Border trade in Mae Sot hit hard by fighting in Myanmar’s Myawaddy

13 Sept 03:16 Key points summarised by AI

Intensified fighting in Myanmar's Myawaddy has severely disrupted border trade in Mae Sot, leading to deserted markets and numerous shop closures.
The unpredictable nature of the conflict, marked by intermittent explosions and gunfire, deters customers, creating business conditions worse than the post-COVID period.
The closure of the Mae Sot 1 border checkpoint is critically impacting fresh market traders, halting the transport of essential goods into Myanmar.
Vendors across various sectors report drastic revenue declines, with daily sales plummeting for products like flowers and mangoes due to customers' inability to access goods.

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.