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Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training has unveiled a draft plan to make English a second language in schools, projecting a need for 22,000 additional English teachers by 2030. The roadmap extends to 2045, aiming for English to be widely used in 50,000 schools serving nearly 30 million students and one million educators.

The plan will be implemented in three phases: 2025–2030, 2030–2040, and 2040–2045. Key priorities include teacher recruitment and retraining, curriculum reform, exam and assessment updates, and greater use of digital technology and AI. By 2030, 12,000 preschool and 10,000 primary English teachers will be added, while 200,000 current teachers will be retrained.

Vietnam currently has over 1.05 million preschool and general education teachers, but only around 30,000 specialize in English. Officials stress that institutional reforms and stronger incentives for teachers are critical, especially for those who can use English as a medium to teach science and other subjects.

Currently, English is compulsory from grade 3, though many schools offer it earlier. Regulations require B2-level proficiency for teachers at the primary and lower secondary levels and C1 at the high school level.

While English as a second language has yet to be rolled out nationwide, more than 112,500 students are already studying non-English subjects in English, and 77,300 are in bilingual programs across 40 provinces and cities. The initiative follows a 2024 Politburo directive to strengthen foreign-language skills and expand English-medium education.

An Australian tourist in Hanoi reported being overcharged VND1.2 million (US$46) by two cyclo drivers for an Old Quarter tour with his family of four. The fare was six times higher than the standard rate of about VND200,000 for a 60-minute ride. Police identified the drivers, who later apologized and refunded the full amount. The tourist accepted the resolution and requested no further action.

The case highlights recurring scams targeting visitors in Hanoi. In July, a group of Filipino tourists was charged VND1.4 million (US$53) for a taxi ride under 1 km, about 50 times the normal price. Despite such incidents, Hanoi's tourism sector continues to grow, recording 21.58 million visitors in the first eight months of the year, including 4.96 million international arrivals, up 25.8% year-on-year.

Aldi is rebranding its product portfolio in the US, consolidating about 90 in-house labels into 26 under a unified “The Aldi Brand” banner. Popular labels like Clancy's and Simply Nature will remain but feature the tagline “An Aldi Original.” The move responds to customer feedback, as many already referred to all Aldi goods as the “Aldi brand.”

The German-founded discount grocer, with 2,570 US locations and plans for 200 more this year, relies heavily on private labels, which make up 90% of its selection and help keep prices lower than national brands. The redesign features bolder colors and clearer descriptions, with phased rollouts over the next few years. Some labels, like Baker's Corner and Dakota's Pride, will be folded into the main Aldi brand, while fan favorites such as “Red Bag Chicken” will adopt their popular nicknames.

Private labels are booming in the US, with record consumer spending of $271 billion in 2024. Retailers like Amazon, Kroger, and Whole Foods are expanding their store-brand lines as shoppers increasingly see private labels as smart, high-quality alternatives to premium brands. Aldi has benefited from this trend, with store visits per location up 1.6% year-over-year and nearly 27% since 2022.

Experts caution that Aldi must clarify the recipes remain unchanged to avoid confusing customers. The refresh also comes amid a lawsuit from Mondelez, alleging Aldi's snack packaging mimics Oreo and Chips Ahoy designs. Despite potential risks, Aldi's strategy strengthens its positioning as a value-driven retailer competing head-on with national brands.

Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest tropical cyclone globally this year, made landfall in Yangjiang, Guangdong, on Wednesday after killing 17 people in Taiwan and battering Hong Kong with fierce winds and flooding. The storm is tracking toward Maoming, a major Chinese oil refining hub.

In Taiwan's Hualien county, 17 remain missing after a barrier lake overflow sent torrents into a town. In Hong Kong, huge waves submerged roads and flooded parts of the shoreline, including the Fullerton Hotel, though no casualties were reported there. At least 90 people were injured, and nearly 900 sought refuge in temporary shelters.

China issued its first red wave warning of 2025, forecasting storm surges up to 2.8 meters in Guangdong. Authorities evacuated over 2 million residents and deployed emergency supplies, while shops used trucks to shield storefronts. Despite the chaos, officials stressed Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta are better prepared than in past disasters like Hato and Mangkhut.

Formed over the Western Pacific, Ragasa intensified into a Category 5 super typhoon with winds topping 260 kph before weakening slightly. The storm forced casinos in Macau to close and delayed Zijin Gold International's $3.2 billion Hong Kong IPO.

Climate experts warn southern China should brace for more intense typhoons as warming seas fuel extreme weather.

Indian actress Navya Nair was fined AU$2,000 (US$1,320) at Melbourne Airport for failing to declare a jasmine garland she carried in her hand luggage. The garland, given by her father in Australia after her journey from Kochi via Singapore, was intended for her to wear at an Onam event organized by the Malayalee Association of Victoria.

Nair said she was unaware flowers had to be declared. Australian biosecurity rules allow travelers to bring in fresh flowers—up to six small boxes or bunches—but they must be declared for inspection. Since she did not, officers issued the infringement notice.

On Instagram, Nair explained the cultural significance of the garland, noting that it was part of her Onam celebrations. However, Australian authorities stressed that undeclared plant material can pose biosecurity risks.