Vietnam may overtake Thailand as the world’s second-largest rice exporter

13 Sept 12:14 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Q1 rice exports plunged 30%, raising concerns Vietnam could soon surpass it as the world's second-largest rice exporter.
Thai rice struggles with a price disadvantage, being about $40/tonne more expensive than Indian rice, causing buyers to shift suppliers.
Upcoming 36% US reciprocal tariffs on Thai rice, coupled with a projected $6/tonne rise in shipping costs, threaten to inflate prices and erode market competitiveness.

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.