Myanmar beauty queen granted asylum in Canada

20 Sept 02:07 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar's former beauty queen and anti-junta activist, Thaw Nandar Aung (Han Lay), was granted asylum in Canada after being stranded in Thailand due to immigration difficulties.
Han Lay is scheduled to depart Thailand on September 27th, traveling via Incheon to Toronto, following reported attempts by Myanmar authorities to have her repatriated.
Her case underscores the risks faced by high-profile Myanmar dissidents abroad, as the military junta has requested international cooperation to arrest "fugitives" and can revoke passports, making return to Myanmar unsafe.

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.