Here are today’s leading news stories:

Society

-- It has been three days since Vietnam last reported new cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The country’s COVID-19 remains at 268, while the number of active cases has decreased to 67.

-- Authorities in Hanoi on Saturday began screening hundreds of merchants at local wholesale markets with quick-result test kits in an effort to contain the COVID-19 epidemic.

-- Police in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City are verifying a video clip in which a man in a motorbike taxi driver outfit was seen attempting to rape a homeless woman and threatens her with a knife in a secluded alley.

-- The Department of Health in the north-central province of Ha Tinh has decided to reprimand Le Anh Hung, deputy director of Huong Khe District General Hospital for organizing a wedding motorcade and party for his son amid the COVID-19 epidemic in late March.

-- Authorities in Nha Trang City, located in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, are verifying the information on Facebook accusing a traffic police officer of requesting a woman to have sex with him after pulling her over for a traffic violation.

Business

-- Vietnam's coffee industry will probably suffer more losses in the second quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Phan Xuan Thang, vice-chairman of the Vietnam Cocoa and Coffee Association, has said.

-- Bamboo Airways said on Saturday that it will operate two more daily flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from April 18 to 22. Apart from the flight departing at 9:00 am and the return service at 12:00 pm, passengers can now choose the flight at 4:00 am and the return flight at 7:00 pm during the period.

World News

-- Over 2.33 million people have caught COVID-19 while more than 160,700 have been killed by the disease as of Saturday morning, according to statistics. About 570,000 have recovered.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!