The European Commission has announced that it is blocking the export of certain key lethal injection drugs which are widely used in US executions.

A leading neurologist who uses drugs produced by the pharmaceutical firm Lundbeck in his work, has taken legal action to prevent their use in lethal injections.

Florida has stayed the execution of Manuel Valle to allow a hearing on whether the use of a new execution drug will cause him unnecessary pain.

Gayland Bradford, a prisoner with severe mental impairment has been executed in Texas using drugs produced by the Danish company Lundbeck