Also: 10 babies die in Calif. whooping cough outbreak.
Travellers make their way to Marseille airport as striking employees block the access of the airport in Marseille, southern France, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010. French protesters blockaded the airport at Marseille and Lady Gaga has canceled Paris concerts ahead of a tense Senate vote Thursday on raising the retirement age. From CNN:
Paris, France (CNN) -- Some 200 demonstrators blocked France's Marseille-Provence airport for more than three hours Thursday as strikes and protests continued across the country, trade unions said.
A large rally was scheduled for central Paris in the afternoon as demonstrators stepped up protests against a government proposal to raise the national retirement age from 60 to 62.
Pop star Lady Gaga postponed two Paris shows this weekend because of "the logistical difficulties due to the strikes," her website said.
» Read the full story: Strikes to continue in France over pension reform bill [CNN]
» French strikes: panic-buying at petrol pumps [The Guardian]
In other news:
» 10 infants dead in California whooping cough outbreak [CNN]
» Toyota recalls another 1.53 million cars globally [The Associated Press]
» NPR fires analyst over remarks on Fox about Muslims [MSNBC]
» Penthouse founder Bob Guccione dies at 79 [The Associated Press]
» Mexican army destroys 134 tons of marijuana [Los Angeles Times]