Biden in Cambodia as global leaders join Southeast Asian summit

23 Sept 02:50 Key points summarised by AI

U.S. President Joe Biden attends the ASEAN summit in Cambodia, emphasizing the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and a rules-based international order in the South China Sea, while elevating the U.S.-ASEAN partnership.
The summit gathers a diverse group of global leaders, including prime ministers from Japan and Australia, China's premier, South Korea's president, and foreign ministers from Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the region's geopolitical importance.
Discussions focus on navigating the growing rivalry between China and Western powers, addressing the war in Ukraine, climate change, and regional tensions over the South China Sea.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urges ASEAN members to condemn Russia's invasion and prevent disruption of the Black Sea grain deal, while ASEAN leaders issue a warning to Myanmar regarding its peace plan.

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.