In Singapore, the fate of two Malaysian men on death row has sparked local mobilisation and attracted international attention. On April 25th, Nagaenthran Dharmalingam was hanged. With an IQ of 69, which is recognized as a disability, his execution could amount to a breach of international law. The next day, 36-year-old Datchinamurthy Kataiah won a last minute reprieve from Singapore's top court, thereby suspending his execution. We talk to journalist and anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han.
Meanwhile, we discuss Afghanistan's economy since the Taliban took over last summer. 2,000 out of 5,000 factories in the country have shut down, the banking system has collapsed, and the purchasing power of Afghans has plummeted - further deteriorating an already struggling economy. Our reporters Shahzaib Wahlah and Sonia Ghezali went to Kabul and met the business owners who are struggling to survive under the new regime.
Finally, one of the longest rivers in the world is also at the heart of an environmental crisis. The Mekong, which begins in China and crosses through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, is being dredged for sand, with devastating effects on the local economy and wildlife. A UN report showed that sand extraction for the construction industry was causing the Mekong Delta to sink and was leading to salinisation of what used to be fertile lands.
