'Happy slapping' outlawed in france
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A new law in France makes it a crime for anyone who is not a professional journalist to film real-world violence and distribute the images on the Internet.
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Business & money: Anger follows introduction of rules that mean victims can no longer report incidents directly to police.
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PARIS French Muslims are not blaming their government for the recent kidnapping of two journalists in Iraq. The Islamic militants who seized the reporters two weeks ago are demanding that France repeal its ban on headscarves in schools.
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British comedian Rowan Atkinson -- creator of the hapless "Mr Bean" -- attacked a planned law outlawing incitement of religious hatred on Monday, saying it would curb free speech and humour.
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Sale of red roses and red gifts has been banned by Saudi Arabia's religious police in the run-up to Valentine's Day, reports a local newspaper
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In 2003, France took an unforgettable beating.As the leader of global opposition to the Iraq war, it became the late-night comedian's punching bag.Comment
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Supporters say the new ordinance aims to curb indecent behavior while opponents say it infringes on freedom of personal expression.
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France becomes the latest European country to  introduce a ban on smoking in  workplaces.
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LONDON -- A teenager is forbidden to say &quot;grass.&quot; A great-grandfather is banned from being sarcastic. And two record companies are told not to put up advertising posters.
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Sometimes learning about the culture and traditions of another country involves a verbal slap on the wrist.
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Farcical. Lamentable. Simply dangerous. It seems no words are too strong to express France's outrage with a lawmaker who embarked on what the government insists was a private mission to free three hostages in Iraq.
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A school bans tradition playground games like kiss chase and tag because play is getting "too rough".
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She lost an election. Now S&#201;gol&#200;ne Royal has shed a mate. In France the marital exploits of the nation's pols are becoming fair game
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Smokers took advantage of a one-day grace period and savored their last cigarettes over morning coffee in cafes across France as a ban against lighting up in bars and restaurants took effect Tuesday.
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Non-smokers reveled. Some smokers grumbled. But others pondered kicking the habit as France's smoking ban went into effect Tuesday with the start of the new year. Owners of bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cafes, where smoking is now prohibited, worried it would be bad for business.
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Islamic Army in Iraq. Paris rejected its demands that France scrap a law banning girls from wearing. the fate of the two reporters after initial hopes of an early release were dashed.
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Britain's absurdest laws wow the crowd A survey to determine which of Britain's laws merits the "most absurd" crown has named a ban on popping your clogs in the Houses of Parliament as worthy winner.â¦