'Eyelash viper', leaf-nosed bat among new species found in Mekong

11 Sept 07:00 Key points summarised by AI

Dozens of new species, including an eyelash viper and a leaf-nosed bat, were identified in Southeast Asia's Greater Mekong region in 2023.
WWF highlights the region's rich biodiversity but warns that human-linked pressures like deforestation and the wildlife trade threaten many species with extinction before they are even discovered.
A total of 234 new vertebrates and vascular plants were cataloged across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, with some found in remote habitats and others from existing museum collections.
Notable discoveries include the distinctively marked limestone eyelash pit viper found in a Thai national park and a unique leaf-nosed bat documented for its echolocation abilities.
Vietnam accounted for nearly half of the new species, with 106 endemic to the country, including a new gymnure and a high-altitude snake facing vulnerability from habitat degradation and climate change.

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.