China steps up shuttle diplomacy to ease Thai–Cambodian tensions

18 Sept 14:45 Key points summarised by AI

China dispatches Special Envoy Deng Xijun to Cambodia and Thailand for shuttle diplomacy, aiming to de-escalate ongoing border clashes and restore peace between the two nations.
Beijing asserts its role as a close neighbour and friend, actively monitoring the conflict and engaging both sides to promote de-escalation, while clarifying its defense cooperation is unrelated to the dispute.
International bodies also intervene, with the European Union urging an immediate ceasefire and offering assistance, and the ICRC confirming the safety of detained Cambodian soldiers.

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.