Thousands remain stranded at Philippines main airport after power outage

14 Sept 19:38 Key points summarised by AI

A New Year's Day power outage at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport left thousands of passengers stranded and caused widespread flight disruptions.
The unprecedented failure of both primary and secondary power supplies impacted approximately 65,000 passengers and 361 flights, leading to delays, cancellations, and diversions.
Airport authorities estimate it will take around 72 hours for airlines to normalize operations, as the airport currently operates at a significantly reduced capacity.
This incident underscores the airport's long-standing issues, including a history of operational problems and its reputation as one of the world's worst international gateways.

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.