BRICS nations slam Trump tariffs, condemn strikes on Iran

20 Sept 14:12 Key points summarised by AI

BRICS leaders condemned former US President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs, expressing serious concerns about their potential harm to the global economy.
Trump swiftly retaliated, threatening an "ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff" on any country aligning with BRICS's "Anti-American policies."
The bloc also offered symbolic backing to member Iran, condemning recent military strikes on its targets by Israel and the United States, despite internal diplomatic reservations.
The summit, which has expanded to 11 nations, highlighted internal divisions and a struggle for consensus on global issues, further complicated by the absence of key leaders like China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

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.