barbarians

The Beeb has three stories:

First woman in five years due to be executed in US

Authorities in the US state of Virginia are preparing to execute a woman, the first to face the death penalty in the US for five years.

Teresa Lewis conspired with two men to kill her husband and stepson in 2002, leaving a door unlocked so the gunmen could enter the family home.

Virginia's governor has said he will not commute the death penalty, despite claims Lewis, who pleaded guilty, has learning disabilities.

The two gunmen received life sentences.

Iranian woman faces death by stoning

 

Iran is facing growing international pressure from Western governments and human rights groups who are demanding the release of an Iranian woman who faces imminent death by stoning.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has been convicted of having "illicit relationships" with two men.

She has already been in prison for five years and received 99 strokes of the lash, activists say she could be stoned to death any day now.

China 'gold medal' for executions

At least 1,252 people are known to have been executed in 24 countries in 2007.

Just five countries - China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the US - were responsible for 88% of known executions in the world, Amnesty said.

About 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 nations last year and up to 27,500 people are now estimated to be on death row.

 

Choose your nation of barbarians. I have great difficulty finding any difference between them.