Good morning from Vietnam!

TOKYO -- Japan's transport ministry called on railway firms and other infrastructure operators Thursday to take measures against the misuse of high-performance artificial intelligence models, including Claude Mythos of U.S. startup Anthropic.

South Australia, one of Australia’s states, is seeking to boost cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City across key sectors, including trade, investment, energy and education, while also looking to establish a representative office in the city, South Australian Minister for State Development Chris Picton said on Thursday.

Foreign tourists riding motorbikes without helmets remain a common sight in several tourist areas of Da Nang City in central Vietnam, raising concerns over road safety and compliance with local traffic laws, amid broader complaints about disorderly behavior at some popular destinations.

Vietnam and Thailand have agreed to raise two-way trade to US$25 billion while strengthening cooperation across multiple strategic sectors as they move to further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mexican Maria Zu first visited Seoul eight years ago to tour the cafes and parks of the South Korean capital, but spent a key part of her latest trip in April in skincare clinics, under the gaze of doctors wielding laser wands and injection needles.

The 73rd edition of Miss World, scheduled to take place in Vietnam in September, is expected to become a major international cultural exchange platform as some 130 contestants from countries and territories worldwide will gather to promote the Vietnamese image, culture, and people.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived in Singapore early on Friday, marking the start of a state visit to the city-state through Sunday at the invitation of Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse.

Crowds of Buddhist followers and residents on Thursday afternoon gathered around Phap Hoa Pagoda in Nhieu Loc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City to release lotus-shaped lanterns onto the water in Nhieu Loc Canal in celebration of Vesak Day.

The World Health Organization recommended prioritizing three experimental treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, including Mapp Biopharmaceutical's MBP134, Regeneron's maftivimab and Gilead Sciences' antiviral remdesivir.

Authorities in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam confirmed that all 11 people aboard a fishing vessel that sank in rough seas were rescued safely on Wednesday evening.

Despite rainfall across Hanoi on Wednesday night, the capital continues to endure intense heat, with outdoor temperatures reaching 37 degrees Celsius, prompting many residents to flock to the Duong River to cool off in the water.

Ho Chi Minh City is seeking closer ties with Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play Tech Center, whose network has supported more than 30 technology unicorns, as the southern Vietnamese business hub looks to expand opportunities for local start-ups.

Good morning from Vietnam!

A court in Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam has sentenced a 23-year-old factory worker to death for murdering a roadside coffee shop owner during a robbery last year.

The Ho Chi Minh City Immigration Office has outlined important reminders to ensure foreigners comply with Vietnam’s entry regulations.

The leader of a Thai volunteer group helping to extract seven divers trapped in a cave in Laos said on Thursday that more oxygen tanks would be needed to complete the rescue mission.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has ordered airlines to strengthen passenger complaint handling and improve customer support during the summer travel peak.

As many as 492 foreign workers at a foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprise in Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam joined the Vietnamese trade union system on Wednesday.

Showers and thunderstorms hit Hanoi on Wednesday evening, bringing temporary relief after several consecutive days of intense heat approaching 40 degrees Celsius.

In Vietnam, educators and authorities are expressing concern over the growing impact of excessive smartphone and social media use on student behavior, as cases of school bullying and violence continue to draw public attention.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his spouse on Thursday morning presided over a welcome ceremony for Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse, who are in Thailand for an official visit through Friday.

As Vietnam accelerates its digital transformation, Vietnamese people should take greater interest in digital finance and assets, said French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Etienne Ranaivoson, who highlighted growing cooperation opportunities between France and Vietnam in the sector during an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

The most prominent figures in artificial intelligence are stepping back from dire predictions about mass unemployment, as the industry faces growing public hostility over AI's promised transformation of the workplace.

Da Nang City in central Vietnam will host the 2026 International Culinary Festival on Son Tra Peninsula from June 6 to 11, bringing together Michelin-starred chefs and performers from Vietnam and abroad.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Cross-border digital payment services between Vietnam and several Asian markets are driving a sharp increase in spending by international tourists, particularly Chinese visitors, while the Southeast Asian country continues expanding its cashless payment network.

Vietnam’s tourism authority has expanded cooperation with CNN to promote the country’s cultural heritage, cuisine, and high-end travel offerings to international visitors, as officials seek to attract higher-spending tourists and strengthen the country’s global tourism profile.

The hottest days of the year are also the busiest time for dozens of salt farmers in Hoa Loc Commune, Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam, who take advantage of such weather conditions to produce salt under the blazing sun.

NAIROBI - Africa's economic growth is expected to slow slightly to 4.2% this year from 4.4% last year, the African Development Bank said, as Middle East tensions push up fuel and food costs, before picking up again in 2027.

A section of the Ho Chi Minh Road’s eastern branch in Quang Tri Province, north-central Vietnam was severely damaged after a container truck tire exploded amid extreme heat, causing asphalt to shatter and scatter across the roadway.

The British Council Vietnam has launched IELTS EduCreators 2026, an award program for IELTS teachers and educators who share knowledge, create educational content, and support learners on digital platforms.

A prolonged spell of extreme heat sweeping across northern Vietnam has led to a sharp increase in emergency hospital admissions, with many patients suffering from heatstroke, sunstroke, and mental disorders.

Vietnamese police have arrested two Samoan nationals accused of carrying out a fatal shooting in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, less than 72 hours after the attack that left one Australian citizen dead and another critically injured.

Several Vietnamese carriers are adding new international routes to Europe and Northeast Asia as travel demand, family visits, and business activity continue recovering strongly after the pandemic.