Stories for February 2020

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.
Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 07:20 UTC
Assange said Trump offered to pardon him if he let Russia off Wikileaks disclosures

U.S. President Donald Trump offered to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he said that Russia had nothing to do with WikiLeaks’ publication of Democratic Party emails in 2016, a London court heard on Wednesday. Assange appeared by videolink from prison as lawyers discussed the management of his hearing next week to decide whether he should be extradited to the United States.
Wednesday, February 19th 2020 - 06:49 UTC
China lifts tariffs on 696 products imported from the US, including farm and energy products

China said on Tuesday it would accept applications for new tariff exemptions for 696 products imported from the United States including key agricultural and energy products such as pork, beef, soybeans, liquefied natural gas and crude oil.
Wednesday, February 19th 2020 - 06:48 UTC
Modern, habitat restored South Georgia recalls Possession Day and James Cook in 1775

Some 245 years and a month ago, James Cook, after 3 years at sea, took possession of South Georgia and claimed the land for His Britannic Majesty, King George the Third. On what must have been a routine summer’s day (January 17th) in the South-West Atlantic, the explorer described what he had discovered as a ‘land doomed by nature to perpetual frigidness’.
Wednesday, February 19th 2020 - 06:46 UTC
Argentina industrial activity plummeted 6.3% in 2019, for the second year running

Argentina industrial activity plummeted 6.3% during 2019, completing two consecutive years of losses, reported the Argentina Industrial Union following a survey of the sector which showed auto manufacturing suffered the greatest contraction, 32.5%.
Wednesday, February 19th 2020 - 06:45 UTC
IMF chief: we are rethinking our advice to emerging markets

We need to understand better how various policy options interact our goal is to provide country-specific advice on the appropriate mix of policies needed to preserve growth and financial stability
Wednesday, February 19th 2020 - 06:45 UTC
Colombia orders Facebook to strengthen security measures to protect users personal data

Colombia issued an ultimatum to Facebook, telling the Silicon Valley-based tech giant it must strengthen its security measures to better protect users' personal data in the Andean country.
Wednesday, February 19th 2020 - 06:42 UTC
Cuba short of oil forced to burn old tyres to power factories

The Cuban government has ordered a cement factory to burn old tyres to power its operations and save on oil, amid a worsening fuel shortage brought on by US sanctions on the Communist island.