This is an artist's impression of the second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Once Russia's richest man and a potential opponent of then president Vladimir Putin, his imprisonment six years ago could now be extended until well after 2035. To publicise the event, almost 40 Russian artists filed into court to compete in illustrating the case. See more...

In an attempt to crack down on shoplifters, a UK storeowner has begun posting CCTV images of suspected thieves on the company's website, along with the incentive of a 500-pound (€580) reward for those who successfully identify thieves. On Saturday, the scheme claimed its first victim. But is it legal? Not entirely, a lawyer explains to us. Read more...

While it's considered "inappropriate" and "suppressive" by web users, a French internet piracy law is being hailed as a saviour for bruised CD producers. The proposed "creation and internet" law, which would allow the state to block web access to illegal downloaders, will be decided on by the French Assemblée today. Read more...

These photos have been the subject of much debate among Chinese bloggers. It's time, according to them, to get these young shoe shiners back into school. Read more...

Two Dutch youths were sentenced for stealing virtual goods last week, while a Japanese piano player was jailed for killing her virtual ex-husband. Real punishment for imaginary crimes? One of our Observers who exists on Second Life says so should be it. Read more...

By docking their boat at harbours around the world, Dutch NGO Women on Waves allows women to skirt abortion laws by operating in international waters. On Friday the group arrived in Spain, to a particularly cold reception. Read more...

On 16 June California became the second American state to give the green light to gay marriage. We asked our Observers, from China to Ghana, if there's a chance of seeing the same thing happen in their own countries. Read more...

Fouad Mourtada got three years in a maximum security prison for creating a fake Facebook profile page for a member of the Moroccan royal family. Now, web users all over the world are ganging together to get Fouad out of prison. Read more…

Web-users show support for the Facebook prisoner online

Prostitution is legal in Canada, but brothels aren’t. As a result sex workers put their lives at risk to go to work. Now, Susan Davies, a prostitute for 22 years, is campaigning to open the country’s first brothel in Vancouver. Read more...

Now known as ‘The Baltimore Cop’ on YouTube, a police officer who physically and verbally abused a fourteen year-old skateboarder was yesterday suspended for his actions. Seventeen-year veteran Salvatore Rivieri was caught on camera shouting at and pushing Eric Bush last summer. But until the video surfaced on YouTube this week, no action was taken. Now, Rivieri, who threatened to “smack you upside the head”, is awaiting the conclusion of an internal investigation. And while he waits, the world watches. The video has already been viewed by around a million people worldwide. Read more…