Leaked call triggers political fallout for Paetongtarn

12 Sept 15:31 Key points summarised by AI

Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces severe political backlash after a leaked phone call with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen revealed her perceived dismissal of the Thai military regarding a border dispute.
The leaked conversation ignited a coalition crisis, with the Bhumjaithai Party withdrawing from the government and other parties demanding Paetongtarn's resignation, severely weakening her administration.
Paetongtarn is now subject to multiple legal petitions for investigation and impeachment, alongside growing public protests demanding her resignation or a snap election.
The core of the dispute involves ongoing Thai border restrictions impacting trade, with Hun Sen accusing Thailand of bad faith after Cambodia withdrew troops, further complicating bilateral relations.
Thai defense officials suspect the audio leak was a calculated move to undermine national security and destabilize the government, fueling distrust and calls for extreme measures.

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.