Stories for April 2019

Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 09:28 UTC
New British passports no longer have “European Union” on the cover

British passports are being issued without the words 'European Union' on the cover, despite the delay to Brexit. The new burgundy passports were introduced from 30 March, the day after the UK was supposed to leave the EU, but some people may still receive the old version until stocks run out.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 09:24 UTC
Google’s advisory council on AI only lasted a fortnight

An independent group set up to oversee Google's artificial intelligence efforts has been shut down less than a fortnight after it was launched. The Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) was due to look at the ethics around AI, machine learning and facial recognition. One member resigned and there were calls for another to be removed.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
US blacklists PDVSA tankers and two companies shipping Venezuelan oil to Cuba

US Vice President Mike Pence announced sanctions on Friday on 34 vessels of Venezuela's state oil company and two companies that ship crude to Cuba as Washington pushes to oust President Nicolas Maduro.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 09:17 UTC
Dutch campaigners hand Shell a lawsuit forcing it to meet Paris climate accords

Climate campaigners marched to Shell's headquarters in the Netherlands on Friday and handed the oil giant a lawsuit aimed at forcing it to meet targets in the Paris accord. Dozens of chanting activists went to the Anglo-Dutch firm's base in The Hague, where they delivered a legal summons with a court date set for Apr 17.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 09:16 UTC
Lula's to mark one year in prison next Sunday; all legal appeals rejected so far

 Since entering prison a year ago, Brazil's former president Lula da Silva has been spending his days working out in his cell and fighting to prove his innocence.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 09:05 UTC
Nicaragua's Ortega release 50 opposition prisoners

Nicaragua on Friday released 50 opposition prisoners held during nationwide protests against President Daniel Ortega, the interior ministry said, two days after the end of talks aimed at resolving a deadly year-long political crisis.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 09:02 UTC
French/Canadian consortium takes Petrobras major gas pipeline in north Brazil

A consortium led by France's Engie SA submitted the highest offer for a major gas pipeline unit owned by Petrobras, the state-run oil firm said on Friday, as the company's biggest divestment draws to a close.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 08:43 UTC
Bolsonaro argues that Brazil's 1964 coup was really a “democratic regime of force”

Days after celebrating the anniversary of the military coup that led to Brazil's last dictatorship, the government of President Jair Bolsonaro is pushing for a revision of the history curriculum for the country's schools.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 08:38 UTC
Labour says no advance in Brexit talks with Mrs. May; EU demands viable plan before postponing exit

Britain's opposition Labour Party said on Friday that talks with the government on a last-ditch Brexit deal had made no progress, as EU leaders said Prime Minister Theresa May had not convinced them that they should let Britain delay its departure next week.
Saturday, April 6th 2019 - 08:31 UTC
Boeing to drastically cut production of the 737; no lifting of grounding order expected soon

Boeing said on Friday it plans to cut its monthly 737 aircraft production by nearly 20% in the wake of two deadly crashes, signaling it does not expect aviation authorities to allow the plane back in the air anytime soon.