A court in the western German city of Detmold began hearing a case on Friday against the Volkswagen groupbrought by an organic farmer who said pollution caused by the carmaker is infringing on his rights.
The farmer, who is backed by environmental campaign group Greenpeace, has said that Volkswagen’s emissions are contributing to climate change therefore interfering with his fundamental rights to property, health and freedom.
He claims extremes caused by climate change such as drier soil and heavier rain is harming his field, cattle and forests.
A UK art professor whose livelihood was thrust into doubt after she lost her accreditation following innocent remarks about Meghan Markle is fighting back, taking legal action claiming a breach of contract by a national arts organization.
Chris Rock was in London last week with his new show, observing — not inaccurately — that many people are very afraid of offending others these days. Presumably some comedians are even more afraid now, having seeing Will Smith slap Rock at the Oscars in March; the sheer visibility of this event is likely to have dragged the assault of comedians further into the realm of possibility than it was before. As Kathy Griffin tweeted at the time: “now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theatres.” Last week’s attack on Dave Chappelle on stage was perhaps further evidence that the social norm “don’t hit people for making offensive jokes” is in some 
It was a stunning, grisly act. A man, a climate activist and Buddhist, had set himself on fire on the steps of the US supreme court. He sat upright and didn’t immediately scream despite the agony. Police officers desperately plunged nearby orange traffic cones into the court’s marbled fountain and hurled water at him. It wasn’t enough to save him.