Blinken to seek ASEAN pushback on China, pressure on Myanmar

14 Sept 17:56 Key points summarised by AI

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with ASEAN foreign ministers in Jakarta to address regional challenges.
Blinken aims to galvanize Southeast Asian nations to push back against China's escalating assertive actions and coercive behavior in the South China Sea.
The US seeks ASEAN's support in upholding unimpeded freedom of navigation and countering actions that defy international principles.
Discussions will also focus on increasing pressure on Myanmar's military junta to end its violence and restore democracy, with the US expecting continued downgrading of Myanmar's representation within ASEAN.

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.