Man arrested for two baby orangutan smuggling bust in Bangkok

15 Sept 13:00 Key points summarised by AI

A man was arrested in Bangkok for allegedly smuggling two critically endangered baby orangutans, aged one year and one month, found in a plastic basket with diapers and a feeding bottle.
The suspect, identified as 'Thanasit,' was detained at a petrol station while attempting to hand over the animals, believed to be part of an international wildlife trafficking network where the apes were valued at 300,000 baht each.
The arrest, a result of a joint investigation with international agencies, led to charges of illegal possession of protected wildlife, with police continuing to investigate the larger trafficking network.

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.