Fifty-six people killed in Hanoi apartment fire

23 Sept 00:00 Key points summarised by AI

A devastating fire in a 10-storey Hanoi apartment block killed 56 people and injured 37, marking Vietnam's deadliest fire in two decades.
The blaze originated in the ground-floor parking area, packed with motorbikes, and quickly engulfed the building, trapping residents.
Witnesses described harrowing scenes of people screaming for help, jumping from windows, and a child being thrown to escape the flames, highlighting the building's single exit and barred balconies that hindered escape.
Authorities arrested the apartment block owner on suspicion of violating fire prevention regulations, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered an investigation into the tragedy.

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.