US to downgrade relations with Myanmar, VOA reports

14 Sept 01:39 Key points summarised by AI

The United States will downgrade its diplomatic relations with Myanmar by not appointing a successor to Ambassador Thomas Vajda upon his departure.
This decision aims to avoid conferring legitimacy on Myanmar's ruling military junta, the State Administrative Council (SAC), which seized power in February 2021.
Instead of an ambassador, the US Embassy in Rangoon will be led by a charge d'affaires, signifying a lower level of diplomatic representation.
The move aligns with historical precedents and similar actions by other Western countries, like Britain and Australia, to avoid officially recognizing the military regime.

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.