Grief grips Asian Americans after California mass shootings

21 Sept 05:43 Key points summarised by AI

California was rocked by two mass shootings within 48 hours, resulting in 18 deaths and profound grief within the Asian American community.
The attacks, one in Half Moon Bay (7 killed) and another in Monterey Park (11 killed during Lunar New Year celebrations), involved older Asian male suspects aged 67 and 72.
These incidents, notable for the demographic impacted and the age of the alleged gunmen, have reignited urgent calls for stricter gun control from state and national leaders, including Governor Newsom and President Biden.
Investigators are actively probing the motives; the Half Moon Bay shooting appears to be workplace violence, while the Monterey Park suspect was described as a vengeful loner.

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.