Trial opens over Bangkok murder of French-Cambodian ex-MP

16 Sept 08:52 Key points summarised by AI

A trial has commenced in Bangkok for Ekkalak Paenoi, the alleged gunman accused of fatally shooting French-Cambodian ex-MP Lim Kimya on January 7, with another Thai national also on trial for aiding the escape.
Lim Kimya's widow is pressing for answers regarding the motive and the identity of those who ordered the killing, amidst accusations by Cambodian opposition figures against former leader Hun Sen.
Thai authorities are pursuing Cambodian suspects, including an alleged mastermind, Ly Ratanakrasksmey, a former adviser to Hun Sen, raising concerns about full accountability for the assassination.

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.