Biden visits Ukraine ahead of war anniversary: ‘Kyiv stands’

13 Sept 11:49 Key points summarised by AI

President Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to declare "Kyiv stands" and display defiant Western solidarity days before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Biden announced an additional half-billion dollars in U.S. assistance, including shells for howitzers and anti-tank missiles, while discussing Ukraine's ongoing need for advanced weaponry like long-range missiles and fighter jets.
The highly secretive and symbolic visit underscored the United States' commitment to support Ukraine "as long as it takes," aiming to unify allies and directly challenge Russian President Putin's failed war objectives.

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.