Here are today’s leading news stories:

Society

-- The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) proposed the Ministry of Transport on Friday increase the number of weekly international flights from four to seven.

-- Starting Friday, international tourists who visit Vietnam for less than 14 days will not be put into quarantine upon arrival, according to the latest decision by the Ministry of Health.

-- Phu Quoc Island off the coast of Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam will welcome about 200 Uzbek visitors on Saturday morning, according to local authorities.

-- Police in central Da Nang City on Friday night arrested a married couple over allegations of manufacturing and selling counterfeit wall plaster powder carrying famous brands.

-- A 36-year-old man from Lam Dong Province in Vietnam's Central Highlands has been arrested for impersonating a police officer on a fake Zalo account in order to scam a woman into sending him VND30 million (US$1,312).

--  Residents of Hanoi were shocked when high-rise buildings in the capital city felt tremors caused by a 5.5 magnitude earthquake that struck Laos on Friday night.

-- Many people flocked to celebrate Christmas Eve on Friday night in Ho Chi Minh City, causing serious traffic congestion along many routes.

-- Thousands of tourists descended on Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province on Friday night to celebrate Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at the Hoi Den Long Pho Co (Ancient Town Lantern Festival) event, which was launched by local authorities.

World News

-- Commercial airlines around the world canceled more than 4,300 flights over the Christmas weekend, as a mounting wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant created greater uncertainty and misery for holiday travelers, Reuters reported on Friday.

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