International

• Friday, March 29th 2019 - 09:11 UTC

  UK airlines face legal action from air staff for exposure to “aerotoxic syndrome”

  

  One of the UK's largest airlines are facing legal action which claims pilots and cabin crew are regularly exposed to toxic fumes during flights. The Unite union said legal notice has been served in 51 cases, the majority of which are against British Airways.

• Friday, March 29th 2019 - 09:04 UTC

  Princess Cruises contracts construction of two next generation 175.000-ton ships

  

  Princess Cruises and Fincantieri announced on Thursday the signing of the final contracts for the construction of two next-generation 175,000-ton cruise ships, which will be the largest ships ever built so far in Italy, with deliveries scheduled in Monfalcone in late 2023 and in March 2025. This announcement follows the initial signing of a memorandum of agreement between the two parties in July 2018.

• Friday, March 29th 2019 - 08:52 UTC

  Pope rejecting hand kissing from worshippers: a “simple question of hygiene”

  

  Pope Francis has addressed the mystery of why he withdrew his hand from worshippers' kisses, explaining it was a “simple question of hygiene”. Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said the Pope was worried about germs when meeting Catholics last Wednesday.

• Friday, March 29th 2019 - 08:48 UTC

  A record 2.9 million children from working families in UK are living in poverty

  

  A record 2.9 million children from working families in the UK are living in poverty after housing costs have been paid, the latest figures show. This means 70% of all poor children were in working families last year, up from 67% on the previous year, official statistics show.

• Friday, March 29th 2019 - 08:41 UTC

  EU free trade deals that UK has rolled over are “incomplete”, claim think tanks

  

  The EU free-trade deals that the UK government has managed to roll over are “incomplete”, say trade experts. The UK Trade Policy Observatory told Newsnight the deals cannot guarantee trade will continue for British companies in a no-deal Brexit.

• Friday, March 29th 2019 - 08:12 UTC

  On supposed official Brexit departure day, Commons expected to vote withdrawal agreement

  

  MPs will be asked to vote again on Brexit on Friday but only on part of the deal negotiated with the EU. They will vote on the withdrawal agreement on the Irish “backstop”, divorce bill and citizens' rights. But it will not amount to a third “meaningful vote” on the deal, as it will not include a vote on the UK's future relationship with the EU.

• Thursday, March 28th 2019 - 09:21 UTC

  Following Parliament Brexit deadlock, Mrs. May deal is back for a third attempt

  

  Efforts to persuade MPs to back Theresa May's Brexit deal will continue on Thursday, a day after she promised to quit as PM if it was approved. Her pledge brought some on-side, such as ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson.

• Thursday, March 28th 2019 - 09:11 UTC

  Uruguay supports China's candidate as next FAO Director General

  

  Uruguay formally announced it will support China's Agriculture and Rural Affairs deputy minister as the next Director-General of FAO to be elected June 2019. The official statement was made by Uruguay's foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa during a meeting with China's Deputy Prime Minister Hu Chunhua in Montevideo.

• Thursday, March 28th 2019 - 08:55 UTC

  UN security Council denounces US decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights

  

  The United States was isolated at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday over President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights as the other countries on the council opposed the move.

• Thursday, March 28th 2019 - 08:52 UTC

  OAS approves “Humanitarian Assistance in Venezuela”; Uruguay votes against

  

  The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved on Wednesday the resolution “Humanitarian Assistance in Venezuela” encouraging member states, permanent observers, and the competent international organizations “to continue providing support and implementing measures to address the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.”