Indonesia volcano eruption kills 13, dozens injured

13 Sept 23:19 Key points summarised by AI

Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupted suddenly, claiming 13 lives and injuring 57 people, with 41 suffering severe burns.
The eruption blanketed 11 villages in volcanic ash, submerging homes, smothering livestock, and forcing over 900 residents into makeshift shelters.
Rescue teams are actively searching for survivors, having saved 10 people, but a lava-destroyed bridge is hindering access to some severely impacted areas.
Indonesia's location on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it highly vulnerable to volcanic activity, with Mount Semeru maintaining a high alert status since its last major eruption in 2020.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.