The agile robot dog springs up on all fours, takes a step forward and charges at the tense crowd at a Tokyo exhibit, held back by a simple yet strong metal chain.

SHANGHAI - Pop Mart, the maker of the famous Labubu doll, named London for its new regional headquarters, and said it would open seven more UK stores, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured the «ugly-cute» investment on his trip to China.

After a period of intensified patrols and enforcement against illegal encroachment on roadbeds and sidewalks, public order in Ho Chi Minh City has shown clear signs of improvement, but more comprehensive and sustainable solutions are still needed to maintain these gains.

The elevation of EU-Vietnam relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership comes at an important moment.

Vietnam aims to lift exports to about US$45–46 billion a month in 2026, equivalent to $546–550 billion for the year, as it seeks to sustain double-digit trade growth despite geopolitical tensions, tariff risks, and domestic climate shocks, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Thursday.

NEW DELHI, India - At an Indian gourmet food store, Avanti Mehta is organising a blind tasting of drinks sourced from France, Italy and India. No, this isn't wine, it's water.

Vietnam’s property market is expected to enter a phase of rising supply in 2026–27, easing pressure built up over years of shortages and making a fresh price boom unlikely, investment firm VinaCapital said in a strategy report.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has given a nod to the Cai Mep Ha general and container port project, with a total investment of over VND50.8 trillion (US$1.97 billion).

Beyond its reputation as the ‘green lung’ of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio is gradually asserting another distinctive economic value through swiftlet farming closely linked to its mangrove ecosystem.

Good morning from Vietnam!

The elevation of Vietnam–European Union relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership carries both symbolic and practical significance, signaling deeper political trust and expanded scope for economic and technological cooperation, according to analysts.

TOKYO -- The number of foreign workers in Japan as of the end of October 2025 jumped 11.7 pct from a year before to 2,571,037, hitting a record high for 13 years in a row amid the country's labor shortages, the labor ministry said Friday.

JAKARTA/SINGAPORE -- Indonesia's chief economic minister promised increased financial market transparency and improved corporate governance on Friday, after the stock exchange chief resigned to take responsibility for a $80 billion share rout.

FRANKFURT -- The euro zone economy grew quicker than expected last quarter as consumption and investments kicked into higher gear, offsetting low exports and the exceptional uncertainty emanating from U.S. trade policy, Eurostat data showed on Friday.

Vietnam's Phan Huy became the youngest-ever designer to present a collection on the official Haute Couture calendar in Paris aged just 27 on Thursday, rounding out a week of major fashion debuts and celebrity sightings.

Police in Vietnam’s Lam Dong Province have seized about 4.6 tonnes of coffee products suspected of being adulterated with soybean powder, authorities said on Thursday.

Efforts by authorities in Vietnam’s largest cities to clear sidewalk encroachments and restore pedestrian space are gaining momentum and reshaping street life, but they are also sparking debate over how to balance urban order, safety, and a deeply ingrained street culture.

Vietnam has not recorded any Nipah virus infections, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday, while stressing that authorities are strengthening surveillance at border checkpoints and coordinating closely with the World Health Organization (WHO).

TOKYO -- Two giants stare each other down before colliding with a dull thud. After years on the sidelines, sumo is back center stage as part of Japan's soft power arsenal overseas.

SINGAPORE - Stocks were volatile in early Asian trading on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed a bipartisan deal to avert a fresh government shutdown and said he has decided who he will nominate to lead the Federal Reserve.

Vietnam secured a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup on Thursday after Thailand thrashed Kuwait 6-1, settling Group B with a match to spare.

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and European Council President António Costa announced on Thursday that Vietnam and the European Union (EU) have officially upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, marking a historic milestone after 35 years of diplomatic relations.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Ho Chi Minh City authorities and Phat Dat Real Estate Development JSC on Wednesday broke ground on Binh Chuan 3 Elementary School, a VND145-billion (US$5.5 million) project fully funded by the private sector to ease classroom shortages in Thuan Giao Ward.

Apple on Thursday forecast higher-than-expected revenue growth of up to 16% for the March quarter, powered by strong demand for its iPhones and a sharp rebound in China and accelerating demand in India.

A man in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam has been charged with theft for retrieving his own motorbike after it was impounded by police over a drink-driving offense.

Ho Chi Minh City is seeking to have at least 28 percent of its students enrolled in basic science, engineering and technology disciplines by the end of 2026, as part of an effort to build a skilled workforce to support innovation, digital transformation and long-term economic growth.

TOKYO -- Japanese police conducted 13 undercover investigations into so-called dark part-time jobs through last month, National Police Agency sources said Thursday.

TOKYO -- The number of people who died by suicide in Japan in 2025 came to 19,097, standing below 20,000 for the first time since the statistics began in 1978, preliminary government data showed Thursday.

TOKYO - Toyota Motor sold a record 11.3 million vehicles globally in 2025, the company said on Thursday, retaining its crown as the world's top-selling automaker for a sixth consecutive year.

LAHORE/HANOI -- Authorities in Pakistan have ordered enhanced screening of people entering the country for signs of infections of the deadly Nipah virus after India confirmed two cases, adding to the number of Asian countries stepping up controls.

Vincom Retail JSC on Thursday announced the launch of Vincom Collection, a new brand of experience-focused commercial streets to be developed in major Vinhomes urban areas and key tourism destinations across Vietnam.

SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics forecast a worsening chip shortage this year driven by the AI boom, with strong memory demand benefiting its mainstay chip business but creating headwinds for its other units like smartphones and displays.

Amazon confirmed 16,000 corporate job cuts on Wednesday, completing a plan for around 30,000 since October, while leaving open the possibility of further reductions.

Police in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam have discovered and confiscated nearly four metric tons of food products of unknown origin that were about to be released onto the market ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet.