Latest update: 18/04/2011 

- advertising - Beijing - China - illegal - luxury


An end to the show of luxury

No Flash warning
To take advantage of all the features on FRANCE24.COM, please click here to download the latest version of Flash Player.

The Chinese government has a new target in sight: luxury advertising. As of April 15th, no outdoor advertisements in Beijing will be allowed to portray either extravagant or opulent lifestyles, and companies breaking the law will have to pay a fine of €3,000. The government seems concerned that luxury advertising highlights the increasing gap between rich and poor.

FOCUS
By Henry MORTON / Joris ZYLBERMAN
More instability following elections in Bulgaria
13/05/2013 - BULGARIA

More instability following elections in Bulgaria

This weekend's parliamentary election in Bulgaria has revealed a nation worn down by poverty and corruption. The party of Boiko Borisov, the former prime minister who resigned in February amid protests over poverty and corruption, won the most votes but did not secure a majority. Political uncertainty in the EU’s poorest country could spell yet more angst.
Spain's royal family falling out of favour
13/05/2013 - SPAIN

Spain's royal family falling out of favour

Spain's King Juan Carlos is under increasing pressure to abdicate in favour of his son, Felipe. Last year's elephant-hunting trip to Botswana did not help improve the King’s ailing popularity, especially at a time when the country’s public purse strings are being tightened. His popularity has slipped further in the wake of allegations linking Princess Cristina and her husband to an embezzlement plot. France 24 reports from Majorca on what the locals think of Spain’s monarchy.
The modern-day slave trade
10/05/2013 - BULGARIA

The modern-day slave trade

Commemorations were held across France on Friday May 10th for "Slavery Remembrance Day". The slave trade in France was officially abolished in 1848, but modern-day slavery still appears alive and well in Europe. We take a look at a report from Bulgaria on the plight of women caught up in the sex trade.
The Taliban's election campaign of violence
10/05/2013 - PAKISTAN

The Taliban's election campaign of violence

The Taliban have been doing their best to disrupt Pakistan's May 11th election. It's been the deadliest campaign in the country's history with hundreds killed and many others kidnapped. The Taliban unleashed a campaign of terror calling democracy "un-Islamic" and vowed to attack anyone who associated with it. Our correspondents Taha Siddiqui and Julien Fouchet went to Peshawar, where candidates found themselves under threat 24/7.
Berlusconi tax fraud conviction upheld
09/05/2013 - ITALY

Berlusconi tax fraud conviction upheld

An Italian court has upheld a ruling in Silvio Berlusconi's trial for tax fraud. The former prime minister had appealed the conviction, which came with a four-year prison sentence. His lawyers now say they will contest the decision before Italy's highest court of appeal. This comes shortly after Berlusconi's centre-right PDL party joined a grand coalition with the centre-left PD.

React to the article
Comment this article typing your message in the above text zone. Please note that this is limited to 1500 characters or less.
(2) Reactions

WHY?

by Champlain - 17/04/2011 - 07:31

There is no need for Luxury advertising to figure out the gap between rich and poor in China. One needs only to open his eyes.
I would like to understand the real reasons of those measures.
Maybe it's a way to protect the interest of national companies.

C'est la vérité.

by Anonyme - 15/04/2011 - 23:50

This is true. The greatest contemporary internal danger to the Chinese government's hold on power and it's ability to maintain stability comes from the raising discontent that the increasing gap between the rich and the poor is bringing about. Particularly in the wider context of the polarity between the cities and the countryside. The greed of the elites, and their consequent shift to capitalism will inevetably cause major problems to their hold on power. It will be interesting to see how they handle it.

Read more
Close