Prabowo Subianto: ex-general who marched to Indonesia presidency

17 Sept 15:10 Key points summarised by AI

Prabowo Subianto was inaugurated as Indonesia's president, fulfilling his decades-long political ambition after a decisive election win.
His ascent to the presidency is marked by a controversial past, including accusations of ordering the abduction of democracy activists during the Suharto dictatorship, leading to his dismissal from the military in 1998.
Prabowo successfully rebranded his image, utilizing a savvy social media campaign portraying him as a 'cuddly grandpa' and strategically partnering with outgoing President Joko Widodo's son as his running mate.
Rights groups voice significant alarm, fearing that his leadership could potentially reverse hard-won democratic freedoms established since the end of Indonesia's authoritarian rule.

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.