Thai court removes prime minister over leaked call
Global News Podcast
BBC
4.3 • 8.3K Ratings
🗓️ 29 August 2025
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Thailand's prime minister has been removed by the constitutional court, plunging politics into turmoil and dealing a blow to Thailand's most powerful political dynasty. Paetongtarn Shinawatra was dismissed for violating ethics in a leaked June phone call, where she could be heard calling Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen 'uncle', and criticising the Thai army, amid worsening border tensions with Cambodia. We’ll also get the latest from Gaza, where the Israeli military has recovered the body of a hostage; we’ll hear about the dangerous conditions in El-Fasher in Sudan; and the aftermath of deadly strikes on Kyiv in Ukraine. In Pakistan, the government of Punjab launches large flood rescue operations; the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni expresses outrage after a website posted pornographic and altered images of women including herself; in the United States, new trade tariffs begin on packages coming from abroad; the BBC speaks to Rohingya refugees deported from India. Also: how studying an 800-year-old oak tree could help save tomorrow's forests, and South Korea’s new approach to tackling crime, using hologram police officers. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:05.0 | I'm Valerie Sanderson, and at 13 hours GMT on Friday the 29th of August, these are our main stories. |
| 0:11.5 | In Thailand, the Prime Minister, Petong Thain Shenawat, has been removed from office by the country's top court. |
| 0:17.5 | This was her reaction. |
| 0:19.4 | I accept the Constitutional Court's verdict. As a Thai citizen. I accept the constitutional court's verdict. |
| 0:22.3 | As a Thai citizen, I would like to reiterate that my intentions were for the benefit of the |
| 0:27.2 | country, not for personal gain. So what happens next? Israel says it's ended humanitarian |
| 0:33.6 | pauses in its fighting in the Gaza Strip. Italy's Prime Minister, Georgia Maloney, demands action against whoever posted fake images |
| 0:40.9 | of her and other prominent women on a porn website. |
| 0:46.5 | Also in this podcast, how studying an 800-year-old tree could help save tomorrow's forests, |
| 0:52.8 | and South Korea's unusual approach to tackling crime. |
| 1:01.5 | But first, what now for Thailand after the Prime Minister has been removed from office by |
| 1:06.6 | the country's top court? She was dismissed over a leaked phone call with Cambodia's veteran |
| 1:11.9 | leader Hun Sen during recent border tensions between the two countries. The conversation was |
| 1:17.2 | seen by critics as being too cozy and she was subsequently suspended. Ms. Petong-Tern |
| 1:22.8 | insisted she'd done her best to act in the national interests. |
| 1:34.0 | I accept the Constitutional Court's verdict. As a Thai citizen, I would like to reiterate that my intentions were for the benefit of the country, not for personal gain, but for the lives of the |
| 1:39.6 | people, including civilians and soldiers. The Court's decision plunges the country's politics into turmoil |
| 1:46.0 | and has dealt a blow to its most powerful political dynasty, the Shinawatt family. |
| 1:51.2 | A South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head explained the court's decision. |
| 1:55.5 | Well, the court said that it accepted the complaint that she had violated ethics. |
| 2:00.2 | Now, that's a very broad definition in the |
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