Laos trims school week, eyes remote learning fallback

15 Sept 02:33 Key points summarised by AI

Laos has ordered schools nationwide to reduce in-person classes from five to three days a week, effective immediately.
This emergency measure aims to ease financial pressure on families due to ongoing fuel price volatility and high transportation costs.
Schools are still required to complete the full curriculum, with the academic calendar extended to compensate for reduced classroom time.
The government is preparing for a potential shift to remote learning for schools with digital capacity if fuel-related pressures persist, tasking the Ministry of Technology and Communications with assessing internet reliability.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.