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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

UK: Last Meal Themed Restaurant Cancelled Following 'Serious Threats' to Owner

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A restaurant which planned to offer "culinary twists" on the last meals of prisoners has been cancelled even before it opened its doors following criticism and threats against the owner.

Death Row Dinners, a pop-up which was due to open in Hoxton, east London, experienced a huge amount of backlash for its "bad taste" menu based on what convicted criminals ate before they were executed.

The restaurant's website also caused controversy for displaying the menu options around the necks of real-life prisoners. These were soon taken down as the outrage surrounding the restaurant escalated.

The £50-per-head restaurant originally said they were "shocked and saddened" by the negative reaction, but vowed to stay open. Death Row Dinners compared offering a last meal themed experience to taking part in a Jack The Ripper street walk through the streets of London.

Among those who criticised the restaurant was Amnesty International, a human rights group that opposes the death penalty.

"We thought Death Row Dinners had to be a spoof. It's hard to believe someone would choose that as a theme in real life," spokesperson Niall Couper said.

"It is in appallingly bad taste."


Source: International Business Times, Ewan Palmer, Sept. 24, 2014
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