Stories for February 11th 2020

Tuesday, February 11th 2020 - 08:10 UTC
Major companies pull out of world business fairs because of coronavirus risks

Sony and Amazon are the latest major companies to pull out of one of the world's largest tech shows because of risks posed by coronavirus. Sony said it would no longer take part in Mobile World Congress in Barcelona after “monitoring the evolving situation” after the coronavirus outbreak.
Tuesday, February 11th 2020 - 08:01 UTC
Trump plans to slash foreign aid and invest funds to counter threats from China and Russia

President Donald Trump will propose cutting billions of dollars in U.S. foreign aid in his fiscal 2021 budget while seeking an increase in funds to counter developing economic threats from China and Russia, senior administration officials revealed.
Tuesday, February 11th 2020 - 07:58 UTC
US government wants Canada and Mexico to help ship coal, avoiding west coast states ban

U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said that Canada and Mexico could help export U.S. coal to Asia to get around the blocking of shipments by West Coast states concerned about the impact of the fuel on climate change.
Tuesday, February 11th 2020 - 07:55 UTC
Brazilian January inflation at its lowest driven by sharp decline in meat prices

Brazilian inflation kicked off the year on a soft footing, official figures showed, as the IPCA consumer price index posted its smallest January increase since the country’s “Real Plan” was launched more than a quarter of a century ago.
Tuesday, February 11th 2020 - 07:43 UTC
Scotland taking steps to hold a referendum on independence, First Minister Sturgeon tells Brussels

Scotland is already taking steps to hold a referendum on independence and believes it is a matter of when rather than if the country separates from the rest of Britain, Scotland's First Minister said on Monday.
Tuesday, February 11th 2020 - 07:40 UTC
Germany reports outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu virus

Germany has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu virus in a backyard in the southwestern part of the country, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said on Monday.
Tuesday, February 11th 2020 - 07:36 UTC
Political turmoil in Germany: Chancellor Merkel's handpicked successor is quitting

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Chancellor Angela Merkel's protégée and leader of their conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), will not run for chancellor in Germany's federal election next year, a source in her party said on Monday.
Tuesday, February 11th 2020 - 07:26 UTC
Scottish salmon farmers face “huge unnecessary burdens” under Brexit

Salmon farmers face “huge unnecessary burdens” and a loss of market share under UK government plans for Brexit. The chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) said firms were being told to prepare for trade barriers with the EU. The industry is also warning that added red tape could see £9m on costs and delays to the departure of fresh fish.