☀️ Morning digest on February 26

Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the need for a decisive breakthrough in the digital economy, with the data economy and artificial intelligence (AI) serving as new, smarter and more sustainable pillars of growth, while concluding the first meeting in 2026 of the Government’s Steering Committee on science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation and Project 06 on February 25.

PM Chinh, who heads the steering committee, pointed out shortcomings that must be urgently addressed. Many tasks under existing programmes remain behind schedule, particularly from 2025. The development and integration of national and sectoral databases have been slow, with 45 databases yet to connect to the National Data Centre and four key databases still incomplete. Digital infrastructure has not kept pace with economic growth potential. Cybersecurity, data safety and data governance mechanisms remain inadequate, and there is a shortage of high-quality human resources, especially in AI, big data and cybersecurity. Coordination among ministries, sectors and localities requires improvement. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for closer cooperation between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Russian news agency TASS while receiving TASS Director General Andrey Kondrashov in Hanoi on February 25.

Welcoming the TASS delegation on their working visit to Vietnam at the invitation of VNA, PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam consistently attaches importance to and seeks to further strengthen its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia across all fields, for the shared benefit of both peoples and for stability, collaboration and development in the region and the world. Read full story

- An inspection delegation of the Ho Chi Minh City committee serving the local election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term on February 25 reviewed preparations at early polling stations.

At the inspected locations, the delegation examined the opening ceremony agenda, voter list compilation and posting, security and safety measures, as well as plans for transporting ballot boxes and deploying vessels to offshore voting sites, including DK1 platforms and ships on duty at sea. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son on February 25 signed Decision No. 330/QD-TTg approving a plan to implement the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Convention).

The plan aims to ensure the full and comprehensive enforcement of the Convention’s provisions, while gradually introducing electronic Apostille (e-Apostille) services. It also seeks to perfect the legal framework to facilitate the cross-border use of public documents between Vietnam and other member states, and clearly define responsibilities for relevant ministries and agencies to ensure coordinated and efficient implementation. Read full story

- Viettel Telecom has been shortlisted for the prestigious Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards 2026, widely regarded as the “Oscars of the mobile industry,” the company announced on February 25.

The nomination comes in the Tech4Good category for its initiative “Connected Vietnam 2025: No One Left Behind from 2G to 5G.” Read full story

- The IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems in Austria, on February 24, held a graduation ceremony for 30 Vietnamese students, the first cohort of a high-quality nursing training programme.

The graduates are among 150 Vietnamese trainees participating in a fully funded scholarship project, the first key initiative of the state of Lower Austria and Austria as a whole to address the country’s growing demand for healthcare workers amid an ageing population. Read full story./.

VNA