China’s first river port of entry for Mekong riparian countries opened on Monday

13 Sept 21:59 Key points summarised by AI

China's Guan Lei Port in Yunnan officially opened as the first Mekong River port of entry into inner China, aiming to significantly boost trade with ASEAN countries, especially Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
The port features state-of-the-art systems, including smartphone-enabled customs processes that reduce clearance time to just 30 minutes, and an adjacent 59-million baht market, collectively handling 500-600 tonnes of goods daily to streamline regional commerce.

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.