Taiwan has executed six convicts in its first use of the death penalty this year. The Justice Ministry did not say how the six were killed, but executions in Taiwan are usually carried out with a bullet to the head. The executions have reignited the debate over the death penalty in Taiwan, as Cindy Sue reports.
Anti-death penalty groups say this was another case of the government bowing to public pressure, even as it has signed U.N. covenants and stated repeatedly it wants to reduce the use of the death penalty. The Ministry said it has the obligation to carry out the law until there is public consensus on abolishing the death penalty. Most Taiwanese people support maintaining capital punishment. Rights groups say the government should have informed the public of global and local statistics showing executions do not reduce crime.
Two of the rebel groups active in northern Mali have said they will suspend hostilities and negotiate with the Malian government to end the crisis. The Islamist Ansar Dine Movement and the ethnic Tuareg MNLA made the announcement after meeting in Algeria. Both groups denounced the United Nations(’) resolution made on Thursday to deploy an African-led military intervention in northern Mali, which was seized by rebels earlier this year.
And the British actor, Hugh Grant, has settled his legal claim against Rupert Murdoch's now [defunct tabloid], News of the World. He had accused journalists on the paper of hacking his phone. Mr. Grant's lawyer said he would receive a substantial sum, but did not say how much. The lawyer said the money would be donated to the campaign group, Hacked Off, which represents victims of phone-hacking.