TOKYO -- The Japanese government resumed subsidies for oil wholesalers on Thursday, aiming to lower retail gasoline prices to around 170 yen per liter amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

TOKYO -- The Japan Tourism Agency plans to set up an expert panel to draft guidelines for a dual pricing system charging higher fees at tourist facilities for foreign nationals and visitors from outside the local areas, Jiji Press learned Thursday.

The European Commission (EC) has given initial recognition to Vietnam’s efforts in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, following its fifth inspection of the country’s anti-IUU measures from March 9 to 19, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang City, central Vietnam has been named among the top 100 airports worldwide for the third consecutive year, according to the 2026 World Airport Awards by Skytrax.

The fourth Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival is set to take place at Le Van Tam Park in Ho Chi Minh City from April 23 to 26, with more than 200,000 visitors expected to join.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered stronger fuel and energy conservation measures and the accelerated adoption of electric transport, according to a government directive.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed Vietnamese embassies in Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar to open online registration systems to collect requests from citizens wishing to return home or travel to third countries, as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.

The FIFA Council has approved the introduction of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, bringing Southeast Asia’s regional tournament into the global football governing body’s official competition system, FIFA said on Friday.

Vietnam has been ranked among the world’s most beautiful countries by Condé Nast Traveler, placing 17th on a list of 28 destinations highlighted for their diverse natural landscapes.

BASF Vietnam, together with its long-stabding customers, partners, and other co-sponsors, has presented a newly rebuilt classroom and playground, covering almost 300 square meters, to Ba Chuc Kindergarten in Ba Chuc Commune, An Giang Province, southern Vietnam.

UNIQLO Vietnam, in collaboration with the Hanoi-based Hope Foundation, on Thursday inaugurated a new kindergarten facility and donated 3,000 clothing items to disadvantaged families in Phuoc Chanh Commune, Da Nang City, central Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade raised retail fuel prices sharply at 11:00 pm on Thursday.

Raissa Marteaux, Consul General of the Netherlands, visited Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday and discussed expanding cooperation between the Netherlands and Vietnam, while expressing interest in strengthening connections with Vietnamese youth.

The Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security on Thursday announced the deployment of 10 undercover vehicles to patrol and record violations along Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong - My Thuan - Can Tho Expressway in southern Vietnam.

Two gold-plated crosses were installed atop the twin towers of Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, which is a milestone in the restoration of the more-than-140-year-old landmark.

An 11-year-old student in Phu Quoc, a special zone administered by An Giang Province in southern Vietnam, died after showing symptoms consistent with meningococcal disease, local health authorities reported on Wednesday.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has proposed requiring Internet, telecom, and social media platforms to verify the identities of online group administrators, under a draft decree on combating cybercrime now open for public comment.

More than 110,000 job openings were offered at a job fair in Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam on Wednesday that was linked online with 10 northern Vietnamese provinces and cities, as businesses ramp up hiring to meet expanding production demand.

A powerful software exploit capable of penetrating and stealing information from potentially hundreds of millions of Apple (AAPL.O) iPhones was planted on dozens of websites in Ukraine in recent weeks, researchers said on Wednesday.

HELSINKI - Heavy social media usage appears to contribute to a drop in wellbeing among young people, especially girls, in some English-speaking countries, the World Happiness Report published on Thursday found.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged Algeria to supply crude oil and natural gas to help ensure Vietnam’s energy security amid global supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.

Police in Dak Lak Province, in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, have warned parents to be cautious when enrolling their children in language centers, as unlicensed, substandard, and risky fake centers have been on the rise.

CAPE TOWN -- African football remains plagued by trust issues and questions over its integrity, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe said on Wednesday after Senegal was stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title.

PARIS, France -- They already have the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver, lay eggs like reptiles and have venom like snakes.

Vietnam must develop a new generation of highly qualified lawyers to support the operation of its planned International Financial Center (IFC) facilities, as the country works to build a credible legal environment capable of attracting global investors, according to Nguyen Hai Nam, vice president of the Vietnam Bar Federation.

Sovico Group, a founding shareholder of air carrier Vietjet Air, has been committed to completing a feasibility study for metro line No. 4 in Ho Chi Minh City in the second quarter of 2026 and aims to start work on the project in the first quarter of 2027.

Vietnam’s coffee chain market is among the fastest-growing in Southeast Asia, with popular brands Milano Coffee and Highlands Coffee listed among the region’s largest operators, a report released on Monday by Momentum Works showed.

Japan will provide a next-generation official development assistance (ODA) loan worth 50 billion yen (US$315 million) to Vietnam, featuring streamlined procedures and faster disbursement to support the country’s green transition and climate goals, officials said at a high-level workshop in Hanoi.

TOKYO -- The Japanese government decided at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday to begin active cyber defense operations on October 1, as part of efforts to prevent major cyberattacks.

TOKYO -- Japan's Foreign Ministry has launched a new office tasked with actively engaging in the efforts to broker peace in countries in conflict.

LONDON -- About 4.9 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday in 2024, according to new United Nations estimates, a sign progress to reduce child mortality rates was stalling even before global aid budget cuts last year.

WELLINGTON - New Zealand's government will introduce legislation on Wednesday to tighten deportation, asylum and immigration enforcement rules, saying the changes are needed to tackle serious offending, migrant exploitation and bad-faith claims.

Vietnam is expected to see the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) shift toward a warmer phase in 2026, increasing the risk of stronger storms and heavier rainfall even as overall storm numbers may not rise, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Police in Hue City, central Vietnam said on Tuesday they had recovered a mobile phone stolen from a U.S. tourist and arrested a suspect following a street snatch.

A rabid dog bit three people in Da Nang, health authorities said on Tuesday, as the central Vietnamese city has reported seven rabies outbreaks in animals since the start of 2026.