Poor market sentiment sinks SCB’s multi-billion-baht deal for Bitkub

13 Sept 13:08 Key points summarised by AI

Siam Commercial Bank (SCB X) canceled its 17.8-billion-baht deal to acquire a majority stake in Bitkub Online, Thailand's largest digital asset exchange, after initially announcing it at the market's peak.
The decision stemmed from a severe global downturn in the digital asset market, characterized by plummeting cryptocurrency values due to inflation, rising interest rates, and recession fears.
Increased regulatory tightening in Thailand, including restrictions on advertising and a ban on crypto payments, further dampened the appeal and growth prospects of digital assets.
Market sentiment favored SCB X's withdrawal, indicated by its rising share price, while Bitkub Coin experienced a sharp decline.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 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.