Vietnam's F1 track abandoned as hopes fade for debut grand prix

13 Sept 23:40 Key points summarised by AI

Hanoi's purpose-built Formula One circuit lies largely abandoned, fenced off and accumulating waste, with spectator stands removed, despite the track itself appearing new.
Vietnam secured a 10-year deal to host its debut F1 Grand Prix in 2020, aiming to boost Hanoi's image and reflect economic growth, but the inaugural race was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hopes for future races significantly diminished after city mayor Nguyen Duc Chung, a major supporter of the grand prix, was arrested and jailed on corruption charges, leading to the event being dropped from subsequent F1 calendars.
Official and unofficial reports indicate city authorities have ruled out hosting the race between 2022 and 2029, with Hanoi absent from the 2023 schedule, confirming a 'gloomy' outlook for the event.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Yesterday 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.