Couple’s plan for a second modular home runs into council rules

From Korean to Chinese: Vietnam's language learners follow the jobs

HANOI — “Chinese is definitely the trend now.” At a Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) testing center at Hanoi University in Vietnam on Sunday, 23-year-old Vu Thi Thao had just completed the Level 6 exam, the highest level of the test. “I quit my job at a Chinese railway company and am now preparing to become a Chinese-language instructor,” she said. “As Chinese companies expand into Vietnam at a rapid pace, the market for Chinese speakers has opened up significantly.” A Chinese language boom is sweeping Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. Unlike the Korean language learning boom that accompanied the Korean wave in the past, Chinese is increasingly becoming a key foreign language for employment. The trend has been driven by Chinese companies hiring large numbers of Chinese speakers as they move production bases to Southeast Asia to avoid U.S. trade restrictions. The growing popularity of Chinese in Southeast Asia is reflected in the numbers. According to data from the Chinese Testing International, Vietnam recorded 146,000 HSK test takers last year, the highest in the

Japan's Takaichi keeps key ministers in cabinet reshuffle

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retained her key ministers on Thursday in a cabinet reshuffle aimed at solidifying the ruling coalition and advancing a food tax cut despite concerns over how it will be financed. Prime ministers in Japan routinely shuffle their cabinets to refresh the government's public image and to distribute ministerial posts to loyal supporters and experienced lawmakers from the same party. But Takaichi — who has unusually high approval ratings nearly a year into office — kept core members of her team, according to a cabinet list announced by her righthand man and top government spokesman Minoru Kihara. They include Kihara, finance minister Satsuki Katayama, foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi and defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The prime minister also retained key economic ministers, including trade and industry minister Ryosei Akazawa, who has led Japan's tariff negotiations with the United States, and economic growth strategy minister Minoru Kiuchi, who favours active fiscal spending. Under finance minister Katayama, Japan has repeatedly inter

Meet Myreen Ahsan, the Friendswood 8th-grader who screened over 10 million drug-like molecules

In a remarkable achievement, eighth-grader Myreen Ahsan has successfully screened over ten million drug molecules using artificial intelligence in her research targeting treatments for frontotemporal dementia. This groundbreaking project has not only showcased her innovative skills but also secured her position as a national finalist in a prestigious science competition. Myreen will present her impressive findings in Washington, D.C. later this year, demonstrating the potential of machine learning in medicine.

Australian athlete apologizes for racing with diarrhea, forfeits the Beijing competition she won

Australian Joanna Wietrzyk, who started a global uproar after soiling herself and leaking feces at the popular indoor fitness competition, has apologized for continuing to race and forfeited her win.

OpenAI reports 6 more AI “misalignment” incidents after Hugging Face breach

OpenAI said on Wednesday it saw six reports of unexpected, concerning or unauthorized AI model behavior, and it would begin regularly publishing reports of these incidents.

India’s steel exporters get wider EU access even before FTA kicks in

A new 1.9-million-tonne country-specific quota, plus residual access, could allow India to ship up to 2.8 million tonnes of steel annually to the EU

Australia bars international students from bringing dependants in sweeping visa crackdown

Australia bars international students from bringing dependants in sweeping visa crackdownThe Australian government has unveiled a severe package of migration restrictions, taking direct aim at the international education sector to sharply reduce net overseas migration.Australia will stop foreign...

Kelly Osbourne shares fears son could inherit addiction struggle

Kelly Osbourne has revealed her fears that her three-year-old son, Sidney, could struggle with addiction, describing it as a genetic disorder.

King warns AI leaders of ‘existential dangers’ if tech falls into wrong hands

King Charles told the meeting, including representatives from Nvidia, OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind, that there surely needed to be sufficient means of control “before it is all too late”.

UN experts level explosive war crimes accusation at US over Trump’s Iran strikes

At least 178 civilians, including women and children, were killed in a devastating US-Israeli strike on a primary school in Iran

I tried the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 – and they include two big changes

A new ‘Health Sensing System’ gives you best-in-class data and finally makes good use of it – but there’s also one controversial change

Who is Robert Kraft? Billionaire stadium owner who axed Macklemore from Sheeran tour

From Natalie Harp to a mysterious object in space: 5 strange US stories you may have missed

US may have committed two separate war crimes in Iran, UN-backed experts say

WATCH: Duterte to remain in detention tops INQToday’s newscast

MANILA, Philippines – Here are INQToday’s top stories this afternoon: Former President Rodrigo Duterte will remain in detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague after Trial Chamber III found no change in circumstances that would warrant his release. At the Sandiganbayan, a witness in the plunder case against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta told the

Melinda French Gates' $5M grant helps Alabama clinic quadruple in size

Family of ‘Putney pusher’ suspect say he’s innocent and Met police to blame for his death

Nicholas Brandram’s family say he ‘took his own life after months of immense pressure caused by a Metropolitan Police investigation’ after living with the ‘shame, anxiety and humiliation’ of the probe

UN experts flag two US strikes in Iran over possible war crimes: Which ones?

The experts said the findings were reached despite difficulties caused by the ongoing conflict, displacement and an internet shutdown in Iran, as well as limited cooperation from both governments.

S. Korea: Off Jeju’s coast, waves power a test of hydrogen’s future

JEJU CITY, South Korea — After 15 minutes of sailing through rolling waves, the boat approached a lone box-shaped platform standing in the sea off Jeju Island’s west coast. Measuring 32 meters long and 23 meters wide, the concrete structure is anchored in water about 15 meters deep. It is the core of a wave

Check your freezers: Ice cream sold at Walmart and Target part of latest urgent recall

Affected pints were shipped nationwide

Amid govt's proposal for CCTVs at medical stores, 64% of consumers say chemists rarely ask for prescription: Survey

India has proposed amending the Drugs Rules, 1945 as per a gazette notification on 8 September. It aims to curb the unauthorised sale of prescription drugs.

Bank of England holds UK interest rates despite inflation hike

The vote marks the sixth time in a row that the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has kept rates on hold

Trump tells protester ‘she’s going home to mama’ as heckler removed from rally

Donald Trump was interrupted by a heckler during a campaign rally in North Carolina whilst supporting Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley on Wednesday (16 September).

China asks Iran to rein in Houthis; why Beijing has stepped in now

China has asked Iran to influence Yemen's Houthis to de-escalate regional tensions. This appeal follows Saudi Arabia's request for Beijing's assistance with Houthi advances. China depends on secure energy routes and seeks to prevent wider conflict spread. Iran responded that regional stability requires ending the US-Israeli war. Beijing's leverage faces a test as it seeks to secure vital shipping lanes.

Australia mulls first-ever smart glasses ban for certain workplaces

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was important that Australia, which last year became the first place in the world to ban social media for teens, put the ‘right protections in place as technology evolves’

Israeli settlers, some armed, celebrate a new synagogue in the occupied West Bank, in photos

Israeli settlers, some carrying rifles, sang, danced and carried Torah scrolls as they inaugurated a synagogue at the newly revived settlement of Homesh.

Meta set to launch new camera-free smartglasses – here’s why

Ninth woman's body found as South African police investigate string of deaths

South Africa police have cautioned against assuming that all the killings are linked but many women are afraid.

Iran-US war latest: Trump’s forces may have committed war crime in attack on Iranian school, says UN mission

UN mission also accuses Iran of crimes against humanity during its anti-government protest crackdown

Duterte appeared in good shape at ICC hearing, Palace says

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday said former President Rodrigo Duterte appeared to be doing well during his appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, his first in-person appearance before the tribunal since his arrest 18 months ago. Duterte appeared before Trial Chamber III during the third status conference in his case, where he

Who is Lizzie Borden? The true story of Netflix’s latest Monster series

Human remains found in London woodland belong to mother-of-three who went missing seven years ago

Joanne Sheen had not been seen since December 2019

Officials admit Trump’s triumphal arch will have ‘adverse affects’ on historic sites – but say it should still go ahead

National Park Service instead suggests measure to mitigate the impact of the planned Memorial Circle monument, which is facing opposition from veterans groups

Paris, the ultimate film set

Paris has been a muse for filmmakers for over a century. The French capital has inspired countless scenes on the big screen. A new book brings them all together. Ruby Boukabou, author of 'The Movie Lovers' Guide to Paris', joins us to talk through her movie-themed walking tours in some of the city's most cinematic neighbourhoods.

Temporary housing costs councils £8m every day in new record high

Over £8m a day is being spent on emergency provision, new figures show

DR Congo says Ebola outbreak has passed its peak

More than 3,510 people have died from Ebola in eastern DR Congo since the outbreak was declared four months ago, with Ituri accounting for 78% of confirmed cases. Congolese authorities say the epidemic has now passed its peak, pointing to signs that the outbreak is beginning to slow.

What King Charles said in first speech since ‘unprecedented’ response to Earl Spencer’s book claims

Who was the Russian ‘war hero’ killed in overnight Ukrainian drone attack?

Zimbabwe farmers brace for El Niño by saving water

Some communities in Zimbabwe are adopting water-saving techniques such as aquaponics and rainwater harvesting to protect crops as the country braces for El Niño-driven drought. Sharon Mazingaizo has this report.

Chessington World of Adventures discount codes for September 2026

Save up to 50% on Chessington World of Adventures tickets with the latest verified discount codes, ticket offers and short-break deals, including advance booking discounts, student savings and free entry for children under 90cm