TOKYO -- The Japanese government at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday adopted its first basic plan on the development and utilization of artificial intelligence.

Can Tho City in southern Vietnam will host a low-altitude fireworks display and a drone light show this weekend to celebrate its first River Culture Festival, city authorities said, as part of efforts to highlight the Mekong Delta hub’s river-based heritage and tourism appeal.

The government’s Decree 282/2025, which took effect in mid-December and replaced Decree 144/2021, is expected to remove long-standing bottlenecks in dealing with noise pollution, but grassroots authorities are still struggling, hampered by a lack of equipment, manpower, and technical procedures to handle violations effectively.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has officially conceded to the penalty of forfeiting the match to Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, following a controversy over naturalized players, according to Indonesian media sources.

Health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City reported 102 suspected food poisoning cases after residents ate ‘banh mi’ purchased from a shop in Phu My Ward, prompting an urgent investigation and large-scale medical response.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed on Monday that they had arrested seven suspects connected to a large-scale operation that allegedly converted pork into counterfeit beef using pig blood and a banned chemical.

Vietnam has urged Thailand and Cambodia to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from the use of force amid ongoing clashes along their shared border, warning that prolonged hostilities could undermine regional peace, stability, and ASEAN unity.

Police and relevant forces in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam have confiscated more than 10 metric tons of frozen bummalo imported from China, with laboratory tests confirming the presence of banned formaldehyde, a highly toxic chemical prohibited in food processing, authorities said on Tuesday.

After more than two months of construction, Ho Chi Minh City’s first dedicated bicycle lanes along Mai Chi Tho Boulevard in An Khanh Ward are gradually taking shape, marking a milestone in the city’s push toward greener and safer urban transport.

Infidelity in the digital age no longer needs a hotel room or a paper trail but it rather unfolds quietly through screens and usernames.

Consumers in Ho Chi Minh City are gaining access to more reliable outlets for clean and safe agricultural products, following a recent coôperation deal between Saigon Co.op and the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Union.

Germany's federal and state government tax revenues fell 1.3% in November from the same month a year ago, the finance ministry said on Tuesday.

From supplements to meditation retreats, investing in wellbeing has become a non-negotiable for young people.

Police in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam have detained two women accused of faking a death to fraudulently claim more than US$48,700 in life insurance payouts in a scheme that took place five years ago.

The U.S. Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.6 billion ahead of Monday night's drawing, cementing its place among the largest lottery prizes in American history.

After one year of operation, the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line, the first of its kind in Ho Chi Minh City, has gradually woven itself into the daily life of the southern metropolis.

Vietnam’s young chess players delivered outstanding performances at the FIDE World U9–U17 Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2025 in Antalya, Turkey from December 15 to 21, winning one gold and two silver medals.

Forty-two people in Ho Chi Minh City were hospitalized with suspected food poisoning after eating ‘banh mi’ from a local shop, a local hospital said on Monday.

Car production in Thailand in November rose 11.06% from a year earlier to reach 130,222 units, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Monday.

Many residents in Vietnam are being driven out of their own homes by relentless karaoke noise, urging authorities to respond swiftly, enforce the law rigorously, and protect the identities of those who report violations.

TOKYO -- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's launch of its No. 8 H3 rocket on Monday was unsuccessful, failing to send the Michibiki No. 5 positioning satellite into the intended orbit.

From fleets of private trailers to personal chefs and sprawling entourages, Bollywood stars' «obnoxious» demands are driving up production costs and putting a strain on the Indian film industry's finances, insiders say.

TOKYO -- The Japanese government plans to provide around one trillion yen in aid for domestic artificial intelligence development over five years, it was learned Sunday.

Hanoi’s AI-integrated traffic surveillance camera system detected 1,020 traffic violations after one week of its full-scale operation in mid-December, the city’s traffic police division announced on Sunday.

Young adults in Vietnam are increasingly being diagnosed with joint and spine disorders once associated mainly with old age, as sedentary lifestyles and heavy technology use take a growing toll on musculoskeletal health.

Vietnam’s Tran Quyet Chien claimed the Blois 3-Cushion Challenge title in France on Monday, defeating reigning world champion Frederic Caudron of Belgium 50-15 in a one-sided final that lasted just 18 innings.

South Korean gaming superstar Lee Sang-hyeok, known by his gaming handle 'Faker,’ widely regarded as the greatest League of Legends player in history, and other members of South Korean esports organization T1 expressed their delight after trying Vietnamese ‘pho,’ describing the dish as delicious on Sunday.

Vietnam’s sweeping infrastructure initiative sends a strong signal about growth ambitions and government resolve, but its long-term impact will depend on execution and the quality of private sector engagement, economist Do Thien Anh Tuan says, as officials hope to crowd in private capital with a slate of projects worth about US$142 billion.

Police in Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, have dismantled a large-scale online cryptocurrency investment scam, detaining 10 suspects accused of defrauding victims of more than US$51 million nationwide.

Authorities in Hanoi will stage 15 minutes of fireworks at five locations across the city to welcome the New Year 2026, according to a city plan outlining celebrations for New Year’s Day and the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

Churches across Da Nang in central Vietnam were lit up on Sunday evening as Christmas decorations drew large crowds of residents and tourists, signaling the start of year-end festivities in the coastal city.

NIIGATA, Japan - The Japanese region of Niigata is expected to endorse a decision to restart the world's largest nuclear power plant on Monday, a watershed moment in the country's pivot back to nuclear since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

YENAGOA, Nigeria -- The remaining 130 Nigerian schoolchildren abducted in November from a Catholic school in Niger state have been released, President Bola Tinubu's spokesperson said on Sunday, following one of the country's biggest mass kidnappings of recent years.

Vietnam will begin providing free HPV vaccinations to 11-year-old girls nationwide from 2026, health authorities said, marking a major step to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases through the national expanded program on immunization.

Two patients and a hospital staff member were rescued from a malfunctioning elevator in Da Nang City, central Vietnam shortly after midnight on Saturday, within five minutes of rescue officers arriving at the scene.