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'Black jails': illegal detention becoming more common in China
The recent case of Chen Guangcheng has brought to the fore China's practise of detaining dissidents under illegal house arrest. Chen, who is blind, managed to escape from under the noses of his guards. But few others are able to do the same. Often, these prisoners are held in apartments, hotel rooms, or out in the country - and some are never heard of again.
The Frankfurt motor show, the biggest of the year, is taking place amidst a deep economic crisis. But with various government rescue plans now in place, the fight back has begun. Car makers are changing gear, starting with new "green" cars.
Sanaa Dafani, an 18-year-old Moroccan, was killed by her own father for deciding to live with her 34-year-old Italian boyfriend. The tragedy, promptly hijacked by the xenophobic Lega Nord, has fuelled a wider debate in Italian society.
As the only credible candidate, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is likely to be re-elected for a second five-year term on Wednesday, though critics say he has overly pandered to states and not shown enough high-achieving leadership.
France's jails, ranked among the worst in Europe by human rights groups, have been described by French President Nicolas Sarkozy as the country's "shame". A bill designed to address the crisis is now in the hands of French lawmakers.
A year ago, a new power-sharing government took over in Zimbabwe, a country crippled by inflation, poverty and disease. Has the coalition helped symbols of national pride, such as Zimbabwe's university, get back on their feet?
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