Thousands on alert in Indonesia's Java after Mt. Semeru eruption

13 Sept 10:47 Key points summarised by AI

Mt. Semeru, Indonesia's tallest volcano, erupted violently in East Java, prompting authorities to establish an 8-kilometer no-go zone and evacuate entire villages.
The eruption spewed a giant ash cloud and pyroclastic flows, forcing nearly 2,500 people to flee, though no casualties or air travel disruptions have been reported.
Indonesia's volcanology agency raised the alert level to the highest, warning residents to avoid the summit and river areas due to risks of lava flows, following a deadly eruption last year.

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.