Hun Sen fires social media influencer from party after criticising military health

10 Sept 22:38 Key points summarised by AI

Cambodian strongman Hun Sen expelled prominent social media influencer Thy Sovantha from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
The expulsion stemmed from Sovantha's Facebook posts criticizing the health issues of frontline soldiers, which she linked to alcohol consumption, deeming them 'harmful' to the army.
As a result, Hun Sen terminated her position as deputy governor of Arey Ksat town and removed her from all state duties, emphasizing the need to maintain party discipline.
Thy Sovantha, who has 2.5 million followers and previously defected from the opposition to the CPP, responded to her expulsion with a message expressing gratitude and loyalty to Hun Sen.

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.