February 1st marks the anniversary of Myanmar's 2021 coup

13 Sept 21:52 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar observes the second anniversary of the 2021 military coup, with over 9,000 battles recorded in two years across more than half the country, involving the military, ethnic armed organizations, and forces aligned with the National Unity Government.
The military junta has escalated its political crackdown, sentencing prominent figures like Aung San Suu Kyi to 33 years and Win Myint to 12 years, while over 13,000 arrests have been made, 143 prisoners sentenced to death, and 2,800 killed.
The nation faces a severe economic crisis post-coup, leading to millions displaced and increased poverty, with the cost of living doubling or tripling due to currency depreciation and heavy reliance on imports.
Despite intentions for a 2023 general election, the military administration extended the State of Emergency on February 1st, 2023, citing 'acts of terror,' raising concerns about further legal manipulations to solidify its authority.

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.