OECD study measuring 15-year-olds’ performance worldwide
PISA 2025 data show England and some UK nations performing well in science, with Reading and Maths trailing in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England leads in science; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland trail in reading and maths. A global trend shows declines in reading proficiency, linked to digital distraction and shifting reading habits.
Iranian hard-liners have driven a July strike on three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, derailing a U.S.-backed ceasefire. Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence fuels internal power struggles as the regime confronts renewed conflict and scrutiny over written messages attributed to the supreme leader.
Singapore launches ReadSG, a gamified reading scheme that rewards 15-minute daily reading with virtual coins and small cash rewards. Experts say the approach may help form a reading habit, though concerns remain about long-term persistence after incentives end.