1. WORLD’S LARGEST MOBILE PHONE TRADE SHOW CANCELED AMID CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS: The Mobile World Congress, the world’s biggest trade show for mobile phone manufacturers and others in the industry, has been canceled because of the coronavirus. Originally slated to take place February 24-27 in Barcelona, the move comes after major exhibitors like Sony and Amazon pulled out of the show. Fortune: “The conference’s organizer, GSMA, said in a statement that ‘global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern, and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event.’ The cancellation of the event, which could have significant business implications, is one of the most dramatic examples yet of the global impact of the continuing coronavirus outbreak.”
2. SENATOR MITT ROMNEY THREATENED WITH BODILY HARM IF HE ATTENDS CPAC 2020: Senator Mitt Romney’s reasons not to attend this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, slated for February 26-29, is growing by the minute. First, his invitation to CPAC, the Republican Party’s biggest annual get together, was revoked last month after he voted to hear from additional witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the senate. Now, CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp has publicly advised the rogue senator to fear for his safety if he makes an appearance at the event. Business Insider: “‘This year, I would actually be afraid for his physical safety, people are so mad at him,’ Matt Schlapp told Full Court Press with Greta Susteren on Sunday. Schlapp, responding to criticism of his claims Monday, tweeted that ‘I don't want anyone to get physical [with] any senator. But you know what you are doing when you whisper in Sen. Romney's ear to encourage a continuing coup.’”
3. SEAN PENN FINDS GOOD USE OF SELFIES AT HURRICANE RELIEF BENEFIT: During the 10th anniversary CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) gala Wednesday, raising funds for international disaster relief, actor Sean Penn managed to find a way to put his disdain for selfies to good use: charge a hefty fee to attendees for the snaps. Held at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, the event comes a decade after a 7.0 earthquake in Haiti killed 50,000 to 100,000 people and displaced nearly a million more. Variety: “'Ten years of experience at this event tells me that sometimes people like to take selfies, and I am so uncomfortable with that. … I don’t know why,' Penn said, before offering a creative solution that would benefit CORE. 'But for the rest of the night, I am anxious to do it. We’ll go $5,000 a pop. So bring your checkbook if you’re talking to me.'”