TOKYO -- The Japanese tourism ministry plans to strengthen financial support for town development efforts by municipalities that utilize historical tourism resources in fiscal 2026, which starts in April.

TOKYO -- Japan has successfully retrieved rare earth-rich sediment from the deep seabed, marking a step toward a potential domestic supply of rare earths, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said Monday.

Police in Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam are investigating the deaths of two men and the hospitalization of three others after they drank homemade liquor infused with a traditional herb at a private home, authorities confirmed on Sunday.

Vietnamese police have dismantled a drug trafficking network that operated under the guise of selling e-cigarettes and cannabinoids (CBD) vaping products, directly targeting teenagers and students.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for action-oriented reforms to strengthen the state-owned economic sector, including clarifying its role, removing bottlenecks in tapping national resources, expanding public–private cooperation, and piloting executive hiring to unlock new growth drivers for Vietnam’s economy.

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Vietnamese striker Nguyen Dinh Bac has made history at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup by winning six individual awards, the most ever recorded in a single continental tournament at the junior level.

The Vietnamese government has issued a new directive demanding urgent measures to prevent school violence, including removing toxic online content that negatively affects students, amid growing public concern over serious incidents involving school-aged children.

Vietnamese high school students won one gold and two bronze medals at the 2026 International Project Chemistry Olympiad (IPCO) held in Russia, continuing the country's strong performance at the prestigious international chemistry competition, according to the Vietnam Chemical Society.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) To Lam will pay a state and working visit to Cambodia next Friday and co-chair a high-level meeting of the leaders of the ruling parties of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.

The iconic Ho Con Rua (Turtle Lake) roundabout in downtown Ho Chi Minh City has emerged with a refreshed look after more than 10 days of renovation, attracting crowds of residents and visitors ahead of the Year of the Horse.

Police in Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam said on Sunday that they had arrested Mai Anh Nhat, 43, for public disorder after he allegedly attacked another driver following a traffic collision, leaving the victim dead.

Just over 60 years ago, scientist and conservationist Rachel Carson warned that modern societies were contaminating the ecosystems they depend on with “dangerous and even lethal materials”.

LEEDS, England -- Premier League leaders Arsenal ended their mini-slump with an emphatic 4-0 victory at Leeds United on Saturday to move seven points clear as champions Liverpool crushed Newcastle United 4-1.

LONDON -- Social media claims by clinics promoting testosterone treatment for men to improve their physique and mood are driving large numbers to pay for unnecessary medication that can have serious side effects, doctors say.

SINGAPORE -- Two tankers suspected of illegal ship-to-ship oil transfers were detained and more than 512 million ringgit ($129.9 million) worth of crude oil seized 24 nautical miles west of Muka Head, Penang last week, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said on Saturday.

Ho Chi Minh City will host 17 fireworks displays to celebrate the Lunar New Year, starting at 12:00 am on February 17, with each show lasting 15 minutes, according to the city’s administration.

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Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology has proposed new rules requiring mobile users to undergo biometric verification whenever they change devices using their SIM cards, aiming to eliminate fraudulent and unregistered numbers.

French students pursuing a master’s degree in law at the International Institute of UEL under the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, were excited to wrap traditional 'banh chung' (square sticky rice cakes) on Friday during the Spring Festival 2026.

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.

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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.