Texas executes second condemned killer for 2009: Michael Graczyk, of the Associated Press, writes about Luis Salazar, who "was condemned for fatally stabbing Martha Sanchez" over 11 years ago. Salazar had an extensive criminal history, with previous sentencing given for sexually attacking a mentally disabled high-school student and aggravated robbery. Erick Martinez, Sanchez's eldest son who "awoke to his mother's cries and tried to defend her from [the] attack," said "'it wasn't difficult [to watch Salazar's execution]. I was kind of looking forward to it.'"

Guantanamo ex-prisoners rejoining Taliban?: Pamela Hess, of the Associated Press, writes that "Abdullah Ghulam Rasoul, formerly Guantanamo prisoner No.008, was among 13 Afghan prisoners released to the Afghan government in December 2007." Now, "Pentagon and intelligence officials said Rasoul has emerged as a key militant figure in southern Afghanistan." Obama's signed executive order to close the jail next year is cause for concern because "the Pentagon's preferred option is to hand [prisoners] over to their home governments for imprisonment. But the Defense Intelligence Agency's growing list of former prisoners that have rejoined the fight shows that, in some cases, that system does not work."

Death penalty for Saddam's half brothers: The story by Hindustan Times writes that "Iraq's Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced two half-brothers of former President Saddam Hussein to death for the execution of 42 merchants in 1992, and jailed close Saddam adviser Tariq Aziz for his role in the executions." The names of the brothers "were Watban and Sabaawi Ibrahim al-Hassam."