OP-ED: The story of a man who needs help but who will be hanged in Singapore

26 Sept 08:53 Key points summarised by AI

Nazeri bin Lajim, a 64-year-old Singaporean, faces imminent execution for drug trafficking, despite his family's desperate pleas for clemency.
His life has been defined by poverty, early drug addiction starting at 14, and repeated incarcerations, spending three-quarters of his life imprisoned for drug-related offenses.
Convicted for trafficking over 15g of heroin, his defense claims of lesser intent and police coercion during his statement were dismissed, and subsequent appeals citing new evidence and inadequate legal assistance were rejected by the court.
His sister, Nazira, vehemently opposes the death penalty, portraying Nazeri as a 'weak-willed' but fundamentally good person who needed treatment for addiction, not execution, as she grapples with profound grief and anger.

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.