- FRANCE 24

15/04/2011 - CHINA

An end to the show of luxury

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.

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14/02/2011 - ITALY

Italian island overwhelmed as thousand of Tunisian refugees arrive

The tiny Italian island of Lampedusa has been overwhelmed by the arrival of more than 4,000 Tunisians in the past week. Rome has moved quickly to deal with the influx; it's not long ago that Lampedusa was inundated with 21,000 illegal immigrants a year. That figure has now been brought down to 400, and the Italian government has no intention of letting the situation get back to what it once was.

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12/01/2010 - Italy: Calabria unrest

Racism, the Mafia or both?

What is behind the violent clashes between locals and migrant workers which shook a town in Calabria? 50 people were injured in the riots, extra police were drafted in and more than a thousand African immigrants were subsequently evacuated... Now some commentators have called it "ethnic cleansing" others say the unrest wasn't only rooted in xenophobia but also linked to the Mafia...

31/12/2009 - FACE-OFF

Illegal downloading: can it be controlled by law?

A new French law aimed at controlling illegal downloading has come into force at the National Assembly. It's goal is to protect a song or movie's copyright by creating a new administrative body that will warn, and sanction, illegal users.

24/11/2009 - FACE-OFF

Illegal workers in France: a political crackdown?

In this edition: there are five thousand illegal workers across France. At the week end, the French government announced it was planning to toughen sanctions against companies who employ illegal immigrants. Will it really happen?

Government to close migrant camp

The Pirate Bay sailing anew after 24h shutdown

Swedish court shuts down filesharing website The Pirate Bay

Endangered primates being sold on Internet

Condemned to wander, Roma seek sedentary lives