Court denies bail for 17 iCon executives

13 Sept 16:29 Key points summarised by AI

The Criminal Court denied bail for 17 iCon Group executives, including former TV host Kan Kantathavorn, citing risks of evidence tampering, flight, and the serious nature of their alleged offenses.
The suspects, facing initial charges of defrauding the public and computer-related crime violations, were ordered detained for 12 days pending further police questioning.
Authorities have confiscated 23 luxury cars, including high-end brands like Rolls-Royce and Ferrari, and expensive wristwatches, valued at over 100 million baht, from the executives.
iCon Group CEO Waratphol Waratvorakul, currently under questioning, is also slated to have his detention extended as part of the ongoing investigation.

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.