Iran names Khamenei's hardline son Mojtaba as new supreme leader, oil surges

13 Sept 13:38 Key points summarised by AI

**Mojtaba Khamenei Appointed Supreme Leader**: Iran's Assembly of Experts decisively named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father Ali Khamenei, signaling continued hardline control amid escalating regional conflict.
**Oil Prices Surge Amid Conflict**: The ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has driven oil prices past $100 a barrel, with U.S. crude and Brent soaring by 20% and 17% respectively, fueling global economic concerns over tighter supply and disruptions.
**International Tensions Escalate**: The appointment draws strong reactions from the U.S. and Israel, with President Trump asserting Washington's right to influence the selection, while Iran's leadership pledges defiance and rejects calls for a ceasefire.
**War Enters "Dangerous New Phase"**: The conflict intensifies with strikes on Tehran's oil storage facilities, continued targeting of Iranian officials by Israel, and the U.S. ordering the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Saudi Arabia and other regional nations.

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.