Thousands of residents and tourists gathered along the Han River in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Saturday evening to watch spectacular demonstrations by police and security officers, including staged crime chases and martial arts performances that unfolded like scenes from an action film.

Across Bangkok, aromas of garlic, chilli and grilled meat drift from roadside stalls and carts, but tighter controls on vendors threaten livelihoods and the street food culture that defines the Thai capital.

After more than three decades of steady engagement with Vietnam’s economy, Japanese investment is undergoing a notable shift, expanding beyond manufacturing into the country’s fast-growing consumer market.

Latin pop queen Shakira kicked off her free mega-concert on Rio's famed Copacabana beach under a full moon Saturday, with drones forming the image of a she-wolf -- her nickname -- overhead as she took the stage over an hour late.

Mercedes' championship-leading teenager Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position Saturday for the Miami Grand Prix, as the race's start time was brought forward by three hours due to expected heavy rainstorms.

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President Takaichi Sanae tried her hand at traditional Vietnamese drumming at a state banquet hosted by her Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung in Hanoi on Saturday evening.

Hanoi is emerging as a strategic anchor in Tokyo’s economic security strategy, a shift reflected in Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s meetings with Vietnamese leaders and her decision to choose Hanoi as the venue to unveil an updated version of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) initiative.

A rescue team in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday afternoon deployed a pulley system and descended directly into a well about 35 meters deep, successfully bringing a man who had fallen into the well safely back to the surface.

Japan has conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, one of its highest honors, on Vietnam’s former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, in recognition of their contributions to strengthening bilateral ties.

Major airlines and the U.S. government scrambled to help stranded passengers and employees after bankrupt discount carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday, the industry's first casualty linked to the Iran conflict.

SYDNEY - Police in Australia's Northern Territory said on Sunday they had charged a man with murdering an Indigenous girl, days after the 5-year-old's death sparked violent clashes in an outback town.

LONDON - Arsenal threw down the gauntlet to Manchester City in the Premier League title race with a 3-0 home cruise against Fulham on Saturday putting them six points clear at the top.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam received Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President Takaichi Sanae, who is on an official visit to Vietnam, at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Saturday.

«I recently traveled to Vietnam with my mother. It was honestly such a special trip and we got to experience a mix of everything.»

Good morning from Vietnam!

Hundreds of visitors, including international tourists, gathered at Phu Yen Square in Tuy Hoa Ward, Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands, on Friday evening to watch chefs fillet a giant ocean tuna and enjoy freshly served sashimi free of charge.

Heavy rain swept across Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday afternoon following a prolonged period of hot and dry weather, bringing temporary relief as thunderstorms developed across southern Vietnam.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed that the body of a South Korean businessman was recovered on Saturday, more than a day after he went missing while paddle-boarding on Da Den Lake.

TOKYO -- Japan started releasing on Friday additional state oil reserves equivalent to about 20 days of domestic consumption, amid crude oil procurement concerns brought on by the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

OTSUCHI, IWATE PREF., --The northeastern Japan town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, declared Saturday that the forest fire that broke out on April 22 has come under control.

Australia's government said on Saturday it was worried about a plague of mice in the west and would keep working with industry to curb its impact on food supply.

WASHINGTON -- The United States is withdrawing 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war widens between President Donald Trump and Europe.

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President To Lam will lead a high-level delegation on a state visit to India from May 5 to 7 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A Vietnamese motorcycle racer died after crashing during a national competition in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam earlier this week.

A Vietnamese taxi driver who took his five-year-old daughter to work due to childcare constraints has drawn widespread attention after a dashcam video of his encounter with a South Korean passenger was broadcast on major South Korean television channels.

The Vietnam Food Safety Authority has ordered Quang Tri Province to investigate a mass food poisoning incident that sent 64 people to the hospital after they ate 'banh mi’ bought from a local shop.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae arrived in Hanoi on Friday evening for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, marking her first trip to the Southeast Asian country since taking office last October.

Two people died after a car caught fire while preparing to refuel at a gas station in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, police said on Saturday, with preliminary findings showing the vehicle was carrying multiple batteries and battery packs.

World Health Organization member states said on Friday they had extended talks on pathogen-sharing rules, casting doubt on when a pandemic treaty adopted last year can come into effect.

France and Germany sent firefighting units to the Netherlands on Friday to help battle woodland blazes flaring in several areas.

MEXICO CITY -- A holiday Labor Day weekend turned tragic on Friday as at least 11 people died and 31 others were injured when a tourist bus crashed in Mexico's western state of Nayarit.

Vietnam’s tourism sector is shifting its focus from visitor numbers to higher spending and repeat travel, as businesses and policymakers push premium products and infrastructure upgrades to drive revenue growth.

A wave of South Korean and Thai celebrities visited Vietnam in late April, sharing images from trips to destinations such as Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang that drew widespread attention on social media.

Authorities in Ca Mau Province, southern Vietnam have approved a zoning plan to develop eco-tourism, resorts, and recreational facilities across more than 1,300 hectares of U Minh Ha National Park by 2030.

Vietnam’s Traffic Police Department reported a significant decline in road accidents nationwide on Thursday, the first day of the four-day holiday marking Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers’ Day (May 1).