Vietnam boosts rare earths output by tenfold - data

13 Sept 11:07 Key points summarised by AI

Vietnam's rare earth output dramatically surged tenfold in 2022, reaching 4,300 tonnes and elevating it to the world's sixth-largest producer from tenth, according to U.S. data.
This significant increase is driven by global companies, including Australian Strategic Materials, seeking to diversify their supply chains and reduce reliance on China for these critical industrial metals essential for EVs and electronics.
Despite diversification efforts, China remains a key beneficiary, doubling its imports of rare earth elements from Vietnam, highlighting its continued influence in the global rare earth market.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.