Nine arrested in African ivory smuggling sting

11 Sept 18:32 Key points summarised by AI

Thai authorities arrested nine individuals and confiscated 250 kg of African ivory, valued at 9.9 million baht, during sting operations across seven provinces.
The investigation began by tracking an illicit Facebook group, 'Khiaw Nga Khrueang Rang Chak Sat,' with detectives using undercover purchases and forensic tests to confirm the ivory's African origin.
The ivory was smuggled from Africa to Thailand via Vietnam, where the suspects carved it into various products, including Buddha amulets and knife handles, for illegal sale.
The arrested suspects confessed, and police are expanding the investigation to identify Vietnamese smugglers, reiterating that possession of African ivory is illegal in Thailand.

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.