Knocking sounds raise hope for two still missing in Laos cave

11 Sept 12:23 Key points summarised by AI

Rescuers detect hopeful sounds: Search teams above a flooded cave in Laos reported hearing knocking sounds, believed to be responses from two men still missing after being trapped for days.
Strategic shaft discovered: A vertical shaft, located using satellite scans and mapping software, was found near the suspected location of the missing men, providing a potential access point.
Challenging conditions persist: The rescue operation faces severe obstacles, including heavy rain, dangerous narrow passages, and submerged sections, as multinational teams race against time to find the trapped individuals.
Five survivors recovering: Five other Laotians, previously trapped in the same cave for about 10 days, were successfully extracted last week and are currently recovering in hospital.

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.