Five-pill policy: Examining Thailand’s latest push in decades-long drugs war

23 Sept 03:33 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand proposes a new 'five-pill policy' to classify individuals possessing more than five methamphetamine tablets as drug traders, leading to significantly harsher penalties than for drug abuse.
This stricter cap, agreed upon by various government agencies, aims to intensify Thailand's decades-long, often elusive, war on drugs, where over two-thirds of inmates are incarcerated for drug-related offenses.
The policy follows a debate over previous proposals (including a 10-pill cap) with police advocating for the five-pill limit, arguing that the profit from 10 pills is substantial enough for peddlers to risk jail.
Despite Thailand treating drug abusers as 'patients' since 2021 and promoting rehabilitation programs, community leaders express skepticism about the effectiveness of voluntary treatment in curbing widespread drug abuse.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Yesterday 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.