US ambassador says Beijing stance on TikTok ban 'supremely ironic'

15 Sept 01:10 Key points summarised by AI

US Ambassador Nicholas Burns criticized Beijing's stance on a potential TikTok ban as "supremely ironic," citing China's extensive online censorship and blocking of Western platforms within its borders.
The US House of Representatives approved a bill that would compel TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a nationwide ban.
China sharply condemned the US action, accusing Washington of a "bandit" mentality and "unjustly suppressing foreign companies," despite its own policies preventing TikTok from being available to Chinese citizens.
The proposed ban, which the White House supports, now advances to the US Senate, where it is anticipated to encounter a more challenging legislative process.

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.