Here are the leading news stories about Vietnam you should not miss today, December 26.

Politics

-- The National Committee for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2017 reviewed preparations done so far this year for Vietnam’s hosting the forum during the third session meeting in Hanoi on Friday.

-- Vietnam is willing to help Laos in personnel training in the legal and judicial fields, Vietnamese Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong asserted as he was received by Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thamavong in Vientiane on Friday.

Society

-- Le Thanh Binh, an officer from the Firefighting Police Department of Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, has been relegated from sub-lieutenant to lieutenant and moved to different position, for demanding bribes in exchange for corporate fire safety document from some local companies, his managers said Friday.

-- A tourist boat carrying 25 people, including 17 foreigners, burst into fire on Friday when it was sailing near Reu Island at Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh, but all passengers were safely rescued.

-- The number of traffic accidents in Vietnam in 2015 dropped 11.07 percent from a year earlier to 22,827 cases, with 8,727 people killed, the traffic police department said Friday.

Business

-- The Vietnamese Competition Management Agency on Friday issued a document, reassuring consumers that they have the right to negotiate with a manufacturer if they find any quality defects, in the wake of the case of Vo Van Minh, who was jailed seven years for ‘blackmailing’ a drink maker in fly-in-bottle dispute.

-- Vietnam’s seafood export topped $6.72 billion in 2015, down 14.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the latest data from the Directorate of Fisheries.

-- Vietnam is forecast to log a $32 billion trade deficit with China in 2015, compared to nearly $29 billion a year earlier.

-- Ho Chi Minh City lacks some VND42 trillion (US$1.88 billion) for its infrastructure development in the 2016-20 period, the Ho Chi Minh City Finance and Investment Co. said Friday.

-- Singha Asia Holdings Pte Ltd on Friday signed a $1.1 billion strategic deal with Vietnam's Masan Group to buy stakes in two of the consumer goods firm's unlisted units.

Lifestyle

-- Vietnam’s veteran rock band Microwave has released their third album, “10,” which was produced by Chris Hesse, a U.S. drummer and producer who is member of triple Grammy Nominated band Hoobastank.

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