Ceremony and controversy await Harris during visit to Asia

13 Sept 10:46 Key points summarised by AI

Vice President Kamala Harris's visit to Asia for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's funeral is fraught with diplomatic challenges and regional controversies.
Allies seek urgent clarity on the U.S. stance regarding Taiwan's defense against a potential Chinese invasion, while North Korea's provocations heighten regional instability.
The U.S. endeavors to facilitate reconciliation between South Korea and Japan, despite deep-seated historical grievances from World War II.
A new U.S. law denying subsidies for foreign-built electric vehicles has sparked significant resentment in South Korea, threatening trade relations and investment.
Abe's state funeral itself remains a contentious issue in Japan, triggering protests and weakening the political standing of current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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.