Stories for 2020

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.
Monday, February 10th 2020 - 10:34 UTC
Francis expected to receive ex president Lula at the Vatican next Thursday

Pope Francis will receive former Brazilian president Lula de Silva next February 13, according to reports advanced by the country's media and later confirmed by Lula in his twitter account.
Monday, February 10th 2020 - 08:56 UTC
Cristina Fernandez: Argentina will not pay “even half a cent” of its IMF debt until the country exits recession

Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said on Saturday in Havana that the government will not pay “even half a cent” of its debt back to the International Monetary Fund before the country has exited recession.
Monday, February 10th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
France, Brazil's biggest military threat over the next 20 years and an Amazon invasion?

France is expected to be Brazil's biggest military threat over the next 20 years and could invade the Amazon in 2035, according to a secret report published by Brazilian media on Friday. Although the French embassy jokingly “saluted” its “limitless imagination”, the military document is aimed at redefining the country's foreign policy strategy and could add yet another chapter to its troubled relations with France.
Monday, February 10th 2020 - 08:45 UTC
Argentine Catholic Church readies for the anti/abortion battle: rally on Women's Day

The Catholic Church in Argentina has called an anti-abortion rally to coincide with International Women's Day, after centre-left President Alberto Fernandez spoke in favor of decriminalization of the issue.
Monday, February 10th 2020 - 08:37 UTC
Korean satire makes history by winning Oscar's Best Picture award

South Korean satire Parasite scored a stunning upset and made Oscars history when it won the Best Picture award– the first film in a foreign language to do so. Oscar's watchers had considered the Best Picture category a three-way race between independent social satire Parasite, British director Sam Mendes' immersive World War One movie 1917 from Universal Pictures, and Quentin Tarantino's love letter to show business, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, from Sony Pictures.
Monday, February 10th 2020 - 08:34 UTC
Ex political wing of IRA shocks Irish elections and political system

Left-wing Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein on Sunday demanded to be part of the next Irish government after tallies indicated it secured the most votes in an election that leader Mary Lou McDonald described as a ballot box “revolution”.
Monday, February 10th 2020 - 08:30 UTC
Suspect of killing Rio city council shot dead in the north of Brazil

A suspect in the 2018 assassination of an outspoken Afro-Brazilian member of Rio de Janeiro's city council was shot dead on Sunday after he fired on police sent to arrest him, Brazilian authorities said.