Domain Of Singapore Tutoring Experts

Better Believe It......Because They Actually Happen(ed) Collection 77
Strike on Girls' School Kills at Least 175, Iranian State Media Says Videos and images verified by The New York Times showed that at least half of the school was destroyed. It was not immediately clear why the school was hit, or which country’s forces had fired at it. Strikes carried out during U.S.-Israeli attacks on Minab, Iran, on Feb. 28 caused extensive damage to a school, witness videos verified by The New York Times show. Women wailed as rescue workers searched through rubble for survivors and victims. Photo Credit: IRIB TV, via Agence France Presse By Malachy Browne, Ephrat Livni and Sanam Mahoozi At least 175 people, most of them likely children, were killed in a strike on a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran on Saturday, health officials and Iranian state media said. The search for survivors in the rubble of the Shajarah Tayyebeh school in the southern town of Minab ended Sunday, according to Mohammad Radmehr, the governor of Minab, Iranian state media reported. It appeared to be the deadliest attack in the ongoing American-Israeli bombing campaign. Several videos and images verified by The New York Times showed that at least half of the two-story school was destroyed in the explosion. Emergency workers with the Red Crescent could be seen alongside families desperately combing through the rubble, which was littered with schoolbooks and book bags covered in blood and ashes. Portions of the building jutted out from the rubble, with bits of colorful murals visible on what were once the walls of the school. Desks were piled with debris. More than 175 people, mostly children, were reportedly killed when an elementary school in Minab was hit by an apparent airstrike on Feb. 28 during a wave of attacks across Iran by the U.S. and Israel. Photo Credit: Mehr News Agency In other verified videos, rescue workers retrieved a severed arm from the rubble. Victims were laid out in body bags at the scene, where throngs of people were gathered among ambulances and rescue workers. “The Minab school incident has no comparison with any other incident,” said Pirhossein Kolivand, the head of Iran’s Red Crescent, in a video posted on social media on Sunday. “Even in Gaza,” he added, there had not been such a high number of students killed simultaneously, calling the attack “a unique and bitter incident.” Times reporters are trying to confirm the death toll and details about the attack. It was not immediately clear why the school had been hit, or which country’s forces had done so. The United Nations cultural and education agency, UNESCO, condemned the strike, saying in a statement on social media on Sunday: “The killing of pupils in a place dedicated to learning constitutes a grave violation of the protection afforded to schools under international humanitarian law.” A crowd of onlookers waited as rescue workers combed through rubble searching for survivors and victims after a reported airstrike at a school in Minab, Iran, on Feb. 28. Photo Credit: Mehr News Agency Intentionally attacking a school, hospital or other civilian structure is a war crime, and indiscriminate strikes also violate the law. Even if schools are used for military purposes, the law requires armed parties to avoid or minimize harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Citing in part the strike on the school, the Center for Civilians in Conflict, a Washington-based nonprofit dedicated to minimizing civilian harm in war, on Sunday called for “immediate de-escalation, maximum restraint, and urgent action to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.” Full story at The New York Times (March 2026)
Explosive meningitis outbreak is unprecedented, officials say By Vicky Castle, Joshua Askew and Nick Triggle Two people have died following the outbreak in the Canterbury area of Kent An outbreak of meningitis that has killed a university student and a sixth former is unprecedented, health chiefs have said. The number of confirmed cases of invasive meningitis in the Canterbury area stands at 15, with a targeted vaccination programme announced at the University of Kent. Two people have died - a 21-year-old university student and Juliette, a sixth form pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham. Professor Susan Hopkins, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said there was an "explosive nature" to the outbreak, while deputy chief medical officer Dr Thomas Waite said it was the quickest growing outbreak he had seen in his career. Earlier, Health Secretary Wes Streeting described it as an unprecedented outbreak and a "rapidly developing situation". Hopkins said it looked as though there had been a super spreader event, with the outbreak ongoing within university halls of residences, where there would have been parties and social mixing. She said she could not yet confirm where the initial infection came from. The UKHSA declared a national incident on Sunday to help ensure supplies of antibiotics, BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle said. But it's not a sign that the outbreak is spreading beyond Kent, he added. Instead, it is an operational tool to allow the authorities to flex national resources. Hopkins said in her 35 years in medicine, it was the most cases she had seen in a single weekend with this type of infection. "It's the explosive nature that is unprecedented here - the number of cases in such a short space of time," she added. Full story at BBC News (March 2026)
Hong Kong police arrest bookstore owner and staff for allegedly selling Jimmy Lai biography, broadcaster reports By Jessie Pang and Greg Torode The exterior of the bookstore Book Punch, whose owner and three shopkeepers Hong Kong police arrested for allegedly selling "seditious" publications including a biography of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai as broadcaster TVB reported, in Hong Kong, China, March 24, 2026. REUTERS/Jessie Pang HONG KONG, March 24 (Reuters) - Hong Kong police arrested a bookstore owner and three shopkeepers on Tuesday for allegedly selling "seditious" publications including a biography of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai, broadcaster TVB reported. The owner of the Book Punch store Pong Yat-ming and three staff were accused of selling copies of "The ‌Troublemaker", a biography of Lai by one of his former business directors, Mark Clifford, TVB reported. Lai, founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to a 20-year jail term in February for collusion with foreign forces and sedition in the city's biggest national security case. A police spokesperson, asked about the reported arrests, did not comment directly but said in a statement that police "will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law". Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Chris Tang did not respond to reporters' questions. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said it was inappropriate for her to comment as someone has already been arrested. Asked whether ⁠the arrests could impact public reading habits, Law said "reading will continue to be promoted in Hong Kong". A notice outside the door of the bookstore read: "Resting for a day due to emergency, sorry for the inconvenience." Reuters could not immediately reach Pong for comment and could not determine whether Pong or any of the staff had been charged with any offence. Clifford, now based in New York, was a former director of media group Next Digital owned by Lai. In response to questions from Reuters, Clifford said he was not aware of the arrests, but "if true, it's a sad and ironic commentary that selling a book on a man who is in jail for his activities as a journalist, for promoting free expression, would be subject to sedition". Under a local national security law, known as Article 23, sedition is punishable up to seven years in jail and a maximum of 10 years if the act involves collusion with an "external force". Full story at Reuters (March 2026)
Row over ‘Islamic prayers’ at Church of England primary school By Poppy Wood A Church of England school is at the centre of a row after claims that children were asked to participate in a Muslim prayer. Richard Tice, the deputy Reform UK leader, has written to Dame Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury, over allegations that a primary school in his Lincolnshire constituency encouraged seven-year-old pupils to kneel and bow their heads in the style of an Islamic prayer. Mr Tice received a complaint from a parent in his Boston and Skegness constituency last week, who claimed that seven-year-old pupils were “coerced, manipulated and cajoled” into the act “despite none of the children in the classroom being of the Islamic faith”. The father claimed his seven-year-old daughter’s class was shown a video of people kneeling on prayer mats in the direction of Mecca and reciting a prayer to Allah during a religious education lesson last Wednesday, before being told to “have a go” themselves. He said he was shocked when he was putting his daughter to bed last week and she said: “We did prayers to Allah yesterday.” Richard Tice was told by a parent from his Lincolnshire constituency that his non-Muslim daughter was encouraged to perform an Islamic prayer at school. Photo Credit: Thomas Krych/Anadolu via Getty He said his daughter claimed the teacher said words to the effect of “OK, let’s all have a go now. We all need to do the performing of the prayer”, before encouraging them to take off their shoes and enact “the full physical prayer process”. The Christian father said the state school, which The Telegraph has chosen not to name, had not sought permission from parents beforehand or offered pupils an opt-out. He has since reported the incident to Lincolnshire Police. The Diocese of Lincoln, speaking on behalf of the school, disputed the claims. ‘Not an act of worship’ A spokesman for the Diocesan Board of Education said: “During the lesson, which began following the relevant lesson plan, pupils were invited to demonstrate some of the movements associated with Muslim prayer. “Although this was outside the lesson’s intended approach, it was not an act of worship – no prayers or religious words were spoken and no child was required to take part. No mats were used and pupils were not asked to face any particular direction.” The spokesman said the school acted promptly after the parental complaint was raised and that it would “undertake appropriate reflection to ensure future lessons continue to align fully with the intended non‑confessional approach of RE”. Full story at The Telegraph (March 2026)
Once a poor village boy, famous China educational guru Zhang Xuefeng dies at 41 after a run Once a poor village boy, famous China educational guru Zhang Xuefeng dies at 41 after a run Zhang Xuefeng, one of China’s most prominent educational figures, has died at the age of 41 after a run. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/ntit.edu.cn By Zoey Zhang Top Chinese education influencer Zhang Xuefeng, who had over 30 million online followers, died on March 24 at the age of 41 after suffering a cardiac arrest. His studio announced the news in an obituary, while CCTV News reported that Zhang felt unwell after a run and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors were unable to revive him and ruled cardiac arrest was the cause of his death. Possible triggers include strenuous exercise after staying up late or sharp emotional swings. Zhang Xuefeng, one of China’s most prominent educational figures, has died at the age of 41 after a run. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/ntit.edu.cn For years, Zhang maintained a punishing work schedule. At the height of his career, he slept as little as two to four hours a night and had previously been sent to hospital with symptoms linked to overwork. Just hours before his death, he appeared in what became his final live-stream, speaking with students and their parents as he often did. Zhang built a lucrative business advising families on university applications for the gaokao, China’s fiercely competitive college entrance examination. His consultation services cost between 11,999 yuan and 17,999 yuan (US$1,700 and US$2,600). A tired-looking Zhang during one of his live-streams. He was known to sleep just two to four hours a night at the height of his career. Photo: QQ.com In a speech, he once said he owned three companies: one could generate several hundred million yuan after a future stock market listing, while another was valued between 500 million and 800 million yuan (US$72 million and US$116 million). Born into a poor rural family in Heilongjiang province, China’s northernmost province, Zhang grew up in a shabby rented home. At the family’s lowest point, their monthly income was just 600 yuan (US$87). He later gained admission to Zhengzhou University and started out as a tutor after graduating. A tired-looking Zhang during one of his live-streams. He was known to sleep just two to four hours a night at the height of his career. Photo: QQ.com Zhang rose to fame in 2016 with a video explaining how to choose majors for top universities, which drew more than one billion views. Blending humour with sharp practical advice, Zhang broke down universities by location, the strengths and weaknesses of their programmes and graduate job prospects. His style resonated with students and parents navigating the anxiety and complexity of China’s education system. His services were promoted with the slogan, “A strong application strategy matters more than a high gaokao score.” That message resonated in a system where students, after sitting the gaokao, must choose from more than 800 majors and over 3,000 institutions, creating over two million possible combinations. Crowds outside a university open day venue. Zhang gave advice on value of educational institutions and what to study. Photo: Xinhua Zhang also courted controversy with his outspoken criticism of liberal arts majors. “If a child insists on studying journalism, I would rather knock them out and randomly pick any other major. Anything is better than journalism,” he once said. He also argued that students from families without a business to inherit should avoid economics and management. Even so, many parents embraced his hard-edged pragmatism, saying his views reflected a harsh reality where many degrees are losing value amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Beyond his business empire, Zhang also made sizeable charitable donations, supporting thousands of underprivileged students across the country. He is survived by his wife and 11-year-old daughter. Full story at South China Morning Post (March 2026)
Austria school headscarf ban sparks anger A headscarf ban for girls under 14 in Austrian schools has stirred unease, anger and fears of further targeting of Muslims in the EU member state. Image: Tracey Adams/Independent Newspapers Archives A headscarf ban for girls under 14 in Austrian schools has stirred unease, anger and fears of further targeting of Muslims in the EU member state. Austrian lawmakers in December approved the measure, which is set to take effect from the new school year in September. With anti-immigration sentiment running high, the conservative-led government argues the law is aimed at protecting girls from "oppression". But rights groups and experts say it is discriminatory, risks deepening social division and is likely unconstitutional. "It's my decision...No one can force me to wear a headscarf, and no one can force me to take it off," a 12-year-old student told AFP at a protest against the ban in Vienna last month, declining to give her name. The government estimates around 12,000 girls would be affected by the new law, but this projection has been questioned as too high. Roughly eight percent of Austria's nine million residents are Muslim, according to 2021 government statistics. The education ministry sent out information to all schools several weeks ago on how to enforce the new law. It contains illustrations of different Islamic head coverings. "Every teacher who observes a violation must instruct the student to remove her headscarf. If she does not immediately comply, the teacher must report the violation to the school administration without delay," the instructions state. "The school administration must immediately hold a meeting with the student and her legal guardians." For repeated non-compliance, parents can face fines ranging from 150 to 800 euros ($175 to $930). Failure to report those in violation of the law could also have "legal consequences" for teachers and school management, the instructions warn. One Vienna schoolteacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP she was not planning to enforce the law. "It's a populist measure" that fails to address "the real problem when parents of any religion use violence or psychological violence against children," she said. Full story at AFP (March 2026)
Student, 15, Shoots High School Teacher in Texas The teacher was taken to a hospital, and the student died at the scene, the authorities said. The authorities responded to a report of a shooting at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde, Texas, on Monday. Photo Credit: KSAT By Alice Callahan A 15-year-old student shot a teacher at a San Antonio-area high school on Monday, the authorities said. Officials said they did not have information about the condition of the teacher. She remained hospitalized on Tuesday, the authorities said. The student died at the scene from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Mark Reynolds, the Comal County sheriff, said at a news conference on Monday afternoon. “It looks as though the student turned the gun on himself and shot himself,” Mr. Reynolds said. He said it was not clear if other students witnessed the shooting. The student used a .357 Magnum revolver that he brought from home, the Comal County Sheriff’s Office said on Tuesday. The student “may have been experiencing academic challenges, including failing several classes,” the sheriff’s office said. A motive was not yet known. Law enforcement officials continued to investigate, including by searching the student’s home and seizing several electronic devices, the sheriff’s office said. Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde, Texas, directed questions to the sheriff’s office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bulverde is about 30 miles north of San Antonio. A lockdown alarm was activated at the school at 8:34 a.m., according to a Facebook post from the school. By 10:08 a.m., the sheriff’s office reported that there was no longer an active shooter on the campus. In an interview with KSAT-TV of San Antonio, one student described hearing three or four gunshots that sounded “like a table slamming down,” followed by a scream and the school’s lockdown alert system. Students then fled outdoors, he said. Students were taken to a nearby middle school to be reunited with their parents. Full story at The New York Times (March 2026)
Russia woos students for its drone forces in Ukraine with large financial packages By Ismail Shakil and Ryan Patrick Jones MOSCOW, April 2 (Reuters) - Students across Russia are being offered large financial incentives to join drone units fighting in Ukraine as operators and engineers, while companies in Russia's central Ryazan region have been given quotas to sign up workers for the army, documents show. The recruitment effort, which comes as Russian forces continue to grind forwards ‌on the battlefield in Ukraine and as U.S.-brokered peace talks are on ice due to the Iran war, suggests Moscow is diversifying its push to replenish its army's ranks in what is the fifth year of its war. But it is not part of a general mobilisation drive, something the Kremlin said this week was not on the agenda. Nor, say top officials, is Russia running short of recruits despite Ukrainian claims - dismissed by Moscow - that Kyiv is eliminating ​Russian troops faster than they can be recruited. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council, told state media on Friday that Russia's recruitment system, which offers substantial financial packages ​to volunteers, continues to deliver. More than 400,000 people had signed up last year and over 80,000 so far this year, he said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry ⁠Peskov said on Thursday he had not seen official documents concerning student recruitment and corporate recruitment quotas in Ryazan, but confirmed that students were being encouraged to join Russia's drone forces, a new division of the armed forces set up at the end of last year at the behest of President Vladimir Putin. The recruitment offer applies equally to everyone - workers, students and the unemployed, Peskov told ​reporters. "This is a completely open offer, an offer to join a new type of unit." RUSSIA SEEKS HIGHLY SKILLED DRONE OPERATIVES Russia's move to target students - a process critics say has sometimes been accompanied by undue pressure - suggests that Moscow is keen to pour more skilled human resources into its drone forces which - like those of Ukraine - play an increasingly pivotal role in what has long become a war of attrition. Drone operators from both sides typically work some distance from the front line but are regarded as high-value targets who are hunted down and killed if their positions are revealed. The Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok is promising students who sign up for a minimum of one year extendable academic leave and a guaranteed exemption from any education fees on their return, plus free accommodation and grants. It is also pledging to cover the costs of ‌any military ⁠equipment and weaponry needed. People walking under a digital screen displaying an ad promoting contract military service in the Russian army’s unmanned systems forces, with payment details and contact information, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo That is on top of what, by local standards, is a substantial financial package: a first-year salary from 5.5 million roubles ($68,433), a one-off payment of 2.5 million roubles after free training, a monthly allowance of 240,000 roubles, and a one-off payment of 200,000 roubles from the university. "This is not only an opportunity to prove yourself, but also a unique platform for social and career advancement, backed by unprecedented support measures," the university said in a document published on March 19. Full story at Reuters (April 2026)
Hundreds search for wolf that escaped from zoo in South Korea Local school closes in Daejeon city as hundreds of emergency service and military personnel scour area around O-World theme park where the wolf escaped from An image taken and released on Wednesday by Daejeon fire headquarters shows a wolf that escaped from a zoo walking on a road in the South Korean city. Photograph: YONHAP/AFP/Getty Images Authorities are hunting for a wolf after it escaped from a zoo in Daejeon, a South Korean city with a population of 1.5 million. More than 300 people – including firefighters, police and military personnel – are taking part in the search operation, an official from the Daejeon fire headquarters said. Images released by local media showed it wandering in the middle of a road. The male wolf – born in 2024 and weighing about 30kg – escaped from a zoo at O-World theme park in the city, which lies about 150km (93 miles) south of Seoul, on Wednesday, triggering a wide search in surrounding areas. It remained at large Thursday, authorities said, with a nearby school closing for safety as the search continued. Rescue workers search for a wolf that escaped from a zoo in Daejeon. Photograph: YONHAP/AFP/Getty Images “Daejeon Sanseong elementary school is closed today following the escape of a wolf from a zoo yesterday,” a spokesperson for the Daejeon metropolitan office of education told AFP. The fire official said they had deployed drones with cameras as part of the search but had to withdraw them because of rain. The Korea Times quoted an O-World official as saying: “We conduct daily inspections of each enclosure before opening, and one wolf was missing. After checking CCTV, we confirmed it had dug through the soil at the bottom of the enclosure and escaped.” Full story at The Guardian (April 2026)
Gen Z Is Using A.I., but Doesn’t Feel Great About It A new study from Gallup found that young adults have grown less hopeful and more angry about artificial intelligence. Andria Lo for The New York Times By Callie Holtermann Think young people are charging eagerly into an A.I.-mediated future? Think again. More than half of Gen Z-ers living in the United States use generative artificial intelligence regularly, but their feelings about the technology are souring, according to a new survey released on Thursday by Gallup, the Walton Family Foundation and GSV Ventures, a venture capital firm that works in education technology. The percentage of respondents ages 14 to 29 who said they felt hopeful about A.I. declined sharply since last year, down to 18 percent from 27. Young adults’ excitement about artificial intelligence dropped, too, and nearly a third of respondents indicated that the technology made them feel angry. The survey of more than 1,500 people was conducted in February and March. Its results suggest that Americans’ animosity toward A.I. extends to a younger generation — one that is currently struggling to find its footing in the workplace. “In most of these cases, Gen Z-ers have become increasingly skeptical, increasingly negative — from a place where even last year, they weren’t particularly positive about it,” said Zach Hrynowski, a senior education researcher for Gallup who worked on the survey. He said he had been surprised by how noticeably young people’s attitudes had shifted. Many respondents did acknowledge that A.I. might make them more efficient in school and the workplace, he said. But they were concerned about how the technology would affect their creativity and critical thinking skills. Young adults in the work force were especially skeptical. Close to half of those surveyed said the risks of artificial intelligence outweighed its potential benefits in the workplace, an 11-point jump from the previous year. Only 15 percent said they saw A.I. as a net benefit. The findings arrive as parents, students and policymakers debate how much of a role A.I. systems should play in young people’s lives. Members of Gen Z have been turning to bots like ChatGPT for relationship advice and help with schoolwork. Some are using the tools to outsource complex, weighty decisions like where to attend college. In the study, about half of young people reported using A.I. on either a daily or weekly basis, similar to the previous year. Just under 20 percent said they did not use A.I. “We just haven’t seen increased adoption over the past year, even though I think more and more Gen Z-ers are saying they have access to these tools,” Mr. Hrynowski said. The youngest members of the generation were the most likely to say they used A.I. frequently, he added. In interviews, young adults cited a variety of reasons for their reservations about artificial intelligence, including the threat to entry-level jobs, the replacement of human interaction and the spread of A.I.-fueled misinformation on social media. Sydney Gill, 19, a freshman at Rice University in Houston, said she had been optimistic about artificial intelligence as a learning tool when she was in high school. Now, as she tries to select her college major, her outlook has become less rosy. “I feel like anything that I’m interested in has the potential of maybe getting replaced, even in the next few years,” she said. Abigail Hackett, 27, who works in the tourism and hospitality industry near Anchorage, said she had found some A.I. tools to be time savers at work. She does not use A.I. much in her personal life, though, because she said she does not want her social muscles to atrophy. “I still feel hesitant in using it to draft my communications to other people, just because I think some of those things are very human, and I’d like to keep them that way,” said Ms. Hackett, who took part in the Gallup survey. Full story at The New York Times (April 2026)
Doctor with 1st class honours opts for nut butter business By K. Parkaran Lee Bei Er says she turned away from medicine after witnessing the long hours and tough lives of doctors undergoing housemanship, and obstacles to career pathways. Put off by the long hours and work culture faced by government doctors, Dr Lee Bei Er decided to start a nut butter business, which now earns her a five-figure income. Photos Credit: Lee Bei Er PETALING JAYA: Scoring straight A’s in the SPM examination gave Lee Bei Er a burning desire to become a doctor, as she felt that it was the ultimate profession. She took the plunge despite her parents’ warnings of a tough life for doctors in government hospitals. But the reality she confronted, after graduating with first-class honours, led her to put off a medical career. Lee is now making a five-figure income as a distributor of home-made nut butter, with her key selling point being the fact that it is a product focused on health, with no additives or preservatives. She started off selling her Yuppy Jiang nut butter at a night market for a few months before becoming a fulltime online distributor. Her parents — a contractor father and retired teacher mother — had no objections to her switching careers. Lee said she turned away from medicine after seeing housemen and medical officers struggling with long hours of work, being bullied occasionally and earning wages not commensurate with their work. It was not what she had imagined when she enrolled at Mahsa University in Sepang for a five-year bacherlor’s degree in medicine and surgery in 2019, graduating five years later with first class honours, and her government student loan of RM150,000 written off as a result. “I saw housemen and medical officers working hard with very little time for themselves when I was doing my clinical housemanship at Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The long hours — some worked for more than 36 hours straight — while putting up with some seniors and department heads who tend to bully, put me off completely. “There is also a severe shortage of housemen and medical officers in most hospitals, which adds stress on junior doctors. Some of them go through emotional and mental anguish while at work. “It was not the glamourous life that everyone thinks doctors have. Some are treated like dirt,” she told FMT. Full story at Free Malaysia Today (April 2026)
‘Endless grief’: Turkiye mourns victims of second school shooting in a week Death toll rises to 10 after shooting by 14-year-old student at the Ayser Calik School in Kahramanmaras. Mourners attend the funerals for victims killed in a school shooting by a 14-year-old in Turkiye's southern province of Kahramanmaras, on 16 April, 2026 [Yasin Akgul/AFP] Mourners have gathered in Turkiye’s southern province of Kahramanmaras for the funerals of victims killed in the second of two school shootings that rocked the nation this week. Funerals were held on Thursday for eight students and maths teacher Ayla Kara, 55, who were killed in Wednesday’s shooting, The Associated Press news agency reported. A 10th victim died while being treated in hospital on Thursday, authorities said. Six of those wounded in the attack were in critical condition, officials said. Isa Aras Mersinli, 14, opened fire on two classrooms in the Ayser Calik School in Kahramanmaras city on Wednesday. The attacker was later found dead. Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said the attacker is believed to have used guns that belonged to his father, a former police officer. People carry the coffin of a victim of a school shooting during the funeral prayers at a mosque in Kahramanmaras, Turkiye, on April 16, 2026 [Ensar Ozdemir/Reuters] At a funeral for four of the victims held near Kahramanmaras city’s main mosque on Thursday, one father sat motionless beside the coffin of his daughter, 10‑year‑old Zeynep, the AFP news agency reported. “Our grief is endless. These children were like our own. They were all innocent,” said Vezir Yucel, father of a student named Yusuf, who lost his close friend, 10-year-old Bayram, in the shooting. Nilgun Ruci, a 55‑year‑old homemaker, told AFP that she rushed to Ayser Calik School after hearing gunshots. When she arrived, she saw the daughter of a neighbour lying gravely wounded. “She had been shot in the leg and the shoulder,” Ruci said. “At first, I thought she had fainted. Today I learned that she died.” Second attack in two days The attack was the country’s second school shooting in two days, coming after Tuesday’s attack at a high school in Sanliurfa province in the southeast, which was carried out by a former student who wounded 16 people. As of Thursday, 20 people had been detained in connection with Tuesday’s shooting in Sanliurfa. The interior and education ministries held a joint school security meeting in the capital, Ankara, on Thursday, which was attended by both ministers and all 81 of Turkiye’s provincial governors, as well as police chiefs and provincial education directors. Full story at Al Jazeera (April 2026)
Switch off and read, France's Macron tells teenagers By Michaela Cabrera and Daria Sito-sucic VILLERS-COTTERETS, France, April 16 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron urged high school pupils on Thursday to switch off their phones and read, pushing for one "no screens day" per month for all, and a blanket social media ‌ban for those under 15 years of age. Following Australia's groundbreaking social media ban for children launched last year, a growing number of European nations are weighing their own restrictions as concerns mount over social media's impact on the health and safety of minors. "We left you in this jungle and it robbed you of your attention," Macron told high school kids, speaking of the lack of rules ​on social media. "We need to slow down and help you become adults, and above all citizens." "That's why what we want to do is say that before 15 years old, no more social media. And we'd like, one day a month, to have an offline day ... ⁠to show it's possible," he said, adding that this day could be used to read aloud, do theatre or other activities. BANNING ACCESS? In France, a draft bill is going through parliament with the aim to establish a ban for those under 15. But while the lower house has voted for a blanket ban, senators want to block access only for platforms that are considered harmful for children. This means Macron's aim to have the new legislation in place for the start of the new academic year in September may not be met. So far, at least a dozen European countries, including non-EU nations Britain and Norway, have enacted or are considering legislation setting minimum age limits - typically between 13 and 16 years - for social media usage. And the EU is readying an age verification app. Cyprus was the latest to announce plans to establish a ban, with President Nikos Christodoulides saying on Thursday that his country would set the age of 15 as the minimum for creating and using an account on social media platforms. Later in the day, Macron will host ‌a video ⁠call with other EU leaders to push for a coordinated approach. The conference is focused on creating a "digital majority" in Europe, limiting access for children below a defined age and requiring age verification, officials said. Teenagers look at their mobile phone screens during an interview with Reuters about the bill aimed at banning the use of social networks for those under 15 and mobile phones in high schools from the start of the 2026 school year, in Paris, France, February 20, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Ausloos/File Photo MIXED FEELINGS In Villers-Cotterets, in northern France, where Macron laid out some of his plans, high school students had mixed feelings about a ban. "I think it's rather up to parents to check up on their children," said 12-year-old Erdem Duran. Fabien Andronic, aged 15, also disagreed with a ban. "I like social networks, we learn a lot there," he said. But Manel Zerouali, also aged 15, ⁠agreed with a ban for those under 15, so they can be protected. "On social network there is cyberbullying," she stressed. One thing all agreed on was that most youngsters would find a way around a ban. Australia has seen a huge spike in downloads of virtual private networks (VPNs) since it introduced its social media ban, as users seek to bypass the measure to access restricted platforms. Full story at Reuters (April 2026)
Riau teacher named suspect in death of student testing 3D-printed rifle Police named the female suspect for negligence but did not detain her because she was cooperative throughout the investigation. By Rizal Harahap Detectives from the Siak Police Crime Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) collect evidence following the death of a student on April 8 after his 3D-printed rifle exploded at Sains Tahfiz Islamic Center Junior High School in Siak regency, Riau. Before he performed the demonstration, the victim asked his teammates to disperse and move away before he demonstrated the rifle. Photo: kompas.com/Siak Police Police in Siak regency, Riau, have named a female teacher at Sains Tahfiz Islamic Center junior high school as a suspect of negligence in the case of a student’s death while testing a 3D-printed rifle for a science project. Siak Police chief Sepuh Ade Irsyam Siregar said detectives found indications that the teacher, identified as IP, was negligent in the case and she could be charged with Article 474 Clause 3 of the 2023 Criminal Code regulating negligence causing the loss of someone’s life. He said the article comes with a punishment of five years behind bars or a Category 5 fine, or Rp 500 million (US$29,098). “The suspect is a teacher who was responsible accompanying the examination but did not prevent the demonstration of a rifle by her student,” he said on Wednesday (April 15). The tragic incident took place on April 8 at about 10.30am during a practical examination dubbed as Science Show held at the school’s field in Kampung Rempak subdistrict, Siak district, Siak regency. There were five groups, each consisting of nine students, which would take turn showcasing their scientific projects. When it was the victim’s group’s turn to demonstrate their project, victim MAA took the role to demonstrate the rifle, dubbed Musketeer Gun. The victim and his group were working on a 3D-printed rifle. He made the rifle on his own using laptop and 3D printer using materials such as plastic, iron and chemical substances he acquired from online marketplace using Rp 200,000 in funds from his group. The rifle had never been brought to the school and the victim said it had been tested and was safe. However, he asked his teammates to move away from the demonstration location. When he shot the rifle, however, the rifle emitted smoke and exploded with a loud bang. There was shrapnel flying in all directions, which hit the victim’s forehead. He was immediately rushed to Siak General Hospital but died there. “Based on investigation and the collected evidence, we came concluded that IP was negligent. From witnesses’ testimonies, the suspect already knew that the science project was a device which could case explosion,” Sepuh said. “The victim had even explained the materials and how it works before the demonstration. But she still allowed the practicum to go on. We are committed to solve this case objectively. This is an important lesson so that education activities involving experiments should always prioritise safety,” he said. Full story at The Jakarta Post (April 2026)
Campaign hagwon: Inside Korea’s intensifying class president elections By Choi Jeong-yoon What was once a popularity-based vote is now a high-stakes contest shaped by helicopter parenting, customized campaign strategies With more students running for class president, the elections are increasingly reflecting broader shifts in South Korea’s education culture. PHOTO: AFP Electing a class president has long been a rite of passage for South Korean students, offering an early glimpse into leadership and democracy. But what was once a simple classroom vote is becoming more competitive, shaped by changing parenting styles and the growing reach of private education. With more students running and some families seeking outside coaching, the elections are increasingly reflecting broader shifts in South Korea’s education culture. The system, in place for more than a century, is evolving as parents send their children to private academies to help secure victory in these elections. At the same time, the number of candidates has surged, with most students now stepping forward to run for the position. 'Everybody wants to be a star' Traditionally, only a handful of students – typically two or three in a class of more than 30 – would volunteer to run. After brief speeches, classmates would cast their votes and teachers would announce the winning student as president, along with one boy and one girl as vice-presidents. In the past, being elected class president carried a sense of prestige and authority. The role extended beyond organising activities or assisting teachers. Presidents represented classmates in greetings, relayed instructions and, when the teacher stepped out, were often entrusted with maintaining order. For many students, the position offered a symbolic taste of leadership within their own small society. Today, however, a majority of students now vie for the role. Parents say as many as 70 per cent to 80 per cent of students raise their hands to run, turning the once-simple contest into a highly competitive event. “Out of 22 students in my son’s class, 15 ran for the position,” said a father living in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. “Many parents want their children to gain the same experiences as their peers, so they encourage them to participate rather than risk falling behind.” The mother of an 11-year-old girl in Gangnam, surnamed Kim, said smaller family sizes and more intensive parenting have heightened children’s desire to stand out. “With many families raising only one child, parents invest deeply in their success. Children seem to enjoy being at the centre of attention from an early age,” she said. Election academy As competition intensifies, a new niche in South Korea’s vast education market has emerged. A growing number of private academies, known as hagwon, now offer coaching specifically for class president elections. In education hubs such as Daechi-dong, Songpa and Bundang, speech institutes provide tailored training that goes beyond basic public speaking. These programmes teach students how to craft persuasive pledges, deliver speeches and even how to refine their facial expressions, gestures and vocal delivery. Some academies also advise on campaign strategies, including concepts and the use of props, while tailoring approaches to individual school rules and cultures. Fees typically range from 100,000 won (S$86) to 150,000 won per hour, with specialised instructors charging up to 200,000 won. Demand is partly driven by the perception that leadership roles can strengthen a student’s academic portfolio. “Although serving as class president does not directly determine admission to prestigious schools, parents believe it can lead to awards and extracurricular recognition that may benefit college applications,” said an official at one academy in Gangnam. The rise in election-focused private education has drawn mixed reactions. Some parents see it as an opportunity to build confidence and presentation skills. “Since many students prepare in advance, not sending your child can feel like putting them at a disadvantage,” Ms Kim said. Others worry about the financial burden and pressure placed on young children. “This all feels like excessive parental ambition. Even elementary school students are being drawn into costly competition. Does the experience justify the stress and expense?” said a mother of two in Nowon-gu. Full story at The Korea Herald (April 2026)
Korean students abuse ADHD meds more than cigarettes By Hankookilbo Nearly 1 in 4 teens take ADHD medication methylphenidate 20 times or more monthly, report shows Getty Images Driven by intense academic pressure, more Korean teenagers abuse prescription stimulants now than smoke cigarettes. A recent National Youth Policy Institute survey of 3,384 middle and high school students nationwide found that 5.2 percent of respondents admitted to taking at least one prescription drug without a prescription. In contrast, only 4.2 percent reported smoking a cigarette at least once. The study highlights a dangerous shift toward the misuse of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. Among teenagers who reported taking unprescribed drugs over the past six months, 24.4 percent consumed methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant prescribed for attention problems and ADHD. Appetite suppressants were the second-most misused drug at 20 percent, followed by sleep aids and anti-anxiety medications at 13.3 percent each. The frequency of methylphenidate abuse is particularly severe. Among those who misused the ADHD medication over a six-month period, 23.1 percent took the drug 20 or more times a month, while 7.6 percent consumed it 6 to 19 times a month. The image generated by artificial intelligence shows the monthly frequency of teen ADHD drug misuse over the past six months, based on data from the National Youth Policy Institute. The spike in prescription stimulant abuse is largely fueled by students using the medication as a "study drug" to enhance academic performance in highly competitive school districts. Full story at The Korea Times (April 2026)