China

Washington, D.C.-Between 2000 and 2007, carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion worldwide increased 22 percent to an estimated 8.2 billion tons, according to the latest Vital Signs Update released by the Worldwatch Institute. China accounted for a staggering 57 percent of the growth in emissions during this period, while India contributed 8 percent and the United States and Europe contributed 4 and 3 percent, respectively.    » read more »

August 12, 2008 -- The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Sun Smarties™ Children’s Board Skirts

Children’s Board Skirts Recalled By Chelsea & Scott Ltd. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Units: About 600

Manufacturer: Chelsea & Scott Ltd., of Lake Bluff, Ill.

Hazard: The paint on the grommets of the skirts contains an excess level of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

August 1, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, other senior Members of Congress, and families impacted by unsafe toys joined together at an enrollment ceremony today for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. This bill, which now goes to President Bush for his signature into law, gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission the resources, authority, and oversight it needs to protect children from lead, dangerous toys and other unsafe products.

“At the beginning of this Congress, I proudly gaveled the Congress to order in the name of all of America’s children, promising to make this a children’s Congress. This week, we have more than one reason to be honoring that pledge and be glad about that.    » read more »

4 August 2008 -- As China makes last minute preparations to host the Olympics, the environment is proving to be one major wild card that Chinese leaders cannot totally control. Olympic host city Beijing has some of the most polluted air in the world. Despite measures aimed at clearing the skies, the air is still often a disturbing murky gray.

These days, people watch the skies above Beijing closely. Some days, especially after it rains, the skies are relatively clear.

More often than not, though, a thick murky haze fills the air and makes it nearly impossible to see nearby buildings.

What is causing Beijing's gray skies? Is it natural phenomena, or is it pollution?    » read more »

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 -- "China Inside Out," a documentary reported by ABC News' Bob Woodruff, explores the stunning global transformation that is taking place at the outset of what is already being called "The Chinese Century." While much of American foreign policy has been focused on the Global War on Terror, China has been shaking hands and making deals all around the world. In this hour-long documentary, Woodruff examines four of those relationships to discover how China's rise is impacting all of us. "China Inside Out: Bob Woodruff Reports" will air on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on a special edition of "Primetime" on ABC.    » read more »

Caterpillar Announces Plans to Build Small-Sized Hydraulic Excavators in China

BEIJING, People's Republic of China (PRC), July 1, 2008 - Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) announced today plans to build world-class small-sized (less than 20 tons) hydraulic excavators in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China. This facility fits into Caterpillar's China and emerging markets, strategy, and it will be a key element of the company's worldwide excavator manufacturing footprint. The announcement follows the signing of an investment agreement between Caterpillar and Jiangning Science Park Administrative Committee (JSPAC). The proposed facility will be located in the Jiangning Science Park district (JSP) and wholly owned and operated by Caterpillar.    » read more »

WILMINGTON, Del., July 1, 2008 – The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has specified the BAX® system as an official method for pathogen detection in food imports and exports.

AQSIQ is a government agency responsible for monitoring the safety and quality of food in China. The agency recently published a new professional standard for entry/exit inspection and quarantine in the PRC. Standard SN/T1869-2007describes the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for rapid pathogen detection and names the automated BAX® system as an approved PCR method for detecting Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni and E. sakazakii in food.    » read more »

CAMDEN, N.J., July 1, 2008 -- Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) today outlined the evolution of several key strategies and detailed innovations planned for the upcoming fiscal year at a meeting with investors. Campbell's management described plans for its U.S. soup business and its expansion in Russia and China. A replay of the presentation can be accessed via a Web cast at campbellsoupcompany.com.    » read more »

GE caring for more than 10,500 athletes from over 200 countries at Beijing Games with advanced MRI, ultrasound and ECG technologies

BEIJING, 01 July 2008 -- GE Healthcare, the US$17 billion healthcare business of General Electric Company (GE), is working with medical leaders in the Olympic Movement to advance the use of innovative medical imaging technologies to provide insight into athlete health, as well as benefits for the general public. The company will supply a broad array of medical technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and electrocardiogram (ECG) to the Olympic Village General Hospital. In addition, three National Olympic Committees, including China, U.S.    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement after the International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded that Chinese pipe producers have injured U.S. manufacturers for several years by dumping circular welded steel pipe exports into our market - a practice which has been enabled through Chinese pipe producers receiving illegal government subsidies.

"I appreciate and support the ITC determination. This is the first case in the history of U.S. trade agreement enforcement involving subsidies in China that has resulted in the imposition of countervailing duties by the U.S. Department of Commerce.    » read more »

23 June 2008 -- Chinese authorities say they have punished 31 officials and fired 12 others because of their poor handling of relief supplies and response to the country's massive earthquake last month.

China's top anti-corruption official, Ma Wen, told reporters Monday that most of the demerits and firings were a response to complaints about misuse of tents and improper distribution of food and other goods.

China's May 12 quake killed nearly 70,000 people and left millions homeless. The government has previously warned that it would come down hard on those who misused aid funds or relief supplies.

Corruption is rampant across China, and there is concern about the use and destination of donations.    » read more »

17 June 2008 -- Great pandas have been a boon to zoos that can afford them, but they have raised visitors' expectations and put pressure on smaller zoos to show off
Forestry officials in China say they estimate that the powerful May 12 earthquake destroyed or damaged more than 80 percent of the giant panda's remaining habitat.

Giant panda: Photo by Chi King (CC)

A senior forestry official told a Hong Kong newspaper the "South China Morning Post" that about two-thirds of the wild population is likely dead, injured or facing starvation.    » read more »

Beijing -- 16 June 2008 -- Massive flooding across a broad stretch of southern China has killed 57 people and forced more than one million others to flee their homes.

For China, spring and summer flooding has become a regular event. But Civil Affairs Ministry official Li Baojun says this year is different.

Flooding in China: Photo by Dennis Kruyt (CC)

Li says there are floods every year, but that in some areas, this has been the highest rainfall in history. He especially points to southern Guangdong province, which has seen 250 to 500 millimeters of rain since the
second half of May.    » read more »

15 June 2008 -- Chinese state meteorologists say heavy rains are likely to worsen floods that have killed at least 57 people and forced about 1.3 million others to flee their homes.

Torrential rains have battered eastern and southern China over the past week. The prosperous southern province of Guangdong has been the hardest-hit. China's official Xinhua news agency says rains have killed at least 20 people there.

Xinhua says the flooding in the Pearl River delta is the worst in 50 years. It says the rains have washed away some roads and submerged farmland across nine provinces. Many areas have been hit by landslides.

More rain is expected in the area over the next 10 days.    » read more »

Hainan Airlines now offering the only non-stop flight between the Northwest and China

June 9, 2008 -- SEA-TAC – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today helped greet passengers arriving on Hainan Airlines’ new direct passenger flight between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Beijing, and proclaimed today, “Hainan Airlines’ Day,” in Washington.

Hainan’s new flight is the first non-stop commercial flight between the Washington state and China since 1997. “This new direct flight is great economic news for Washington,” Gregoire stated during the celebration. “It comes at a time when other parts of the nation are facing a struggling economy, and airlines are being impacted by high fuel prices and even consolidating or limiting existing flights.”    » read more »