Police intercept 300kg crystal meth shipment disguised as tamarind paste

13 Sept 12:34 Key points summarised by AI

Police seized 300kg of crystal methamphetamine, disguised in jars of tamarind paste, and arrested four men in Pathumwan district, Bangkok.
The operation was an expanded investigation following a similar discovery in mid-July of crystal meth hidden in tamarind paste destined for Japan, which led to the arrest of six Vietnamese nationals.
Undercover narcotics officers tracked the shipment from Sakhon Nakhon province to Bangkok, intercepting the suspects as they arrived to collect the packages at a parcel service office.

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.