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Rattapoom Tokongsup: Heartthrob-cum-politician back in spotlight over extortion claim

10 Sept 15:33 Key points summarised by AI

Actor-turned-politician Rattapoom Tokongsup is embroiled in a new scandal, accused of demanding 20 million baht from executives of the iCon Group, a direct-selling company under investigation for public fraud and running a pyramid scheme.
Rattapoom resigned from the Palang Pracharath Party amidst a police investigation into the alleged extortion, which reportedly involved offering a TV appearance to clear the company's CEO's name, a claim he denies, stating an audio clip was edited.
This incident adds to Rattapoom's history of public controversies, including past legal issues, a paternity dispute, and links to other financial scams, as he navigates a career spanning entertainment and multiple political parties.

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.