Briefly

CHINA

Presidents of Italy, Indonesia to pay visit

Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will pay respective state visits to China later this week. Mattarella's six-day tour, starting from Thursday, comes less than four months after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to the country in July. Starting on Friday, the Indonesian leader will pay a three-day state visit to China, his first overseas trip since taking office in October. The visit will be Prabowo's second trip to China within the year. He also chose China as the first destination for his overseas trip in April after winning the presidential election.

INDONESIA

Govt to evacuate 16,000 near volcano

The Indonesian government aims to evacuate at least 16,000 residents from villages around the active Mount Lewotobi Lakilaki volcano that erupted and killed nine people and damaged thousands of houses, a local official said on Tuesday. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara Province, erupted on Sunday night, followed by a smaller eruption on Monday night. It erupted again on Tuesday, shooting ash a kilometer into the sky, according to AFP. The local government has declared a state of emergency for the next 58 days, meaning the central government could help provide aid to the residents.

United Kingdom

University tuition fees to be raised

Britain's Labour government said on Monday that university tuition fees in England would be raised for the first time in eight years, as higher education institutions grapple with yawning financial deficits. The 3.1 percent rise comes as university leaders blame a crackdown on immigration for restricting international student numbers that were already hit by the UK's departure from the European Union. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said a cap on tuition fees for domestic undergraduate students attending English universities would increase to 9,535 pounds ($12,380) in August 2025.

China Daily - Agencies