Major quake off Philippines kills at least 35, dozen still missing

13 Sept 09:26 Key points summarised by AI

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines, resulting in at least 35 fatalities, a dozen missing, and 134 injuries, alongside widespread building collapses.
The offshore quake triggered tsunami warnings across the region, prompting immediate evacuations, and was followed by multiple strong aftershocks, including a 6.5-magnitude tremor.
Rescue operations are ongoing in areas like General Santos, where people are trapped in rubble, while a landslide in Glan municipality alone claimed 14 lives.
Communication challenges due to power outages are hindering the assessment of the full extent of the disaster in some remote areas.

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.