Myanmar crisis tops agenda at divided ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting

14 Sept 02:11 Key points summarised by AI

ASEAN foreign ministers gathered in Indonesia, primarily addressing the Myanmar crisis, which exposed deep divisions within the bloc on how to engage with the ruling junta.
The meeting struggled to achieve a unified stance on Myanmar, failing to agree on a joint communique section and highlighting persistent challenges in implementing a two-year-old peace plan.
Internal fractures deepened as some members, like Thailand, engaged in controversial informal talks with the junta, while others, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, boycotted them.
Beyond Myanmar, the week's agenda includes broader talks with global powers like the US, China, and Russia, where issues such as China's assertiveness in the South China Sea will also be addressed.

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.