No evidence Covid created in Chinese lab: US intelligence

13 Sept 19:57 Key points summarised by AI

US intelligence found no evidence that Covid-19 was created in the Chinese government's Wuhan research lab, directly refuting claims of a man-made virus.
A declassified ODNI report confirmed that while Wuhan scientists conducted genetic engineering on coronaviruses, there is no information linking this research to SARS-CoV-2 or its direct progenitors.
The intelligence community largely assesses Covid-19 was not genetically engineered, but remains divided on whether the pandemic originated from a natural occurrence or a careless lab leak.
The report dismissed allegations of Covid-19 being developed as a bioweapon and noted that while some Wuhan researchers were mildly ill in late 2019, this information does not confirm the virus's origin.

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.