Indonesia is pursuing plans to make public schools free at all levels, stretching from kindergarten to university, but mounting pressure on the state budget could hinder the government from pulling off the massive undertaking, analysts have said. President Prabowo Subianto summoned his ministers last week to discuss a plan to “accelerate the implementation of free education in public schools”, according to a statement released by cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya on September 23. “Free...

Ayob to serve in role for the remainder of the 2025-2029 term.

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The Mable Mountain landscape site, located 8km from the city on the banks of the ancient Cổ Cò River, was formed as an island around 25 million years ago.

A hunger crisis could creep up on Southeast Asia if the region does not guard against export restrictions amid a fertiliser shortfall, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Secretary General John Denton has warned. On the sidelines of the Future of Trade Forum in Singapore on Wednesday, Denton urged the city state, as the next Asean chair, to prioritise the “sleeper issue” for the region. He argued that the real story centred on food, despite the Strait of Hormuz gridlock being widely seen as...

A wayward shark has become an unlikely celebrity in South Korea, drawing massive crowds, earning plaudits from the local mayor and even moving the stock market.

UPDATED 5.38PM | State party leader says document can clarify timeline of events, curb 'selective interpretation'.

The death of a 14-year-old student at a Malaysian boarding school has renewed scrutiny over student safety, raising questions over whether reforms introduced after the high-profile death of Zara Qairina Mahathir last year have changed what happens behind dormitory doors. Police in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, have detained two 16-year-old students as they investigate the death of Muhammad Idlan Fareeq Shahril. They said Idlan was caught vaping by a hostel warden on September 23. Two days later,...

UPDATED 4.50PM | Govt will use other methods to help raise workers' wages in MSMEs - Sim.

Musician Nguyễn Quốc Trung talks to Việt Nam News reporter Lương Hương about his latest music project reflecting on his four-decade artistic journey.

A man became angry after a four-year-old boy pointed his middle finger at him while he was picking up his son from preschool in Singapore. He pursued the boy to a nearby bus stop that was crowded with other young kids, grabbed the boy by the arm and slapped him hard on both cheeks. The boy, who was his son’s schoolmate, suffered bruises on his face and ringing in his ear, on top of emotional trauma that lingered for months and required his parents to change his preschool. The aggressor, Muhammad...

UPDATED 4.08PM | Judge says it's significant to address Tambun MP's 5 questions, among others.

Passengers departing on international flights from Long Thanh Airport will pay a US$25 service fee, the same as at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport and $5 more than at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Philippine senators have urged the Department of Tourism to stick with a single marketing campaign to build long-term international recognition, pointing to long-running successes such as Malaysia’s “Truly Asia” tagline. Newly appointed Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay was asked about her plans for the current slogan, “Love the Philippines”, during a departmental budget hearing on Monday, the Philippine Star reported. Senate finance subcommittee chairman Erwin Tulfo suggested keeping the...

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This is over Rural and Regional Development Ministry's overspending.

After studying in a shared gymnasium, 70 preschool children in Ayun Commune in Gia Lai Province in central Vietnam now have two new classrooms.

China opened four high-speed railway lines totaling 1,142 km on Sept. 28, extending the world's largest bullet-train network ahead of the National Day holiday rush.

Malaysia’s two-time prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has been admitted to hospital for observation, his office confirmed on Wednesday, in the latest health scare involving the 101-year-old. Mahathir was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) on Tuesday night, barely a day after his wife of 70 years, Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, died at the same hospital. It is unclear why the former leader was admitted. Sufi Yusoff, Mahathir’s long-time aide, told reporters that they were awaiting diagnosis...

Anwar expresses appreciation to his Canadian counterpart for backing Petronas.

HCM City is seeking to strengthen its competitiveness as an international MICE destination by linking tourism more closely with trade, investment and international integration.

Last 2 days had been stressful to Mahathir but he is okay, Mokhzani says.

Salleh urges weighing all factors amid police reports and controversy.

A familiar low-cost airline among Southeast Asian travellers, AirAsia describes Phú Quốc in its blog guide to travelling with young children as a destination that feels almost tailor-made for families, with beaches for relaxation, leisure attractions and a wide range of activities to engage children of different ages.

A Singapore-based education financing programme is testing whether income-linked funding can widen access to higher education without an unmanageable debt burden, a model analysts say could help ease repayment pressure faced by graduates across Southeast Asia. Global Financing for Education’s (GFE) Pay It Forward scheme, publicly launched in September, provides students with funding for their education in return for 3 to 10 per cent of their subsequent income for one to 10 years. The...

Morning commuters faced massive gridlock Wednesday as heavy rain and flooding disrupted multiple routes leading into downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

Vũ Cao Đàm’s luminous silk painting has set a new auction record for Vietnamese art, highlighting the enduring appeal of works that bridge Vietnamese identity and modern artistic expression.

In the first nine months of 2026, Phú Quốc is estimated to have welcomed more than 8.57 million visitors, up 30.5 per cent year on year. These included more than 1.92 million international visitors, an increase of 60.2 per cent.

A shortlist of 15 finalists is scheduled to be announced on December 15, with the final five nominees announced on January 21, 2027.

Following a temporary hiatus, traditional 'hát giao duyên' singing has officially returned to Cửa Vạn floating village. The revival of this centuries-old call-and-response singing marks a vital step in preserving the bay's living heritage.