the protection of children's rights a national strategic priority and is committed to implementing the best possible policies for the country’s younger generations.

Vietnam needs clear public–private partnership (PPP) rules, unified international technical standards, and streamlined project approvals to attract more global investors to its railway projects, according to Germany’s Siemens Mobility, a leading provider of sustainable and innovative rail solutions.

Ho Chi Minh City has ordered all dog and cat owners to register their pets with local commune, ward or special zone authorities as part of a citywide effort to prevent rabies.

Dramatic international funding cuts have thrown the global HIV response into turmoil, the United Nations said Tuesday, warning that new infections could surge.

A New Zealand woman who murdered her two young children and hid their bodies in suitcases inside a storage locker was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.

Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday launched an English handbook for international film production, marking the first time in Vietnam that a locality has proactively developed a dedicated guide for international film crews.

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore-based Ant International, a global digital payment and fintech company, have discussed potential cooperation to develop an international financial center in the southern metropolis, with a focus on digital finance and technological innovation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on international partners to work with Ho Chi Minh City and with Vietnam as a whole to advance five major development priorities: capital mobilization, infrastructure expansion, institutional reform, human resource training, and smart governance.

In this mountainous commune outside Sa Pa, where H’Mong women are taught from childhood to embroider the perfect wedding dress before they can marry, a task that can take months or even a year, Sung Thi Lan once believed her world would remain limited to the terraced fields and the narrow trekking trail that brought tourists past her shop.

HP Inc said on Tuesday it expects to cut between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs globally by fiscal 2028 as part of a plan to streamline operations and adopt artificial intelligence to speed up product development, improve customer satisfaction and boost productivity.

Storm Koto moved into the East Vietnam Sea on Tuesday night, becoming the 15th storm to affect the region this year, with forecasts showing it will intensify over the next 24 hours, according to the national weather agency.

A war-era bomb weighing 227 kilograms was safely detonated this week in the Ben Hai River in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam, authorities said, after about 200 local residents were evacuated from nearby homes.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has proposed installing electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations across 19 existing bus terminals and parking yards, with asset-use rights to be leased for seven years through public auction.

LONDON -- Chelsea rolled back the years with an imperious Champions League performance on Tuesday, sweeping aside a toothless Barcelona 3-0 to take a hefty step towards securing an automatic qualifying place and leaving the Spaniards fighting to avoid a playoff.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Residents across several central Vietnamese localities have just endured devastating floods that caused heavy losses in lives and property. Many are asking why water levels surged so fiercely this year and what can be done to curb flooding and damage.

NEW DELHI -- Indian airlines Air India and Akasa Air said on Tuesday they were cancelling some flights after ash plumes from a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia disrupted operations.

Vietnam’s fast-growing market for child car seats is showing sharp price swings and inconsistent safety standards as retailers move to capture demand ahead of a 2026 mandate requiring the devices in passenger cars.

The Ministry of Education and Training plans to pilot artificial intelligence (AI) education content across the general education system starting in December 2025. At the elementary level, students will be introduced to AI through visual, easy-to-grasp applications.

A foreign national was found dead on the Trung Luong – My Thuan Expressway, which passes through Dong Thap Province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, on Monday afternoon, according to local authorities.

HELSINKI -- Harsh economic headwinds are sending a chill through the world's happiest country. But after 1,000 days of unemployment, 33-year-old Juho-Pekka Palomaa hasn't let Finland's problems get him down just yet.

Japan on Tuesday launched a scheme aimed at cutting wasteful government spending by reviewing existing subsidy projects and investment funds, a move the administration hopes will alleviate market concern over its expansionary fiscal policy.

Under glaring laboratory lights, a research assistant extends his forearm and carefully inverts a mesh-topped container onto his skin to allow a wriggling mass of bed bugs to feed on his blood, all in the name of science.

Authorities in Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi launched a new sidewalk enforcement campaign on Monday, removing dozens of illegally-installed shop awnings along Hang Ma Street as part of the capital city’s push to restore pedestrian space and urban order.

BANGKOK -- Global wildlife talks opened Monday, with votes expected on increased shark protection, a bid to allow limited rhino horn sales and a push to restrict the trade in eels.

Those tiny, fluffy dogs walking down the street may look cute but beware -- they probably have some wolf in them.

A tropical depression that made landfall in the Philippines on Monday afternoon is forecast to enter the East Vietnam Sea late on Tuesday and could intensify into a storm affecting Vietnam’s south-central mainland, an area still recovering from historic flooding.

TOKYO -- Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn said Monday that he had surprised even himself by becoming the first from his country to win a tournament in the ancient Japanese sport.

Authorities have warned residents in low-lying areas along the Saigon River, including those in Ho Chi Minh City, to remain alert, as heavy rain combined with high tides and Dau Tieng Reservoir’s discharge could trigger localized flooding.

Binh Tay Ward in Ho Chi Minh City will launch its new Cho Lon Night Street on December 1, aiming to promote local culture and tourism while creating a vibrant public space for residents and visitors.