Indonesia says Taliban representatives visited 'informally'

13 Sept 09:53 Key points summarised by AI

Taliban representatives visited Indonesia "informally" this month, a trip acknowledged by Jakarta's foreign ministry despite Indonesia not officially recognizing the Taliban government.
The Taliban's deputy foreign ministry spokesperson claimed a "delegation" held "useful meetings" with Indonesian scholars, politicians, and businessmen to strengthen bilateral ties.
Indonesia's foreign ministry clarified there were no official meetings between Afghan and Indonesian government officials, stating the visit was for "internal matters" with the Afghan mission.
The globally unrecognised Taliban government seeks to shore up legitimacy and expand ties within the Islamic world amidst ongoing international criticism for its human rights record.

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.