Stories for February 20th 2020

Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Coronavirus “is our most pressing uncertainty...” for the global economy, admits IMF chief

In the best-case scenario, the economic hit from the epidemic in China will be short-lived, but it comes as the global economy remains fragile, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 08:54 UTC
World Bank aid to the neediest countries ended in offshore bank accounts, shows data from tax havens and BIS

World Bank aid payments to the neediest countries appear to trigger money flows to offshore bank accounts, suggesting funds are siphoned off from the nations they are meant to help, according to a study published on Tuesday.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 08:39 UTC
Montreal joins France and Germany “In 2020 there will be no more scooters on the street”

Montreal on Wednesday called a halt to its electric scooter scheme, saying that riders broke rules and almost always parked illegally. The Canadian city launched a pilot project in June with 680 scooters and electric bikes, but authorities judged that the test period had been a “failure.”
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 08:32 UTC
London: She played her violin while surgeons removed a tumor in the brain

A violinist helped surgeons avoid damage to her brain during surgery to remove a tumor by playing her instrument, the UK hospital where she underwent the innovative procedure said. Surgeons came up with the novel approach to ensure that areas of Dagmar Turner's brain responsible for intricate hand movements were not affected during the precision
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 08:25 UTC
Beijing/US media war: three WSJ newsroom journalists expelled over an OPED column

China on Wednesday ordered three reporters from The Wall Street Journal to leave the country over what Beijing deemed a racist headline, in one of the harshest moves against foreign media in years.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 08:14 UTC
China back in the market for US agricultural commodities

China is back in the market for US agricultural commodities after issuing a list of products that will be eligible for tariff waivers, according to market sources. US exporters sold at least two sorghum cargoes to China after buyers bid for supplies to be shipped in the first half of the year. Importers also inquired about soybeans on Wednesday, a day after asking about wheat prices in a move that sent Chicago futures rallying.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 08:06 UTC
Jaguar Land Rover running out of Chinese parts for UK factories: some parts flown in suitcases

Jaguar Land Rover has flown in parts in suitcases as the effects of coronavirus take a toll on the carmaker's supply chain. It said it could start to run out of Chinese parts for its UK factories after two weeks.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 07:53 UTC
US considers five China state run media entities as “foreign missions” and must register with the State Department

The United States will begin treating five major Chinese state-run media entities with U.S. operations as “foreign missions” and operatives of Beijing’s government, requiring them to register their employees and U.S. properties with the State Department.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 07:50 UTC
Cayman Islands, Panama, Palau and Seychelles in the EU tax havens blacklist

The European Union has added the Cayman Islands, a UK overseas territory, to its tax havens blacklist. It joins Oman, Fiji and Vanuatu, which have also been accused of failing to crack down on tax abuse.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 07:35 UTC
Utah Senate unanimously approves decriminalizing polygamy among consenting adults

$The bill, which would treat the offense of plural marriage as a simple infraction on par with a parking ticket, now moves to the Utah House of Representatives$

The Utah State Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday effectively to decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults, reducing penalties for practice with deep religious roots in the predominantly Mormon state.