Philippines seeks rice supply boost, may look to India

13 Sept 12:59 Key points summarised by AI

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. seeks to bolster national rice stocks, citing concerns over potential El Nino impacts on local harvests and global supply shortages.
Marcos Jr. is exploring a direct supply deal with India, anticipating limited availability from traditional supplier Vietnam due to increased global demand.
India recently banned non-basmati white rice exports, but indicated willingness to consider government-to-government agreements to meet the needs of other countries.
The Indian export ban has significantly disrupted global rice markets, causing prices from major exporters like Vietnam and Thailand to surge to over decade-highs.

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.