China

China has confirmed human-to-human transmission in the outbreak of a new SARS-like virus as the number of cases soared and authorities Tuesday said a fourth person had died. The news came as the World Health Organization said it would consider declaring an international public health emergency over the outbreak. The coronavirus, which has spread to three other Asian countries and infected more than 200 people in China, has caused alarm because of its genetic similarities to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. The discovery of human-to-human transmission comes as hundreds of millions of people are criss-crossing the country in packed trains, buses and planes this week to celebrate the Lunar New Year with relatives. Health authorities in the central city of Wuhan, where a seafood market has been identified as the centre of the outbreak, said Tuesday that an 89-year-old man became the fourth person … [Read more...] about China says virus spreading between humans as WHO set to meet

Scientists with the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College in London warned in a paper published Friday that the number of cases in the city was likely to be closer to 1,700, much higher than the number officially identified. … [Read more...] about SARS-like virus spreads in China, nearly 140 new cases

The contract was signed between Indonesian state-owned construction firm Pembangunan Perumahan (PP), China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited (CHALIECO) and Borneo Alumina Indonesia (BAI) in Beijing on January 11. BAI is a joint venture between the Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco), the State-owned aluminum producer Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) and the State-owned mining company Aneka Tambang. Construction on the refinery began in December 2019, one year behind the initial plan. It is expected to be completed in 2022 with an annual capacity of over 1 million tonnes. Indonesia now has the only Ketapang alumina refinery in West Kalimantan, which is owned by China – Indonesia joint venture Well Harvest Winning. It has an annual capacity of 1 million tonnes. Other eight refineries capable of producing 8.73 million tonnes are being built and slated for completion next year./. … [Read more...] about Indonesia, China sign deal for alumina refinery

"There is a growing awareness among companies that the negative effects of global warming above two degrees Celsius will have a dramatic impact on bottom line results, business operations and reputation," says Chris Bonnet, Head of ESG Business Services at AGCS. "Failure to take action will trigger regulatory action and influence decisions from customers, shareholders and business partners. Therefore, every company has to define its role, stance and pace for its climate change transition -- and risk managers need to play a key role in this process alongside other functions." … [Read more...] about Allianz Risk Barometer 2020: Business interruption and natural catastrophes remain top risks amongst China companies

But going back to the countryside or other parts of the country to gather with family is an annual ritual that is impossible to miss - the country will come to a grinding halt from Friday (Jan 24) until Thursday next week as it celebrates the incoming Year of the Rat. … [Read more...] about Chinese travellers unfazed as SARS-like virus spreads