French protests where

Thousands of people prepared to descend on Paris on Sunday (Oct 6) to protest a government plan to let single women and lesbians become pregnant with fertility treatments, the first major social reform since France legalised gay marriage in 2013. IVF treatment is currently only available to heterosexual couples in France. (Photo: AFP/Josep Lago) Organisers say they are hoping 100,000 will turn out against a law heading to the Senate this month, after it was approved by the lower house of parliament in September. President Emmanuel Macron pledged during his 2017 election campaign to push the law despite deep resistance among right-wing opponents as well as conservative Roman Catholics and other religious groups. They had mobilised massively in 2012 and 2013 against a move by Macron's Socialist predecessor Francois Hollande to legalise marriage for homosexual couples, with one Paris protest attracting 340,000 people according to police. But that law did not allow lesbian … [Read more...] about French to protest pro IVF law for single women, lesbians

Updated: February 14, 2014 To be fair, I didn’t really spend two days at a 200-year old French apple farm – I spent two days at an apple farm that is at least 200 years old. And despite some editions over the years, the farmhouse itself was built more than 300 years ago. Catherine and Olivier, the couple whose children I take care are of, both hail from the north of France, but this week we went to visit Catherine’s family at their charming apple farm. (Is there any other kind of apple farm?) We arrived late at night after a four-hour car ride from Paris, but luckily there was a full meal waiting for us: arugula salad, jambon persillé and country bread, which we washed down with a healthy dose of red wine. (Or well, I did.) The next morning we started cooking early to prepare for the birthday party of Catherine’s 11-year old nephew. In honor of the festivities, Olivier made his signature scallops with crème fraîche and … [Read more...] about Two Days at a 200-Year Old French Apple Farm

Demonstrators in Bolivia say they will intensify their protest demanding the government end a project with Germany’s privately owned ACI Systems to develop the Andean country’s lithium reserves at the Uyuni salt flat.Some university students who joined the protest Monday set off sticks of dynamite in Bolivia’s Potosi province about 260 miles (420 kilometers) south of La Paz. But police did not report any arrests or injuries.Residents are demanding an end to the deal, which seeks to build a factory for electric vehicle batteries and a lithium hydroxide plant. The government says it offers better royalties for the lithium-rich region.Authorities say the protest is being stoked by members of the opposition ahead of Bolivia’s Oct. 20 presidential election. President Evo Morales is seeking his fourth term. … [Read more...] about Protests in Bolivia over lithium deal with German company

Police in Bangladesh are investigating the killing of a student at a university dormitory allegedly by student activists loyal to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after he criticized a recent water-sharing deal with India.Last weekend’s killing has sparked protests at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in Dhaka. Police say they have arrested 11 students for their alleged involvement.Hasina has promised justice to the family of Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of the country’s leading technology institute.On Wednesday, hundreds of students and teachers took part in a silent procession on the campus to demand justice. Friends say Fahad was targeted after he criticized in a Facebook post the deal signed during Hasina’s recent visit to New Delhi. … [Read more...] about Killing of student sparks protests in Bangladesh

London police dragged away several chanting and singing climate protesters on Thursday (Oct 10) who tried to "occupy" an international airport serving the British capital's global financial hub. Some protesters were wearing business suits AFP/DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS Uniformed officers were seen dragging several Extinction Rebellion group demonstrators from outside London City Airport, although there was no immediate official tally of arrests. Campaigners, some of them in business suits, also staged a sit-in on the platform of the nearby overground train station. Others unfurled the group's trademark pink banner showing an hour glass - a symbol of time running out to save the planet from a "climate emergency". The year-old group backed by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg is spearheading a two-week global action that kicked off Monday with partial shutdowns of traffic in cities stretching from Sydney to New York. In Berlin, protesters blocked a bridge overlooking the Reichstag … [Read more...] about Climate protesters try to “occupy” London city airport