Cambodia’s Hun Sen: Social media master at deflecting domestic pressure

11 Sept 11:38 Key points summarised by AI

Hun Sen strategically deploys social media to deflect domestic and international pressure, using calculated messages and well-timed posts to divert public attention from issues like economic troubles, US sanctions, and Cambodia's alleged role in transnational crime.
His tactics include controversial leaks and assertive warnings to other nations, exemplified by a leaked audio with the Thai PM, perceived as undermining her, and his recent warning that halting oil sales would harm Thailand more than Cambodia.
He leverages his significant online presence, boasting 14 million Facebook followers, while controlling access by blocking Thai users and successfully resisting a Facebook suspension threat by threatening to ban the platform in Cambodia.

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.