China’s schools, forced online by virus, run into censors

23 Sept 06:58 Key points summarised by AI

Chinese schools, forced online by the virus, are encountering pervasive and often arbitrary internet censorship, disrupting classes from university to grade school.
Lectures on various subjects, including bioinformatics, biology, history, and politics, are being cut short, group chats disbanded, and documents blocked due to vague 'sensitive topics' or 'violations of internet regulations'.
Teachers face significantly increased workloads, needing to pre-approve entire lecture scripts word-for-word, and resorting to workarounds to share materials due to the unpredictable nature of online controls.
The widespread censorship, even impacting seemingly non-controversial phrases and leading to the deletion of critical social media posts, highlights the profound impact of restricted free speech on education and daily life in China.

Six injured after car smashes into On Nut shopping mall

Yesterday 22:44 Key points summarised by AI

A 67-year-old woman drove her car through the glass frontage of a Bangkok shopping mall, injuring six people, including a six-year-old girl.
The driver claimed she accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake after being startled, causing the vehicle to surge forward.
She apologized to the victims, promising insurance coverage and additional financial aid, while police continue to gather statements before filing charges.