Tuoitrenews briefs you on some of the leading stories published today in Vietnamese media:

Society:

-- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has announced “substantial relaxations of visa requirements” for tourism visas issued to nationals of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam in a bid to double the number of foreign visitors to 20 million ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

-- Eight Vietnamese readers and one foreigner were honored for their contribution to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in the form of tip-offs and material during a ceremony at the paper’s headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

Business:

-- A Vietnamese cuisine expert has recommended that the country should set up the national institute of cuisine to promote local food to the world.

-- The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ho Chi Minh City from January 1 to June 15 this year reached US$901 million, increasing 83 percent over the same period last year, according to the city’s Department of Planning and Investment.

Lifestyle:

-- Sovereignty steles built in 1956 by the former Republic of Vietnam in Song Tu Tay Island and Nam Yet Island in the Truong Sa archipelago off the central province of Khanh Hoa have been recognized as a national historical relic.

-- Vietnamese archaeologists have just uncovered many items made of rocks which they said date back 4,000 years in the central province of Ha Tinh.

Sports:

-- Guillermo Ochoa threw up an impenetrable shield around his goal as stubborn Mexico frustrated World Cup hosts Brazil to earn a 0-0 draw on Tuesday, according to AFP.

-- Manchester United misfit Marouane Fellaini came off the bench to inspire a dramatic Belgian fightback against Algeria on Tuesday as Marc Wilmots' young side opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win, according to AFP.

Politics:

-- President Truong Tan Sang hosted a reception in Hanoi on Tuesday for outgoing Norwegian Ambassador Stale Risa. At the event, the Vietnamese state leader spoke highly of the diplomat’s contribution to consolidating and strengthening the multi-faceted cooperation of the two countries and acknowledged his role in encouraging Norwegian investors to do business in Vietnam.

-- Three ships of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy led by Rear Admiral Dmitriev Vladimir Aleksandrovich docked at Cam Ranh port in the central province of Khanh Hoa for logistical and technical services on Tuesday.

-- Germany will continue providing official development assistance for Vietnam with a focus on the fields of energy, the environment and vocational training in combination with sustainable development, German State Secretary Markus Ederer told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh during a meeting in Hanoi on Tuesday.