Iran
Iran secretly executes four as it hits global death sentence record
Four more men, including two Kurdish political activists, were put to death in secret this week without informing their families, as Amnesty International recorded 2,159 executions in Iran last year — the highest of any country.
Culture news
Prison break in Uzbek jails for inmates who do required reading
Uzbekistan has approved a law that allows prisoners to reduce their jail sentences by up to 30 days per year, by reading several books, included on a special list. But the educative exercise is not an option for all inmates.