Rosmah Mansor, wife of Malaysia's ex-leader, convicted of corruption

13 Sept 12:52 Key points summarised by AI

Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian premier Najib Razak, was convicted of graft and sentenced to 10 years in jail with a $216 million fine.
She was found guilty of soliciting and receiving bribes for a solar power project for rural schools during her husband's tenure.
The conviction follows her husband's recent imprisonment for corruption and addresses long-standing public criticism of her lavish lifestyle.
Rosmah remains on bail pending a lengthy appeals process and still faces 17 other charges, including tax evasion and money laundering.

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.