ZURICH -- The president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, said he was stepping down on Thursday, a few weeks after the forum launched an independent investigation into his relationship with late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A company within Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi’s business empire is seeking to acquire a soft drink factory owned by Chuong Duong Beverages JSC for nearly US$3.8 million, as the loss-making Vietnamese firm moves to ease mounting financial strain after five consecutive years in the red.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and other relevant bodies to complete phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport in southern Dong Nai Province in the first half of 2026, warning that those involved will be held fully accountable for the project’s progress, quality, and safety.

Two women’s cycling races in Vietnam have been included in the International Cycling Union (UCI) calendar as Class 2.2 events for the first time, marking a milestone for the country’s women’s cycling scene.

Authorities in Khanh Hoa Province, home to the famed beach destination of Nha Trang in south-central Vietnam, have stepped up health screening at airports and seaports to guard against the possible entry of the Nipah virus, a rare but highly lethal pathogen.

The 11th Japan Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City will take place on the weekend under the theme of ‘Holding Hands Together – Children – Earth – Future.’

Good morning from Vietnam!

TOKYO -- A recent incident in which an elevator at Tokyo Skytree stopped and 20 people were trapped inside for about six hours was caused by damage to a cable that supplies electricity and transmit signals to the elevator car, the operator of the 634-meter-tall tower has said.

Waste has repeatedly been dumped illegally at a coastal land reclamation region in Rach Gia Ward, An Giang Province, located in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, leaving residents frustrated by persistent foul odors and environmental pollution despite repeated clean-up and enforcement efforts.

After more than 50 days of intensive construction, the VND33 billion (US$1.3 million) Xuan Huong viaduct project over a major landslide site on Mimosa Pass in the Da Lat popular destination in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam is nearing completion.

Many grilled snakehead fish stalls along Tan Ky Tan Quy Street in Ho Chi Minh City have kept their fires burning through the night to meet residents’ demand for buying fish as offerings for the God of Wealth on Thursday, or the 10th day of the first lunar month, known as God of Wealth Day.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways, a new Vietnamese carrier under Sun Group, on Thursday launched new routes linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Da Nang, enhancing air travel options between Vietnam’s two major cities and the central heritage hub.

Vietnamese buyers lined up in the rain in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City early on Thursday to purchase gold for luck on the annual God of Wealth Day, one of the busiest trading days of the year for gold retailers.

Bill Gates has admitted making a «huge mistake» in associating with Jeffrey Epstein, telling staff at his charity foundation that he had affairs with two Russian women but denying involvement in the disgraced financier's crimes.

Many grilled snakehead fish stalls along Tan Ky Tan Quy Street in Ho Chi Minh City have kept their fires burning through the night to meet residents’ demand for buying fish as offerings for the God of Wealth on Thursday, or the 10th day of the first lunar month, known as God of Wealth Day.

Traffic police have penalized 120 drivers for using mobile phones while driving on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway, located in southern Vietnam, in the past year, warning that the behavior poses a serious crash risk at high speed.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust bought additional shares in Vietnamese jeweler Phu Nhuan Jewelry JSC (PNJ), raising its stake in the company, according to a company disclosure.

SAO PAULO/JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil -- The death toll from the heavy rains in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais has risen to 46, according to figures released by the state fire department on Wednesday.

SHIZUOKA -- The Shizuoka prefectural government has stepped up efforts to reclaim the region's status as Japan's leading green tea grower, after losing the top producer spot to Kagoshima Prefecture.

Authorities have announced that Lien Khuong International Airport in Lam Dong Province, home to the Vietnamese highland destination of Da Lat, will suspend all flight operations from March 4 to August 25 for runway and taxiway upgrades.

In recent years, it has become increasingly common for Vietnamese primary and middle school students to earn high scores on international English proficiency exams. Educators and parents say choosing the right learning approach can help children achieve strong results efficiently, without excessive study pressure.

FUTTSU, CHIBA PREF. -- Lawson Inc. opened a store designed to help residents at times of disasters in Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Tuesday, the Japanese convenient store chain's first such outlet.

BANGKOK -- Fifteen Japanese nationals have been detained in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on suspicion of special fraud, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, serving as special envoy of Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary To Lam, met senior leaders of two major Russian political parties in Moscow on Tuesday, underscoring efforts to deepen inter-party cooperation and reinforce the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Authorities in Da Nang City, central Vietnam have temporarily seized a drone operated by a 36-year-old man who repeatedly flew it into restricted airspace near Da Nang International Airport, an act that raised serious aviation safety concerns and may result in a fine of up to about US$1,530.

A footballer acted on a wing and a prayer when he gave emergency CPR to a seagull after it was hit by a ball during a match in Istanbul this week -- reviving the bird.

Vietnam will allow organizations and enterprises under the Ministry of Public Security to research, produce, export, import, and supply explosive fireworks under a new government decree that takes effect on March 15.

Two people were seriously injured on Tuesday afternoon when a large tree collapsed in Ly Tu Trong Park, located beside Hanoi’s iconic West Lake.

Flights approaching Da Nang International Airport were forced to delay landings and take-offs late on Tuesday after an unauthorized drone appeared in the central Vietnamese city’s airspace.

Cai Rang Floating Market, the last remaining floating market in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, is at risk of declining even faster because of the very tourism operators who depend on it.

Four soccer games in Mexico were postponed after violence flared near Guadalajara in the wake of a military operation that left cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera dead, with FIFA monitoring the situation in the host city for the 2026 World Cup.

Ho Chi Minh City has planned to complete its digital infrastructure, data platforms, and cybersecurity framework, with 5G coverage expected to reach 95 percent of the population and 6G technology to be piloted in selected areas this year.

Vietnam have narrowly won a fan vote for the greatest moment in Asian women’s football history, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ahead of next month’s 2026 Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Several major attractions in Can Tho City including Ninh Kieu Wharf and Cai Rang Floating Market, will be equipped with high-speed public Wi-Fi to support tourism and digital transformation.