Hun Sen's son kicks off election campaign for Cambodia's ruling party

13 Sept 09:43 Key points summarised by AI

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen launched his ruling party's campaign for the July 23 election, widely viewed as a one-sided contest after the main opposition Candlelight Party was barred.
Hun Sen, in power for 38 years, publicly endorsed his eldest son, Hun Manet, as his chosen successor, symbolically passing the party flag to him at the rally.
The election draws strong criticism from rights groups and observers, who label it a "sham" due to the systematic suppression of opposition, including legal actions against rivals and new laws targeting non-voters.

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.