Armed rebellion risks break-up of Myanmar: junta-backed president

19 Sept 21:49 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar's junta-backed president warns the nation faces fragmentation if the military cannot quell a significant offensive by ethnic armed groups along the Chinese border.
A coalition of ethnic armed groups has seized numerous military outposts and disrupted vital trade routes, presenting the most substantial challenge to the junta since its 2021 coup.
The escalating conflict extends beyond the border, with "People’s Defence Forces" intensifying resistance in other regions, targeting government infrastructure and claiming control of towns.
The fighting has resulted in confirmed Chinese casualties, underscoring the conflict's cross-border impact and drawing concern from Beijing, a key junta ally.

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.