Thousands gather in France to protest IVF bill

A demonstrator holds a sign reading “Where is your daddy?” PARIS, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Large crowds have taken to the streets of Paris in opposition to a bill that would give single women and lesbian couples access to fertility treatments.If passed, the new law would be France’s first major…

Rwanda: 19 attackers killed after killing 14 in popular tourist region – police

KIGALI, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rwandan police say 19 attackers have been killed and others are on the run after their assault on a popular tourist area killed at least 14 people over the weekend.National police spokesman John Bosco Kabera said in a statement that five other attackers have been…

Ethiopian Airlines to consider investing in debt-ridden South African Airways

ADDIS ABABA, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopian Airlines would consider buying a stake in South African Airways — should South Africa decide to sell equity in the struggling state carrier. SAA hasn’t made a profit since 2011 and last week delayed the release of annual earnings due to its precarious…

South Africa: Pilot killed when aircraft crashes into garage of house

The pilot was declared dead on the scene while his passenger was transported to hospital VRYBURG (South Africa), Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A culpable homicide investigation is under way after a pilot was killed and a passenger injured when a light aircraft crashed in Huhudi, near Vryburg, North West police…

French Pres Macron told British PM Johnson: EU Brexit deal decision ‘at end of the week’

PARIS/LONDON, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU will decide at the end of the week whether a Brexit deal is going to be possible, French President Emmanuel Macron has told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In the telephone conversations, Macron said talks should now proceed swiftly to see if an…

India: Newly-wed among 4 drown in reservoir trying to take selfies

A dam in Tamil Nadu popular with visitors CHENNAI (Tamil Nadu, INDIA), Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A newly married woman and three of her family drowned in a reservoir after trying to take a selfie, said police in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The dead were among a…

FAO, partners to combat banana disease threat in Caribbean, Latin America

SANTIAGO, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched an emergency project under its Technical Cooperation Programme to help countries in Latin America and the Caribbean fight the spread of Fusarium wilt, a fungal plant disease that can wipe out the banana…

Turkey-Syria border: Kurds bitter as US troops withdraw

Turkey has massed thousands of troops along the border with Syria ANKARA, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US troops have begun withdrawing from positions in northern Syria, paving the way for a Turkish operation against Kurdish fighters in the border area.Kurdish-led forces have until now been a key US ally in…

Portugal’s Socialists win re-election

LISBON, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Portugal’s incumbent Prime MinisterAntonio Costa’s Socialists won a general election marked by low turnout onSunday after presiding over a period of solid economic growth following years of austerity. The Socialist Party (PS) took 36.65 percent of the vote, followed by thecentre-right Social Democrats (PSD) with…

Mali president dismisses coup speculation following increasing militant attacks

BAMAKO, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita rejected as speculation talk of a military coup after recent militant attacks left dozens of soldiers dead near the border with Burkina Faso. Keita said lessons would be learned after 38 soldiers were killed in twoattacks last week, a death…