Axar Patel’s fielding heroics power India into T20 World Cup finalAxar Patel produced stunning fielding efforts, including a relay catch and two key dismissals, as India edged England by seven runs in a thrilling T20 World Cup semifinal at Wankhede. The England captain miscued the shot high over the covers, and Axar sprinted back while keeping his eyes on the swirling ball. On a pitch where bowlers struggled for control and batters dominated the scoreboard, Axar’s fielding stood out as a decisive factor. In a match decided by just seven runs, Axar Patel’s golden hands may well have been the difference between heartbreak and a place in the final. Late cameos by Pandya, with 27 off 12 balls, and Tilak Varma, scoring 21 off just seven balls, helped India cross the 250-run mark.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Russian Minister of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief Aleksandr Kurenkov in Hanoi, March 5, 2026. -- Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence General Nguyen Tan Cuong received the Russian minister in Hanoi on the same day. -- The Vietnamese government and relevant ministries are adopting various measures to minimize the negative impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on the country’s trade, economic, and energy activities. Ho Chi Minh City-- In 2025, Ho Chi Minh City recorded many drug cases that originated from Europe and the Americas and were transported via express delivery and air transport. Economy-- Lottery firms in the southern region will be allowed to increase their ticket issuance value from VND140 billion (US$5.3 million) to VND160 billion ($6.1 million) starting April 1.

According to the WHO’s 2024 data, around 80 percent of adolescents aged 11 to 17 worldwide fail to meet recommended levels of physical activity, with girls generally less active than boys. In Vietnam, most students in this age group also fall short of these recommendations, with the proportion of girls lacking sufficient physical activity reaching as high as 92 percent. The WHO advises maintaining regular physical activity to improve physical fitness, cardiovascular health, and bone strength while enhancing concentration and mental well-being. The HCDC recommends that parents encourage children to spend more time outdoors and gradually build regular physical activity habits. Health experts suggest starting with 10 to 15 minutes of physical activity per day and gradually increasing the duration.

The newly released Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone. Text clarity concernsSome early users who had the opportunity to try the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra said text displayed on the screen appeared less sharp than expected. On social media, he suggested that text on the S26 Ultra lacks the crisp clarity seen on the previous Galaxy S25 Ultra. Privacy innovation with possible trade-offsThe Privacy Display feature represents a significant step forward in device security. Preorders for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra will continue until March 10.

The Xoi Lac TV system illegally streamed and rebroadcast sports content owned by legitimate rights holders. According to him, the masterminds behind the Xoi Lac TV system used specialized equipment to capture and retransmit football matches and other sports events through OTT and satellite signals. From piracy platform to gambling ecosystemXoi Lac TV first appeared around 2016 as a website offering free live streams of major international football tournaments. Free streaming sites such as Xoi Lac TV quickly gained popularity because they offered immediate access to matches without subscription costs. The case of Xoi Lac TV reflects a broader challenge facing the digital content industry.

The task force is responsible for assisting the prime minister in directing, supervising and coordinating ministries and agencies to address issues related to ensuring energy security amid the Middle East crisis. The task force will also carry out other duties related to energy security as assigned by the prime minister. Under the decision, the task force has the authority to request ministries and agencies to provide reports, information, documents and relevant materials. When signing directives, the deputy prime minister, as head of the task force, will use the prime minister’s official seal. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will serve as the standing body of the task force, using its existing apparatus to support the group’s work.

Ly Thanh Co in Jordan (photo courtesy by Ly Thanh Co). Doan Phuoc Truong (HCMC) landed in HCMC just one day before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. He said that while flying and transiting in Dubai, many Vietnamese passengers were already updating news about the possible outbreak of fighting. On travel forums, many Vietnamese travelers said they were worried about flights passing through the Middle East. Travel blogger Ly Thanh Co flew to Egypt on February 20 and is currently exploring Jordan with friends.

One company, referred to as company A, began selling products on Amazon in 2019. Based on this market data, Dai suggested that Vietnamese furniture businesses should avoid direct price competition with Chinese manufacturers. According to eMarketer data, worldwide e-commerce revenue is expected to reach US$8.9 trillion by 2030. Phung Quoc Man, chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (Hawa), noted that Vietnam’s wood industry has already demonstrated remarkable growth. Through e-commerce, Vietnamese manufacturers can now sell directly to consumers in distant markets such as the US and Europe.

Development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions is no longer seen simply as an economic growth challenge. Rather than simply managing, the State should actively create favorable conditions for ethnic communities and religious groups to thrive. One of the top priorities is narrowing the development gap between ethnic minority regions and more developed economic areas. It will also become a digital pathway that allows ethnic communities to access the country’s development achievements on equal terms. These outcomes are both the most objective indicators and the highest goals of reform in ethnic and religious policies in the new era.

The standard MacBook Air M5 model is now US$100 more expensive, marking a notable change for Apple’s best-selling laptop lineup. Stronger performance with the M5 chipThe most significant highlight of the new MacBook Air is the Apple M5 processor. Apple said the MacBook Air M5 processes AI workloads up to four times faster than the M4 version and up to 9.5 times faster than the M1 generation. The standard MacBook Air M5 now comes with a 512GB SSD, double the 256GB offered on the previous generation. The MacBook Air M5 integrates Apple’s custom-designed N1 networking chip, supporting both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

By 2026, the real estate sector will largely become a playground for investors with long-term capital and financial resilience. Mid-range housing tied to genuine demand, along with industrial real estate and social housing, are likely to take the lead. In the medium term, if interest rates reach their peak and gradually stabilize, the market could recover step by step. “The rise in interest rates is not merely a monetary fluctuation but a test for the entire real estate ecosystem,” Huy said. This filtering process, Huy emphasized, will shape a more cautious, professional and sustainable real estate market in the years ahead.

Many southern localities are forecast to see rain on March 5, 2026. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi TreRead what is in the news in Vietnam today:Society-- The majority of students aged 11 to 17 in Vietnam do not get enough physical activity, with the rate among girls reaching an alarming 92 percent, according to the World Health Organization. -- The northern and north-central regions are forecast to see scattered rain, with early morning fog on Thursday, while many localities in the central and southern regions might experience scattered showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening, according to the national weather center. -- The municipal administration has called for intensified inspections and strict action against renovations and extensions that obstruct emergency exits and escape routes at apartment buildings. Sports-- The organization board of the PPA Tour has released a list of pickleball stars set to compete in Hanoi in early April, including American player Ben Johns.

On March 4, the Ninh Binh People’s Council held its ninth session of the 15th tenure. With 100 percent approval, Nguyen Thanh Binh, deputy secretary of the provincial Party Committee, was elected chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People’s Committee. Tuan had earlier been elected secretary of the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee. Earlier, on the morning of March 3, the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee held a conference to announce a decision of the Secretariat assigning Nguyen Thanh Binh to stop serving as deputy secretary of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Committee. Alongside chairman Nguyen Thanh Binh, the Ninh Binh Provincial People’s Committee currently has six vice chairpersons: Tran Song Tung (standing vice chairman), Tran Anh Dung, Nguyen Anh Chuc, Nguyen Cao Son, Dang Thanh Son and Ha Lan Anh.

Following guidance from the Government and the Prime Minister, the central bank has rolled out timely and coordinated measures aimed at containing inflationary pressures, stabilising the macroeconomy and sustaining growth momentum. The SBV has deployed a synchronised mix of policy instruments to ensure ample liquidity, particularly during the year-end peak. Lending rates for new loans are trending downward, according to the central bank. Meanwhile, major central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, have grown more cautious about easing monetary policy. Exchange rate policy will continue to be managed flexibly through a coordinated use of monetary tools to maintain foreign exchange market stability.

A family plays in a children’s area at the Aqua Adventure water park at Sun World Vung Tau in Phuoc Thang Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 3, 2026. Ho Chi Minh City-- Ho Chi Minh City will waive fares on 118 bus routes and metro line No. 1 on March 15 to facilitate voters traveling to polling stations for the 16th National Assembly and 2026–31 People’s Council elections, the city’s Management Center of Public Transport said. Culture-- Authorities in Hai Phong City on Tuesday evening inaugurated the 1,350-seat Hoa Phuong Theater, a newly-built venue equipped to host large-scale artistic performances, symphony concerts, operas, and national and international cultural events. Sports-- The international friendly between Vietnam and Bangladesh will kick off at 7:00 pm on March 26 at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi during the March FIFA international window, the Vietnam Football Federation said on Tuesday.