China's Weibo blocks trending Taiwan election hashtag

13 Sept 10:43 Key points summarised by AI

China's Weibo social media platform censored the "Taiwan election" hashtag shortly after it became a top-trending topic following the opening of polls on the self-ruled island.
This blocking occurred as millions of Taiwanese voted in a critical presidential election, an event closely monitored by Beijing, which has issued threats regarding the outcome.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.