Thai anti-narcotics police made a record seizure of approximately 1.65 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) concealed within cotton bales.
The massive drug haul was discovered in a Bangkok warehouse, resulting in the arrest of five individuals, including the woman who rented the storage facility.
The shipment originated from an African country, was denied entry into India, and was using Thailand as a transit point for onward shipping to another country.
The crystal meth was ingeniously impregnated into the cotton, making it visually undetectable, highlighting a sophisticated smuggling method.
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.