Illicit tobacco dominates nationwide tax crackdown, ฿900m in fines paid

13 Sept 08:52 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Excise Department collected over ฿900 million in fines from more than 32,000 tax evasion cases during the first 10 months of fiscal year 2026.
Illicit tobacco constituted the majority of offenses, accounting for over 61% of cases and generating ฿609 million in actual fines.
Smuggling networks employ adaptive tactics, utilizing sea routes, border crossings, and courier services, prompting integrated enforcement operations with multiple agencies.
High-profile seizures include massive quantities of 'FOR EXPORT ONLY' cigarettes re-entering the domestic market and untaxed foreign cigarettes intercepted across various provinces.

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.