A British grandmother arrested on drugs charges in Indonesia was yesterday (22 January 2013) sentenced to death by firing squad by judges in a Bali court.

Taiwan has been urged by human rights groups and anti-capital punishment advocates not to succumb to pressure to revert to the death penalty.

Pakistan’s first execution in four years has been condemned by human rights and anti-death penalty groups, as thousands remain on death row.

Pope Benedict has given encouragement to those seeking the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, at a meeting of the Sant'Egidio Community.