MISATO, SAITAMA, Japan -- Sparks illuminate the soot-covered studio of Japanese swordsmith Akihira Kawasaki as his apprentice hammers red-hot steel, showcasing a millennium-old craft now enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

In pet-mad Brazil, the state of Sao Paulo will allow animals to be buried in family graves starting Tuesday, with a law recognizing «the emotional bond» that exists between humans and their household critters.

Swatch needs to revive innovation, slim its brand portfolio and overhaul governance if the Swiss watchmaker is to reverse years of falling profits and rebuild investor confidence.

Air New Zealand said on Wednesday it had cancelled 46 wide-body long-haul services ahead of a planned two-day strike by cabin crew over stalled negotiations.

NEW DELHI - India's government said social media companies would have to take down unlawful content within three hours of being notified about it, tightening on Tuesday an earlier 36-hour timeline in what could be a compliance challenge for Meta, YouTube and X.

As the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, approaches, four- and five-star hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are seizing the golden opportunity to attract both local and international visitors with all-inclusive festive experiences.

More than 900 chickens and ducks have been culled in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam after tests confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, prompting health authorities to tighten surveillance to prevent transmission to humans.

TOKYO -- An oral medicine used to treat chronic kidney disease and heart failure is also effective in treating premature ovarian insufficiency, a team of Japanese and other researchers has discovered.

Vietnamese police on Monday handed over two suspects wanted under Interpol red notices to South Korean authorities at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Police in Da Nang have uncovered what they described as the largest counterfeit Jotun paint and wall putty ring ever detected in the central Vietnamese city, seizing large quantities of fake products and launching criminal proceedings against three suspects.

Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient injuries.

Unseasonal rain is expected in southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, over the next two days due to high-altitude wind disturbances, the region’s weather agency said, warning that some areas could experience heavy downpours that may affect crops and Tet preparations.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Construction is proposing easing capital requirements and raising the foreign ownership cap for new airlines under a draft decree on air transport that aims to attract investment and lower barriers to entry in the aviation sector.

Vietnam reaffirmed its appreciation for the continued support of international partners and called for stronger cooperation, dialogue, and mutual trust, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said while hosting a Tet banquet for ambassadors and heads of international organizations in Hanoi on Monday evening.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has ordered stricter food safety measures for street food vendors, warning that violations could result in fines ranging from VND500,000 (US$19) to VND3 million ($116), as concerns grow over food safety risks at informal eateries and festivals.

LONDON - Asking AI about medical symptoms does not help patients make better decisions about their health than other methods, such as a standard internet search, according to a new study published in Nature Medicine.

The Ministry of Construction has proposed new regulations requiring airlines to provide meals and drinks to passengers when flights are delayed by two hours or more, and to fully refund tickets for delays of three hours or longer.

Hoi An has introduced 12 automated ticketing kiosks, offering multilingual support and smart tourism solutions to enhance visitor experiences and accelerate digital transformation in Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed ancient town.

Vietnam won its first Asian shooting gold medal of 2026 on Monday when Nguyen Thuy Trang claimed the women’s 25-meter sport pistol title at the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships in India.

Traffic police in Ho Chi Minh City are intensifying coordination with relevant forces to restore urban order and ensure traffic safety at wholesale markets as the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, approaches, amid increasingly complex traffic conditions.

Good morning from Vietnam!

As the 2025 Lunar Year draws to a close and winter air settles over northern Vietnam, Trang Cat Village on the banks of the Day River in Hanoi turns a deep, luminous green, marking the start of its busiest season.

BRUSSELS -- European leaders vowed to deepen cooperation with Japan after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide victory in Sunday's House of Representatives election.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern hub, have arrested and prosecuted four suspects accused of selling more than 10,000 bottles of counterfeit perfumes bearing well-known brand names, with the goods valued at nearly US$387,000 if they were genuine.

International visitors arriving on Phu Quoc Island, An Giang Province ahead of Vietnam’s Lunar New Year (Tet) have been drawn to traditional Tet-themed activities, from calligraphy and folk games to wearing ‘ao dai’ (long gown) for photos, as tourist sites and fishing villages embrace the festive season.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Forget flashy cars and mansion photos – today's ultimate flex is posting pictures from the Super Bowl field while making snow angels in celebratory confetti and people are paying big bucks for the privilege.

SEOUL - Lee Seung-heon, one of the leading candidates to become the next Bank of Korea governor, backs raising taxes on property ownership to stop surging home prices from stoking inflation but a policy pivot to more monetary tightening would be premature.

Ho Chi Minh City has moved to deploy a US$2 billion artificial intelligence (AI)-based hyperscale data center project jointly developed by a UAE-based group and domestic investors, a landmark step toward becoming a regional hub for data, technology, and international finance.

SEOUL -- A South Korean Army AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter crashed on Monday during a training flight in the northern county of Gapyeong, killing both crew members on board, the country's military said.

SYDNEY -- Asian markets jumped on Monday as a resounding win for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi whetted appetites for more reflationary policies, while there was widespread investor relief at a last-gasp rebound in U.S. chip stocks.

In a series of notable cases in Vietnam over the past weeks, individuals and businesses who received large sums of money erroneously credited to their bank accounts have returned the funds to their rightful owners, underscoring legal obligations under Vietnamese law to give back mistakenly transferred money.

Vietnam won a silver medal in the men’s 25m standard pistol team event at the 2026 Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships in India on Sunday, the Vietnam Shooting Federation said.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City have dismantled a gang of cat thieves who used pepper spray to resist capture, recovering 18 stolen cats and arresting multiple suspects.

An Indian couple has recently hosted a lavish wedding in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, welcoming 250 guests at a luxury venue in the coastal city.

Good morning from Vietnam!