SYDNEY, July 31 — Australia’s parliament today passed a law to cut student loans by 20 per cent, wiping more than A$16 billion (RM43.9 billion) in debt for three million people, and fulfilling a key election promise to help mitigate the rising cost of living.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — About 180,000 new students receive financial assistance from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) annually, said its chief executive Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid.