Fugitive drug suspect extradited after three years on the run

10 Sept 02:51 Key points summarised by AI

Fugitive drug lord Thapanan Thamaratthada, alias "Nu Chen," was extradited to Thailand from South Korea, facing 66 warrants for extensive drug trafficking and money laundering after three years on the run.
He initially evaded capture by faking his own death, having built a vast drug network from a user to a key smuggler, linked to major seizures of crystal methamphetamine and methamphetamine pills.
His deception was exposed in 2022, leading to a collaborative effort between Thai and South Korean authorities to track, arrest, and extradite him, with ongoing investigations to dismantle his remaining network.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.