Latest update: 12/10/2009 

- Amnesty International - death penalty - Japan


Activists fighting to abolish the death penalty

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In Japan, hangings are still legal, but the new justice minister, Keiko Chiba, is an opponent of the country's system.

FOCUS

Before the World Day Against the Death Penalty, FRANCE 24 goes to Japan, where hangings are still legal. In 2008, 15 people were executed, the highest number in some 33 years, but the new justice minister, Keiko Chiba, is an opponent of the country's system. Today's guests on Focus are Robin Powell, a Tokyo-based journalist, and Makoto Teranaka, secretary-general of Amnesty International, Japan.

Spanish govt to tighten abortion laws
14/02/2012 - SPAIN

Spanish govt to tighten abortion laws

"Neither at 16, nor at 18 - abortion - abolition." This was the slogan on a giant banner unravelled on the night of Mariano Rajoy's election victory in Spain. Now the Spanish government has announced that it aims to restrict access to abortion to cases of rape, serious health problems for the foetus, or psychological fragility of the mother. It would take the law back to the time before Rajoy's Socialist predecessor Zapatero made abortion a right.
Arab League seeks UN intervention in Syria
13/02/2012 - SYRIA

Arab League seeks UN intervention in Syria

One week ago, Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution seeking the end of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's rule. Now the Arab League has passed its own resolution calling for UN and Arab League peacekeeping troops to be stationed in Syria. Once again the plan faces Russian and Chinese opposition, while Westerners are wary of sending troops to the Middle East powder keg.
Greeks say country being bled dry
10/02/2012 - GREECE

Greeks say country being bled dry

How much more austerity can the Greek population bear? The Greek parliament has approved a new package of belt-tightening measures needed to earn the country a second EU/IMF bailout, this time worth 130 billion euros. Yet amidst the riots and protests that have raged in Athens, Greeks say their living standards have been degraded, and that the cutbacks have sounded Greece's death knell.
Mexican indigenous group battles with famine
10/02/2012 - MEXICO

Mexican indigenous group battles with famine

The Tarahumara people from northern Mexico are struggling to survive a chronic food shortage after one of the most severe droughts ever to strike their remote homeland. They are no strangers to famine, but this time the drought has combined with freezing temperatures to force many away from their mountain communities to seek food handouts elsewhere. Their plight has prompted an outpouring of aid across Mexico.
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Renault's new factory sends French workers into a spin
10/02/2012 - FRANCE

Renault's new factory sends French workers into a spin

Renault boss Carlos Ghosn and Morocco's King Mohammed VI opened the carmaker's new factory near Tangiers on Thursday with great ceremony. The plant will have an initial capacity of 170,000 vehicles, expected eventually to reach 400,000. Yet the partly state-owned Renault has faced a storm of criticism over the project, seen by some in France as denying French workers jobs that were rightfully theirs.

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