Anwar steps in as ASEAN chair to defuse Thai-Cambodian border feud

14 Sept 02:33 Key points summarised by AI

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as ASEAN chairman, initiated mediation efforts between Thailand and Cambodia to de-escalate their ongoing border tensions.
Anwar urged both Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to exercise restraint, pursue negotiations, and resolve the dispute peacefully through diplomatic channels, emphasizing ASEAN's principles.
Thai PM Paetongtarn reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to peaceful resolution via existing bilateral mechanisms while safeguarding national sovereignty.
Cambodian PM Hun Manet expressed gratitude for Anwar's attention and clarified Cambodia's decision to refer specific disputed temple areas (Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Tauch, Ta Krabei, and Mom Bei) to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a permanent solution, while also continuing cooperation on general border demarcation.

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.