US puts sanctions on Myanmar warlord and militia linked to cyber scams

14 Sept 23:50 Key points summarised by AI

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Myanmar warlord Saw Chit Thu, his two sons, and the Karen National Army (KNA) for their involvement in illicit activities.
These sanctions target their central role in facilitating lucrative cyber scam operations, human trafficking, and cross-border smuggling.
The KNA operates from Shwe Kokko, a 'Special Economic Zone,' where trafficked individuals are forced into online scamming, generating billions for criminal networks.

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.