France’s National Assembly has voted to abolish low-emission zones, a key measure introduced during President Emmanuel Macron’s first term to reduce city pollution. So-called ZFEs (zones à faibles émissions) have been criticised for hitting those who cannot afford less-polluting vehicles the hardest. A handful of MPs from Macron’s party joined opposition parties from the right…
French MPs have voted to allow some people in the last stages of a terminal illness the right to assisted dying. The National Assembly approved the bill, which is backed by President Emmanuel Macron, by 305 votes to 199. It will now go to the upper house, the Senate, before a second reading in the…
Getty Images A parliamentary committee ruled that the haka could have “intimidated” other lawmakers A New Zealand parliamentary committee has proposed that three Māori MPs be suspended from parliament for their protest haka during a sitting last year. Opposition MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke began the traditional group dance after being asked if her party supported a…
Kathryn Armstrong BBC News Getty Images MPs are able to use English, Māori or New Zealand sign language, when speaking in Parliament The speaker of the house in New Zealand’s parliament says he will not consider any further complaints from lawmakers over the use of the country’s Māori name in proceedings. “Aotearoa is regularly used…
A group of 10 MPs in Ghana have resubmitted a controversial bill that would impose some of the toughest restrictions on LGBT rights in Africa. The bill prescribes a three-year jail term for people who identify as gay, and five to 10 years for promoters and advocates. The legislation was passed by parliament last year,…
