Cambodia ex-PM Hun Sen returns to frontline politics for senate seat

23 Sept 06:47 Key points summarised by AI

Cambodia's ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) claimed a landslide victory in the recent Senate elections, setting the stage for ex-PM Hun Sen's official return to politics.
Hun Sen secured a Senate seat and is slated to be nominated as the president of the Senate, a role that would allow him to act as head of state when the king is abroad.
This move is widely viewed as a strategic consolidation of the Hun family's power, designed to protect his son, current PM Hun Manet, and prevent potential rivals from gaining influence.
Despite stepping down as Prime Minister last year after nearly four decades, Hun Sen had consistently made it clear he intended to maintain significant political influence.

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.