Fewer countries are carrying out executions than a decade ago, but India along with nations like Gambia, Pakistan and Japan bucked the trend to resume handing out death penalties. An Amnesty International report says that 21 countries executed convicts last year as compared to 28 in 2003. 

A court has ordered the reopening of a case against a Congress Party leader for his involvement in anti-Sikh riots in 1984. Jagdish Tytler was originally cleared by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

India has deployed aerial drones over Kaziranga National Park in Assam state in a bid to protect endangered one-horned rhinos from poachers, reports the BBC. Kaziranga chief NK Vasu said the maiden drone flight on Monday was a "milestone in wildlife protection".

Britain should not increase aid to nuclear-armed Pakistan unless Islamabad tries to make its wealthy elite pay more taxes, British lawmakers have recommended. Britain is due to double its assistance to Pakistan to £446 million ($675 million) in 2014-2015, making it the biggest recipient of British aid.