Australian penguin dies, ending famous 'same-sex power couple'

11 Sept 05:58 Key points summarised by AI

Sphen, a male gentoo penguin renowned for his role in a "same-sex power couple" with Magic, has died at nearly 12 years old, considered a long life in captivity.
The pair gained international fame in 2018 for building a nest together and successfully raising two chicks, Sphengic and Clancy, from adopted eggs.
Sphen and Magic became celebrated gay icons, inspiring a Sydney Mardi Gras float and featuring in the Netflix sitcom Atypical.
Same-sex penguin pairings and parenting are not unprecedented, as male and female penguins share equal parental duties, with similar cases reported in zoos globally.

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.