The UN refugee agency reported that this year 74,000 Africans crossed the Gulf of Aden into Yemen as refugees or economic migrants. This a record high number. It's 50% higher than last year. Most are coming from Somalia and Ethiopia (with Ethiopians representing the largest group). Many of these migrants were fleeing war, droughts, and poverty. Many cross over to Yemen -- some hope to then move on to Saudi Arabia to look for work. Most cross the Gulf of Aden in dangerous, overcrowded boats run by smugglers. The spokesman for the UN refugee agency said, "In some cases they are beaten, raped, killed, or just thrown overboard into shark-infested waters." He reported that 309 people drowned in capsized boats or were killed by smugglers in 2009. Almost 600 died in 2008. The spokesman added that the agency was concerned that upon arrival in Yemen, many of these refugees are just put in jail or deported without an asylum hearing. (Full Story) (Full Story)
According to a new report from the Death Penalty Information Center, this year the number of new death sentences handed down fell to a record low (the lowest total since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976). This year continued a trend of decline that's been happening over the past seven years. The number of executions this year did increase from last year, but there has been a decrease in death penalty sentencing. The sentencing drop was most evident in Texas -- in the 1990s they averaged 34 death sentences in a year, this year had 9.
Some explanations for the drop in death penalty sentencing is that there has been a decline in the murder and violent crime rates, there are growing jury concerns about executing an innocent person, and also budgetary concerns -- in the time of budget cuts, prosecutors are concerned about the expenses in pursuing a death penalty. (Full Story) (Full Story)
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