What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 11am, 2pm, and 6pm.

UPDATED 11.30AM | 'Legally, constitutionally impossible for Anwar and govt to escape.'

A 63-year-old man's lawsuit seeking VND5 billion (US$191,000) from his former girlfriend resumed at the Region 4 People's Court in Hanoi on Sept. 18.

Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City sees an average of 8,000-9,000 patient visits a day from early morning, with the figure recently exceeding 10,000 on some days, leaving many areas overcrowded.

He scored a perfect 42/42 at two consecutive International Mathematical Olympiads (IMO).

A 63-year-old man's lawsuit seeking VND5 billion (US$191,000) from his former girlfriend resumed at the Region 4 People's Court in Hanoi on Sept. 18, with the court agreeing for him to be repaid a large part of it.

Indonesia welcomed its first aircraft carrier Friday, a former Italian warship that the government says will strengthen the archipelago nation's maritime security and disaster response capabilities.

An Australian accused of murdering a Thai teenager and stuffing her body in a suitcase pleaded not guilty Friday in a hearing in the seaside resort city of Pattaya, a court official said.

The Vietnam iContent 2026 programme will spread inspiring stories, high-quality content, and positive actions while encouraging responsible creativity. By fostering a healthy cultural environment in the digital sphere, the initiative serves to promote Việt Nam's rich cultural identity and humanistic values to the world.

Vietnam remains a market of interest for Australian education providers, according to Jane Tran, Board Director of the Vietnam-Australia Scholars & Experts Association (VASEA), following Australia's announcement of the next phase of reforms to its migration system.

For a long-haul holiday, the journey itself can be the greatest hurdle, especially for families travelling with young children or older relatives. Việt Nam’s 45-day visa exemption for Russian citizens gives Phú Quốc an immediate advantage, accommodating an extended winter escape with ease.

Singapore Airlines was awarded the title of world’s best airline in the annual rankings by Skytrax, taking the top spot from Qatar Airways in a year that saw Middle Eastern carriers come under significant pressure from the ongoing war in Iran. The award, which is based on a survey of almost 25 million travellers, was announced in London on Friday, with a list dominated by Asian carriers. Only one European airline – Air France-KLM – made the top 10, and not a single US company, despite their...

What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm

The event was among activities marking the 950th anniversary of Quốc Tử Giám (1076–2026), a special symbol of the Vietnamese tradition of learning, respect for teachers and talent.

The Hà Nội and Jazz seminar has offered profound insights into the evolution of jazz in Việt Nam but also outlined a crucial strategic direction to establish the city as a regional jazz hub, contributing to the sustainable development of the capital's cultural industry.

The Điện Biên delegation’s working visit to Laos' Bokeo Province opens new avenues for sustainable tourism growth in both provinces and Laos–Việt Nam–Thailand tourism connections, while further consolidating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Việt Nam and Laos.

With a history spanning more than 400 years, Hội An lantern making is a traditional craft that uses saltwater-treated bamboo frames to prevent termite damage, covered with delicate silk. The lanterns produce a soft, warm glow, reflecting the charm of Việt Nam’s cultural heritage.

A cultural space can only truly live up to its purpose when these standards are translated into activities of each agency, organisation and residential community, said a lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City Cadre Academy.

An Australian accused of murdering a teenage girl in Thailand and abandoning her body in a suitcase pleaded not guilty in court on Friday, citing self-defence. Simon Peter Carman, 45, was arrested at a Bangkok airport in June as he prepared to take a flight back to Australia after the 17-year-old victim’s friend had reported her missing. The young woman’s body was found in a suitcase near a railway track in Pattaya, a seaside resort city south of the capital, Bangkok. Police said she died of...

Hundreds of U.S. colleges are admitting high school students who never applied, as the number of American 18-year-olds begins a long decline.

Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing’s use of Mandarin and Chinese philosophy in his speech at a major security forum in Beijing has won him praise on Chinese social media, while shedding light on how cultural familiarity and language can be diplomatic tools for the city state. Videos of Chan at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum quoting ancient philosopher Mencius, or Mengzi in Mandarin, have gone viral on platforms such as Weixin and Baidu, with users hailing his command of the language and...

Thailand has moved to make weight-loss pens prescription-only, as a glut of the GLP-1 medicines – which mimic the hormones released once someone is full – floods the black market and influencers swarm TikTok to extol the quick wins of the simple injections. The Southeast Asian nation, which is never far behind wellness or aesthetic trends and has a notorious black market in counterfeit drugs, has seen the uptake of GLP-1 medicines skyrocket, doctors say, including the market-leading Ozempic...

Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed provincial governors to use their legal authority to swiftly deport foreigners who exploit, threaten, or engage in unacceptable conduct toward Thai citizens.

Ex-PM still facing several other criminal charges in court.

Property agent Raymond Heng had suspected True Fitness was struggling, but he did not expect the gym he had visited for more than a decade to disappear overnight. The closure was not entirely surprising given the region’s fiercely competitive fitness industry, but its abruptness left Heng, 47, in disbelief after paying S$8,800 (US$6,900) for a lifetime membership in 2013. “I guessed that they might not have been doing that well since branches have been closing over the years, but I did not...

What's going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

The first Border Light Festival in the province, a combination of flying drones and giant lanterns, will be held in Lạng Sơn City centre involving Lương Văn Tri, Đông Kinh, Kỳ Lừa and Tam Thanh wards and connected to the cultural space in Hùng Vương Street on September 19-20.

UPDATED 8.45PM | Electoral watchdog concerned decision was setting a poor precedent.

What happens when Hà Nội finds its rhythm in jazz? A new music festival, Hanoi Jazztival, is bringing the capital to life with three days of swinging beats, spontaneous sounds and fresh takes on Vietnamese music – putting the growing jazz scene of Hà Nội and Việt Nam in the spotlight.

As Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes-against-humanity trial looms, an international tribunal faces the challenge of managing a sprawling prosecution case around the health of an 81-year-old former president of the Philippines, on top of shielding the proceedings from a highly charged media environment. Those pressures came into focus at an International Criminal Court (ICC) status conference on Wednesday, when Presiding Judge Joanna Korner urged prosecutors to trim their witness list and evidence ahead...