# Ret-H@CKer

US President Donald Trump has outlined his "strongly pro-life" views on abortion amid controversy over strict new laws passed in several states. Mr Trump said he was against abortion except in cases of rape, incest or a "serious health risk" to the mother. His stance on what is a divisive election issue in the US emerged days after Alabama passed a law banning abortion in almost all cases. A pro-choice rally is planned later on Sunday in protest at the new measures. Should men have a say in abortion debate? The women looking outside the law for abortions Emotional abortion stories shared with #youknowme Supporters of Alabama's abortion ban say they expect the law to be blocked in court, but hope that the appeals process will bring it before the US Supreme Court. They want the highest court in the land - which now has a conservative majority - to overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling making abortion a right across the US. Sixteen other states are also seeking to impose new restrictions on abortion. What did the president say? Mr Trump, whose position on abortion has shifted over the years, had been largely silent on the Alabama restrictions until Saturday, when he posted a series of tweets outlining his views. "I am very strongly pro-life, with the three exceptions - rape, incest and protecting the life of the mother - the same position taken by Ronald Reagan", he said. The president added that judicial measures, such as his appointment of conservative Supreme Court judges Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, have helped to make abortion laws in various states more restrictive. "We have come very far in the last two years with 105 wonderful new federal judges (many more to come), two great new supreme court justices … and a whole new and positive attitude about the right to life." Abortion is an issue which remains controversial in the United States, with evangelical Christians in particular forming a nucleus of voters who want to restrict, or even outlaw the procedure completely. Mr Trump has adjusted his stance over the years. In 1999, he said: "I'm very pro-choice. I hate the concept of abortion. I hate it. I hate everything it stands for. I cringe when I listen to people debating the subject. But you still - I just believe in choice." But in March 2016, he clarified that his position was "pro-life with exceptions". On Saturday he tweeted that Republicans must unite to "win for life in 2020". Senior Democrats have also suggested that the issue will be an important one in the 2020 presidential campaign. Massachusetts senator and Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren responded to Alabama's abortion ban by saying: "This ban is dangerous and exceptionally cruel - and the bill's authors want to use it to overturn Roe v Wade. "I've lived in that America and let me tell you: We are not going back - not now, not ever. We will fight this. And we will win." How easy is it to access abortion in the US? In 1973, the Supreme Court issued the landmark Roe v Wade ruling legalising abortion in all 50 states. Since then, the number of abortion clinics has dropped in many US states, and in 2017, six states reportedly had just one abortion clinic in operation. Earlier this year the governors of four states - Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio - signed bills banning terminations if an embryonic heartbeat can be detected. What's behind Georgia's anti-abortion 'heartbeat bill'? Why are people talking about NY's abortion law? The women looking outside the law for abortions According to the Guttmacher Institute - a group which campaigns for reproductive rights - none of these bans are yet in effect, but their introduction is part a strategy to get the cases heard by the Supreme Court. But progressive states are also taking measures to safeguard abortion rights. In January, New York signed into law a bill protecting the right to terminate a pregnancy after 24 weeks in certain cases.

A criminal investigation has been opened into the way Ford tests the emissions of its vehicles. The US Department of Justice took action after Ford alerted the US Environmental Protection Agency to potential problems in February. Ford said the issue did not involve the use of defeat devices, which were at the centre of the emissions scandal involving Volkswagen in 2015. VW was found to have used software that could cheat emissions tests. Emissions testing in the US has two parts: testing on the road and computer modelling. The modelling generates mileage and emissions data submitted to regulators. Ford employees raised concerns about the computer modelling and, in particular, the figures Ford engineers used for road load, which involves the weight of the vehicle and other data. Ford accelerates electric car development "We are fully co-operating with all government agencies. Because this matter is still in the preliminary stages, we cannot predict the outcome, and we cannot provide assurance that it will not have a material adverse effect on us," Ford said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ford has commissioned outside experts to investigate its testing procedure, a process which is expected to last several months. VW scandal Regulators have been paying closer attention to emissions testing since the scandal involving Volkswagen emerged in 2015. VW sold more than 10 million cars between mid-2007 and 2015 that had emissions-test-cheating software installed. Last year VW was fined €1bn (£880m) by German prosecutors over the scandal and in 2017 agreed to pay $4.3bn (£3.5bn) to settle a US investigation. Under the deal with the Department of Justice, VW agreed to scrutiny by an independent monitor for three years. Earlier this month, the former chief executive of VW was charged in Germany over his involvement in the scandal. The public prosecutor in Braunschweig charged Martin Winterkorn and four other managers with fraud. Mr Winterkorn is already facing criminal charges in the US, but is unlikely to face trial, as Germany does not extradite its citizens. The 71-year-old resigned soon after the scandal erupted in September 2015. In a statement, prosecutors accused Mr Winterkorn of a "particularly serious" fraud, as well as a breach of competition laws.

The team behind Rocketman have pulled off the most astonishing feat. Against all the odds, they have managed to produce a two-hour greatest hits musical that turns one of the most flamboyant, gifted and charismatic performing artists of the modern era into a bit of a bore. A lot of words have been written and spoken about Sir Elton John over his 50 years in showbiz, but "dull" is not usually among them. But there's no alternative but to invoke it in this instance. It's as if the piano-playing showman's character was squeezed into a trouser press every time it looked like developing a third dimension. He is played by Taron Egerton in this Hollywood retelling of the pop star's life story. Egerton succeeds in bringing out the singer's down-to-earth humour, but fails to bare his soul. It doesn't help that he looks more like Phil Collins than Elton John when off stage, and not unlike 1980s children's TV personality Timmy Mallet when on it. The film starts as it means to go on. And I mean, go on. Elton is in group therapy talking about his addictions: to alcohol, drugs, sex, bulimia, shopping. The other participants can't get a word in edgeways as the man from Pinner bangs on about himself. We revisit this group throughout the film, with his outfits becoming more stripped back each time - from a winged Devil outfit (bad, fake Elton) to a dreary brown dressing gown (real Elton, stripped of artifice). These are the layers being peeled back to reveal his true identity. Except it never is revealed. We go from addiction story to back story for a while until the two become one and everything that was good about the film (warmth, self-deprecating humour, seamless segues between music, action and time) is lost in yet another scene of Elton Hercules John overindulging. It's a rock 'n' roll cliché at the best of times, but is overplayed here to such an extent as to suggest (ridiculously) it is the only interesting thing to say or reveal about a sensitive, artistic man blessed with a special talent to touch the hearts and minds of millions of people across the globe. It's a shame, because there's a potentially great movie buried under the empty vodka bottles. There are glimpses of what could have been in an early rendition of I Want Love sung as an ensemble piece by Elton when a boy, his distracted mother (Bryce Dallas Howard), detached father (Steven Mackintosh) and supportive granny (Gemma Jones) - all of whom are in need of a bit of love. This is the untended soil from which a dumpy, shy young lad called Reginald Dwight grew into Elton John, superstar. It is fertile ground for a decent biopic, which Rocketman might have flowered into had it not been stifled by the addiction saga running though it like Japanese knotweed. There are moments of genuine cinematic drama, most of which occur in the first half. A particular highlight takes place at Doug Weston's legendary Troubadour club in West Hollywood. It is August 1970 and Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell) are giving America a first shot. Bernie comes racing backstage from the bar to tell Elton that Neil Diamond and half of the Beach Boys are out front waiting to hear him play. The news gives the already nervous singer the yips. He hides in the loo before being coaxed out to triumphantly take the stage by storm with a blistering Crocodile Rock. You're enthralled. It's great. This is the moment Elton John takes off. And then… Director Dexter Fletcher (who was brought in to complete last year's Oscar-winning Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody after Bryan Singer was fired) labours the point with unnecessary visual metaphors as our newly discovered star floats up in the sky, while his audience, who are swept off their feet, levitate. Rocketman is far from a disaster - it couldn't be given Elton John's back catalogue - but it is a disappointment, a missed opportunity. Lee Hall's script is fine, the acting is fine, the directing is fine and the music is great - although Taron Egerton can't sell a song like Elton John, but then few can. The problem is superficiality. We see a lot of Elton John but we never get to know him. All the sex 'n' drugs give an illusion of candour but it's really a mask to hide behind. The rags-to-riches element is told in a fairly perfunctory fashion, albeit lifted somewhat by the way in which the John/Taupin songbook is neatly weaved in for dramatic emphasis. But then I suppose that's what you get when the subject of a biopic is also its authoriser and executive producer (his husband David Furnish has a producer credit). Critical distance is a difficult thing to achieve in such circumstances. Maybe he was hoping for a companion piece for Billy Elliot, a story that he has said mirrors his own. The presence of Lee Hall and Jamie Bell (both Billy Elliot alumni, as is Elton John, who provided songs for the stage musical) suggests that might have been the case. If so, Rocketman doesn't miss by a mile. There's plenty to enjoy. But it does miss.

Tesla has said it is updating the battery software in some of its models following two recent incidents where cars caught fire. The electric carmaker said it would soon begin rolling out the software update on Model S and Model X vehicles. It follows reports that a parked car caught fire in Hong Kong, following a similar incident in Shanghai. While Tesla is still investigating the incidents, the firm is taking action "out of an abundance of caution". In a statement, the carmaker said: "As we continue our investigation of the root cause... we are revising charge and thermal management settings on Model S and Model X vehicles via an over-the-air software update that will begin rolling out today, to help further protect the battery and improve battery longevity." In relation to the incident in Hong Kong, it said: "Our team was onsite to offer support to our customer and establish the facts of this incident. We are glad that everyone is safe." Last month, Tesla said it was investigating a video on Chinese social media that appeared to show one of its vehicles bursting into flames in Shanghai. Tesla investigating China car explosion Tesla cuts jobs as cars 'too expensive' The recent incidents come as the firm is already facing challenges. Tesla reported a loss of $702m for the first three months of the year and predicted another loss for the current quarter. Earlier this year, the company said it would cut its workforce by 7% after the "most challenging" year in its history. Previous incidents involving Tesla vehicles catching on fire seem to have happened while the cars were moving. In 2018, a Tesla car driven by British TV director Michael Morris burst into flames, following another such incident involving a Model S model in France in 2016. A series of fires involving Tesla Model S cars took place in 2013.

Taiwan's parliament has become the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage following a vote on Friday. In 2017, the island's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry. Parliament was given a two-year deadline and was required to pass the changes by 24 May. Lawmakers debated three different bills to legalise same-sex unions and the government's bill, the most progressive of the three, was passed. Hundreds of gay rights supporters gathered in the rain outside the parliament building in the capital, Taipei, to await the landmark ruling. There were shouts of joy and some tearful embraces as the result was announced. However, conservative opponents were angered by the vote. What does the bill entail? The two other bills, submitted by conservative lawmakers, refer to partnerships as "same-sex family relationships" or "same-sex unions" rather than "marriages". But the government's bill, also the only one to offer limited adoption rights, was passed by 66 to 27 votes - backed by lawmakers from the majority Democratic Progressive Party. It will take effect after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen passes it into law. Several same-sex activists had said ahead of the vote that this was the only version they would accept. "The fight for equality does not stop here. We will continue to fight against discrimination, bullying and defend gender equality education", Jennifer Lu, chief co-ordinator of rights group Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan, told Reuters news agency. Men in skirts challenge gender stereotypes Profile: What is Taiwan like? "For me the outcome today is not 100 percent perfect, but it's still pretty good for the gay community as it provides legal definition," said Elias Tseng, a gay pastor who spoke to the AFP news agency outside parliament. Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai posted a picture of a rainbow on Facebook accompanied by the caption "Congratulations!! Everyone deserves happiness!" How did we get here? In 2017, Taiwan's constitutional court ruled that same-sex couples had the right to legally marry. It said then that the island had two years to make necessary changes to the law. But this was met with a public backlash, which pressured the government into holding a series of referendums. The referendum results showed that a majority of voters in Taiwan rejected legalising same-sex marriage, saying that the definition of marriage was the union of a man and woman. As a result, Taiwan said it would not alter its existing definition of marriage in civil law, and instead would enact a special law for same-sex marriage. What reaction has there been? Many took to social media in celebration, seeing the result as a win for marriage equality. "What a tremendous victory for LGBT rights!" said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Taiwan's action today should sound a clarion call, kicking off a larger movement across Asia to ensure equality for LGBT people." Earlier on Friday, Ms Tsai said in a tweet that the island had taken "a big step towards true equality" with the vote. Meanwhile, Tseng Hsien-ying, from the Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation, told AFP news agency the vote had "trampled on Taiwanese people's expectations that a marriage and a family is formed by a man and a woman, a husband and a wife". How does this compare to other countries in the region? Taiwan has been a leader for gay rights in Asia, hosting an annual gay pride parade in Taipei attended by LGBT groups from all over the continent. Vietnam decriminalised gay marriage celebrations in 2015, but stopped short of granting full legal recognition for same-sex unions. While same-sex marriage is still illegal in China, homosexuality was decriminalised in the country in 1997, and officially removed from its list of mental illnesses three years later. Elsewhere in Asia, laws are changing to reflect more tolerant attitudes towards LGBT groups. In a historic decision, India's Supreme Court ruled that gay sex was no longer a criminal offence in September 2018. However the approach differs in other Asian countries. In April, Brunei announced strict new Islamic laws that made anal sex and adultery offences punishable by stoning to death, but it says it will not enforce the death penalty for gay sex.

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called for a global fight to root out racist right-wing ideology following last week's deadly attack on two mosques in Christchurch. In one of her first interviews since then, she told the BBC that she rejected the idea that a rise in immigration was fuelling racism. Fifty people were killed and dozens more wounded in Friday's gun attacks. The first funerals, of a father and son from Syria, took place on Wednesday. Hundreds of mourners gathered at a cemetery near the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, one of two places of worship targeted. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with murder. Fifty people died in the attack. What did Ardern say? Asked about the rise of right-wing nationalism she said: "This was an Australian citizen but that is not to say that we do not have an ideology in New Zealand that would be an affront to the majority of New Zealanders." She said there was a responsibility "to weed it out where it exists and make sure that we never create an environment where it can flourish". Father and son in first NZ mosque funeral How mass shootings have changed gun laws How prevalent is far-right extremism? "But I would make that a global call," she added. "What New Zealand experienced here was violence brought against us by someone who grew up and learned their ideology somewhere else. If we want to make sure globally that we are a safe and tolerant and inclusive world we cannot think about this in terms of boundaries." She defended New Zealand's record on accepting refugees, saying: "We are a welcoming country. I utterly reject the idea that in any way in trying to ensure that we have a system that looks after those who choose to call New Zealand home, that we have perpetuated an environment where this kind of ideology can exist." Compassionate and composed Hywel Griffith, BBC News, Christchurch No leader can prepare for a moment like this. Carrying a nation through tragedy comes down to instinct and resolve. But Jacinda's Ardern's response to the Christchurch attack has been admired perhaps because it has felt honest and sincere. Compassionate but composed, from the first few hours she sought to place herself on the side of the victims and their families. Wearing a hijab as a sign of respect may seem a simple gesture, but it has resonated with the relatives and friends still lost in grief. So too have the phrases she has deliberately repeated since the attack. I have heard her words - "we are one, they are us" - spoken back to me by the families of victims here in Christchurch, and seen it written on countless cards and posters alongside all the bouquets of flowers. Of course, maintaining this feeling of national unity is a different challenge - but she has already created a platform of trust from which she could deliver meaningful change. What are the latest developments? Police on Wednesday named six of the victims of the shootings at the Al Noor mosque and hoped to release all 50 bodies to the families by the end of the day. All post-mortem examinations were complete, police said. However, some families expressed frustration with the delayed process. Mohamed Safi, 23, whose father Matiullah Safi died at the Al Noor mosque, complained about the lack of information. He told AFP news agency: "They are just saying they are doing their procedures... Why do I not know what you are going through to identify the body?" What are New Zealand's gun laws? What is known about the suspect? Why Turkish president is showing attack Police Commissioner Mike Bush has said authorities had to prove the cause of death to establish for the courts to treat it as murder. Christchurch city officials issued strict guidance to the media ahead of Wednesday's funerals and requested that the families be left alone.

Now that the dust has settled from the 2019 Geneva motor show, it’s time to look ahead to the next round of large-scale motoring events. Arriving first is April’s Shanghai motor show, at which some of the biggest manufacturers you’ve never heard of will be displaying their newest models alongside Western brands keen to crack the world’s most lucrative automotive market. Long gone are the days when Shanghai was an exhibition of the most blatant copycat cars, and the impressive fit and finish of new Chinese cars is beginning to pose a very real threat to more established manufacturers. The 2019 edition is especially significant, with an increasing number of Chinese models being prepared for European launches and global manufacturers such as Volkswagen adding to their range of models adapted specifically for sale in China. Here, we take a look at what to expect from the show before the doors open on 16 April. Audi will unveil a concept car that previews the long-term future of its design. Like the radical Aicon and Elaine duo revealed in 2017, the concept will look ahead “10 or 15 years”, according to company design boss Marc Lichte. Details remain scarce, but Lichte confirmed the electric concept will explore “what an interior with or without a steering wheel can look like” and be followed by another futuristic concept at Frankfurt in September. Audi to unveil two futuristic concepts hinting at future design Audi Q2 L e-tron Audi’s China-only long-wheelbase Q2 L is the latest model to receive the e-tron treatment. Badged the Q2 L e-tron, the electric compact SUV will be built in Foshan, alongside Chinese variants of the A3 Sportback and A3 Saloon, by Volkswagen Group partner First Automotive Works (FAW). The model is the first of ten planned for launch by Audi and FAW in China by 2022 and the first electric Audi tailored specifically for the Chinese market. 2019 Audi E-tron Sportback previewed at Geneva . Citroën ‘ultra-comfort’ concept Following the recently unveiled Ami One will be the second of two concepts that Citroën has built to celebrate its centenary year. Where the two-seater Ami One showed the brand’s vision for the future of urban mobility, the next concept will embody the idea of “ultra-comfort”. A preview image released by the brand shows very little, but what looks like a roof-mounted lidar unit suggests an emphasis on driverless technology. New flagship Citroën saloon confirmed for production Geely GE11 Volvo and Lotus owner Geely will show its GE11 electric saloon in Shanghai ahead of the model’s European launch later this year. To be sold under the newly formed Geely New Energy marque, the fastback-styled EV has been designed with aerodynamic efficiency in mind. The company states that the model’s environmentally conscious ethos doesn’t end with its zero-emissions powertrain; its interior is constructed largely of EU-certified eco-friendly materials. Geely Jia Ji Also on display in Shanghai will be Geely’s first MPV, the Jia Ji. Recently unveiled in Zhuhai, the seven-seater is offered with a range of hybrid and diesel powertrains, Level 2 autonomy, dynamic styling and a starting price of just RMB 99,800 (£11,200). Geely Xingyue Geely’s third Shanghai debut-maker will be the Xingyue SUV-coupé. Originally known as the FY11, the BMW X6 rival sits atop the same Compact Modular Architecture that underpins the Volvo XC40 and Lynk&Co 01. It will offer a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine – producing 235bhp and 258lb ft – and a range of plug-in and mild hybrid powertrains. Jetta Jetta is the new China-only budget brand being launched by Volkswagen this year, and the VS5 and VA3 will be among its first models. Taking the form of a conventional five-door SUV, the VS5 bears a heavy resemblance to the recently unveiled Skoda Kamiq, while the VA3 is a small saloon based on the Volkswagen Jetta currently sold in China. The brand aims to target younger buyers with a strong dealer network and online showrooms. Volkswagen turns Jetta into standalone brand for China Karma-Pininfarina concept Karma, born out of the 2014 collapse of Fisker Automotive, will unveil an as-yet-unnamed luxury model designed in association with Italian manufacturer Pininfarina. The American electric car maker is remaining tight-lipped about the model’s specifications and performance, but a recently released preview image shows off an angular, streamlined front end and a prominent lower grille like that of the original Fisker Karma. Karma teases Pininfarina-designed electric luxury car Karma Revero Joining the new Pininfarina-designed concept on Karma’s Shanghai stand will be the updated 2019 version of the brand’s Revero luxury saloon. The four-door range-extender electric car is tipped to receive styling revisions to the front and rear but retain an overarching resemblance to the original Fisker Karma on which it's based. Karma has plans to launch the new Revero in Europe as a competitor to the Polestar 1 performance hybrid. New Karma Revero plug-in hybrid saloon tests in Europe Karma Vision Rounding off Karma’s ‘Shanghai Big Three’ will be the Vision concept. Little is known about what form the Vision will take, but Karma said it will play a role in the brand’s transformation from a traditional car manufacturer into “an open-platform luxury high-tech automotive incubator”, like the Italdesign DaVinci electric supercar revealed earlier this year at the Geneva motor show. Volkswagen ID Lounge The fifth member of Volkswagen’s ID range of electric vehicles (after the hatchback, Buzz, Crozz and Vizzion), the ID Lounge will take the form of a luxurious seven-seater SUV, sitting atop the largest version of the company’s MEB platform. A pair of electric motors will give the Touareg-sized model 369bhp and four-wheel drive. Range is expected to be upwards of 370 miles, which would be a significant improvement over its primary rival, the Tesla Model X.

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The death toll in Mozambique from Cyclone Idai could reach 1,000, President Filipe Nyusi has said. It made landfall close to the port city of Beira on Thursday with winds of up to 177 km/h (106 mph), but aid teams only reached the city on Sunday. The official death toll stands at 84 following flooding and high winds, which have destroyed homes and ripped roofs from concrete buildings. The cyclone has killed at least 180 people across southern Africa. On a visit to Beira, President Nyusi said that its impact had been devastating, adding that he had seen bodies floating in the floodwater. Earlier, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) described it as "massive and horrifying". People have had to be rescued from trees, head of the IFRC assessment team, Jamie LeSeur, told the BBC. In neighbouring Zimbabwe, 98 people have died and 217 people are missing in the east and south, the government says. This includes two pupils from the St Charles Lwanga boarding school in the district of Chimanimani, who died after their dormitory was hit when rocks swept down a mountain. Malawi has also been badly hit. The flooding there, caused by the rains before the cyclone made landfall, led to at least 122 deaths, Reliefweb reports. The UK government said it would provide humanitarian aid worth £6m ($8m) to Mozambique and Malawi. It also said it would send tents and thousands of shelter kits to Mozambique. How bad is the damage in Beira? At least 84 people have died in Mozambique, mostly around Beira, the country's fourth largest city with a po[CENSORED]tion of about 500,000, the authorities there say. More than 1,500 people have been injured by falling trees and debris from buildings including zinc roofing, the BBC's Jose Tembe in the capital, Maputo, quotes officials as saying. "Almost everything has been affected by the calamity," Alberto Mondlane, the governor of Sofala province, which includes Beira, said on Sunday. "We have people currently suffering, some on top of trees and are badly in need of help." Local people in Beira have put in an "incredible effort" to reopen roads in the city, Mr LeSeur told the BBC's Newsday programme. "Beira has been severely battered. But we are hearing that the situation outside the city could be even worse," a statement from the IFRC quotes him as saying. The road linking Beira to the rest of the country has been damaged, but air links have now resumed. President Filipe Nyusi cut short a trip to eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, to visit the affected areas. What's the situation in Zimbabwe? A state of disaster has been declared in Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned home early from a trip to the United Arab Emirates to "make sure he is involved directly with the national response", the authorities say. The ministry of information has shared pictures of pupils from St Charles Lwanga School, who have now been rescued. https://twitter.com/InfoMinZW/status/1107596796820369408/photo/1

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The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has said it will not suspend Boeing 737 Max aircraft despite mounting pressure from senators and workers' unions. The FAA said a review showed "no systemic performance issues" and there is no basis for grounding the aircraft. An Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed on Sunday killing all 157 people on board, in the second fatal accident involving the 737 Max 8 model in five months. A wave of countries and blocs have banned the plane from their airspace. On Wednesday Hong Kong, Vietnam and New Zealand joined the list of countries that had banned 737 Max models. The UK, China, the European Union and Australia had previously done so. Ted Cruz, a Republican senator who chairs a subcommittee on aviation and space, said: "I believe it would be prudent for the US likewise to temporarily ground 737 Max aircraft until the FAA confirms the safety of these aircraft and their passengers." Democratic senators Edward Markey and Richard Blumenthal have written to the FAA - which they referred to as "our aviation safety cop on the beat" - asking that the Boeing 737 Max should be grounded "until the agency can conclusively determine that the aircraft can be operated safely". Democrat presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren said that the FAA should follow other nations' lead "immediately" and "get these planes out of the sky". And Republican senator Mitt Romney said: "Out of an abundance of caution for the flying public, the FAA should ground the 737 Max 8 until we investigate the causes of recent crashes and ensure the plane's airworthiness." But the FAA said that other civil aviation authorities had not "provided data to us that would warrant action". https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1105592393032744961/photo/1 Boeing has confirmed that for the past few months it has been developing a "flight control software enhancement" for the aircraft, but says it is confident they are safe to fly. 'Caution' : Airline workers also want the FAA to ground the Boeing 737 Max. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union said it is calling on the FAA "to temporarily ground the 737 MAX fleet in the US out of an abundance of caution". Its president Sara Nelson, said: "The US has the safest aviation system in the world, but Americans are looking for leadership in this time of uncertainty. "The FAA must act decisively to restore the public faith in the system. The Allied Pilots Association told its members: "It is important for you to know that if you feel it is unsafe to work the 737 Max, you will not be forced to fly it." Southwest Airlines and American Airlines - both major operators of the Boeing 737 Max - are continuing to use the planes. Southwest Airlines is offering passengers scheduled to fly on one of the Boeing planes the chance to change their bookings. American Airlines said its "standard policies for changes still apply". What is a Boeing 737 Max aircraft? The Boeing 737 Max fleet of aircraft are the latest in the company's successful 737 line. The group includes the Max 7, 8, 9 and 10 models. By the end of January, Boeing had delivered 350 of the Max 8 model out of 5,011 orders. A small number of Max 9s are also operating. The Max 7 and 10 models, not yet delivered, are due for roll-out in the next few years. The Max 8 that crashed on Sunday was one of 30 ordered as part of Ethiopian Airlines' expansion. It underwent a "rigorous first check maintenance" on 4 February, the airline said. Following last October's Lion Air crash in Indonesia, investigators said the pilots had appeared to struggle with an automated system designed to keep the plane from stalling, a new feature of the jet. It is not yet clear whether the anti-stall system was the cause of Sunday's crash. Aviation experts say other technical issues or human error cannot be discounted. Eyewitnesses say they saw a trail of smoke, sparks and debris as the plane nosedived.

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