Politics

-- Vietnam’s Da Nang City and Japan’s Yokohama City signed Tuesday a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation in many areas, including urban development. Accordingly, the two cities will work to encourage Japanese businesses to invest in Da Nang’s hi-tech parks, develop the East-West Economic Corridor II, and speed up the operation of direct flights from Da Nang to Japan.  

-- Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh is attending a sequence of meetings hosted from April 10 to 11 by Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei in preparation for the 22nd ASEAN Summit later this month. The meetings are centered on ASEAN’s development, the association’s external relations, and its central role in shaping the regional structure.

Society

-- Police seized Wednesday 200 kilograms of rotten animal offal that was being carried in a cab in Hanoi. A market management official told Tuoi Tre that the decayed meat had been transported from Ho Chi Minh City.

-- Many passenger transport firms in Ho Chi Minh City have agreed to hike fares by 40 percent on the upcoming April 30 (Vietnam’s Reunification Day) and May Day holidays.  

-- Water leakage was found in several parts of Ho Chi Minh City’s landmark construction Thu Thiem Tunnel on Wednesday. Local authorities said they are investigating and will offer explanations later. 

-- Vietnamese researchers have said they had discovered a lava cave believed to be the longest of its kind in Southeast Asia in southern Vietnam. The cave is located in Dong Nai Province and measures 534 meters long.

-- The Vietnamese Ministry of Health published Wednesday guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of new bird flu strain H7N9, which have cost nine lives in China since its outbreak there late last month.

Business

-- Lemon tea, a now trending soft drink in Vietnam, is becoming a major cause for concern as many roadside stores serve it with food-grade chemicals and artificial flavorings.

-- Vietnamese tra fish firms have lodged an appeal against the U.S. Department of Commerce to the United States Court of International Trade, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said Wednesday. The DOC announced a 25-fold increase in anti-dumping tariffs on these companies during its period of review in March.

-- Local experts believe that Vietnam will benefit from a US$1.4 trillion stimulus package Japan recently announced to fuel its aging economy. The Southeast Asian nation will likely export more food, agricultural produce, and garments to Japan, they said.

Lifestyle

-- My Tam, Vietnam’s top female pop singer, has denied allegations that she had demanded $6,000 for her performance at the Da Nang International Fireworks Competiton to be organized on April 29 and 30 in Da Nang City. Public opinion has it that the fee is absurdly sky-high given Vietnam’s low average income.

Sports

-- Vietnamese hosts SHB Da Nang lost 0-1 to Malaysian visitors Kelantan at Chi Lang Stadium in their fourth 2013 AFC Cup group stage game on Wednesday.