Queen Elizabeth II returns to duties after Covid scare

14 Sept 00:41 Key points summarised by AI

Queen Elizabeth II resumed virtual engagements, hosting new ambassadors, signaling her recovery after experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms.
Her return follows a period of health concerns after testing positive for COVID-19 on February 20 and a previous hospital stay in October.
The monarch's Platinum Jubilee year, marking 70 years on the throne, is also overshadowed by Prince Andrew's legal settlement and a "cash for honours" probe involving Prince Charles's charity.
Upcoming royal tours to Commonwealth nations, including the Caribbean, face scrutiny amid growing republican sentiment, particularly after Barbados became a republic.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 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.