Viral Outbreak: Chinese premier asks EU for swift medical supplies
Reuters and AFP, BEIJINGChinese Premier Li Keqiang (李克強) has asked the EU to facilitate China’s urgent procurement of medical supplies from member countries, the Chinese government said yesterday, amid a coronavirus outbreak that has killed 259 people and infected nearly 12,000. Other governments need to prepare for “domestic outbreak control” if the disease spreads in their countries, WHO representative in Beijing Gauden Galea said. The US, Japan, the UK, Germany and other nations had already advised their citizens not to travel to China. Wuhan officials have been criticized online for withholding information about the outbreak until late December, despite knowing of it weeks earlier. China finally lurched into action last week, effectively quarantining whole cities in Hubei and tens of millions of people.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
NT dollar and safe havens rise against the greenback
The Australian dollar fell to a four-month low against the US dollar, while China’s offshore yuan struggled to find a footing in the wake of the virus outbreak. The greenback added 0.1 percent to 6.9884 yuan, although that was some way off the 7.0038 level the yuan dropped to on Thursday. The US dollar fell 0.1 percent against the yen to ￥108.84 in morning trading and dropped 0.3 percent versus the Swiss franc to SF0.9668. The New Zealand dollar dropped 0.5 percent to US$0.6464, after earlier touching a two-month low. The Australian dollar lost 0.3 percent to US$0.6699, hitting a four-month low earlier in the session.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Badminton event canceled in China over outbreak fears
ReutersThe coronavirus epidemic continued to wreak havoc on the international sporting calendar on Saturday, when the Lingshui China Masters badminton tournament, part of the qualifying process for the Tokyo Olympics, was postponed. “The Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Chinese Badminton Association (CBA) can confirm the decision to postpone the Lingshui China Masters 2020 ... in the wake of growing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in China and surrounding areas,” the BWF statement said. The BWF said it hoped the flagship Badminton Asia Championships might still go ahead in Wuhan from April 21 to 26. “It is ... too early at this time to make any final conclusions related to this event,” the statement said. “The 2020 Badminton Asia Championships falls within the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification window and is one of the last opportunities for athletes to qualify for the Olympics Games,” it said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Viral Outbreak: US senators call for WHO observer status
By Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterUS Senator Cory Gardner and six other Republican senators on Friday urged WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to grant Taiwan “observer” status in the global agency’s fight against the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). “It is an unacceptable health hazard to the 23 million people of Taiwan to rely on a demonstrably unreliable PRC [People’s Republic of China] to receive information from the WHO. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Asia for both passengers and freight,” they wrote. “The hazards of relying on the PRC to facilitate a common understanding have regional implications, especially for Asian countries that lack Taiwan’s advanced healthcare system,” they wrote. The senators urged the WHO to “grant Taiwan observer status at WHO meetings and gatherings,” and provide “Taiwan with the information and assistance they need to deal with this latest outbreak” in the interim.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
DPP’s Yu Shyi-kun elected legislative speaker
By Sean Lin / Staff reporterFormer premier Yu Shyi-kun (游錫堃) was yesterday elected legislative speaker by the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) caucus, while DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) was elected deputy speaker for a second term. The legislative speaker election was held at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei after the new lawmakers were sworn in. Yu, a first-time legislator, garnered 73 votes, while rival Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) won 36 votes. KMT Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) — who was the party’s deputy legislative speaker candidate — Nonpartisan Solidarity Union (NSU) Legislator May Chin (高金素梅) and rookie DPP Legislator Lai Pin-yu (賴品妤) each earned one vote, while a spoiled vote was also cast. This, coupled with a robust economy and a strong national defense system, would make Taiwan a small but powerful nation, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Defending champs Crusaders start with win
AFPThe Canterbury Crusaders launched their Super Rugby title defense with a 43-25 victory over the NSW Waratahs in an entertaining nine-try festival in Nelson, New Zealand, yesterday. It was the pupil outsmarting the master as the Crusaders scored six tries to three to confirm their status as championship frontrunners again. The Crusaders showed their wide-ranging counterattacking repertoire, mixing wide passes with close-range off-loads and deft kicks in behind the defense had the visitors scrambling. However, the Crusaders stepped up another gear with Ennor and Jordan scoring their second tries, both finishing long-range attacks while Luke Romano crashed over from close to the line. Alex Newsome scored the Waratahs third try just before fulltime.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
KMT’s Hau calls for party to be tougher with China
Hau is running for party chairperson. Hau made similar comments on Friday in an interview with TV political talk show host Jaw Shaw-kang (趙少康) on Situation Room. “Should Beijing refuse to acknowledge the ROC, then we no longer need to interact with them,” Hau said. “Some [party] members have, indeed, backed down too much,” he said, referencing the perception that the KMT was often weak when facing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The party chairperson, leaders and members of a certain rank should decline all offers by the Chinese government to “treat them” to meals during future visits, Hau said.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Ko urges clarity on allocation of masks across the nation
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe central government should explain how surgical masks are allocated across the nation to prevent 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection, or there might be a political backlash if an outbreak occurs and people cannot purchase masks, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday. “There has not yet been an outbreak of 2019-nCoV in communities, but if there is an outbreak, panic buying of masks would become more serious,” Ko said. Taiwan should implement more stringent preventive measures in the coming week, because there might be some infected people who have not yet shown symptoms given the virus’ 14-day incubation period, he said. These measures could be loosened if no outbreak occurs in the coming week, he said. In related news, police seized tens of thousands of masks in outbound postal packages, as the government continued its crackdown to secure supplies in Taiwan.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Wall Street sinks on virus outbreak fears
APWall Street on Friday fell sharply as fears spread through the markets that a virus outbreak emanating from China will dent global growth. Airlines fell after Delta Air Lines Inc and American Airlines Inc suspended flights to and from China. Then came the virus outbreak in China. These exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are moving on investors’ expectations for where Chinese stocks would be if markets in China were still open. American Airlines fell 3.2 percent and Delta slipped 2.4 percent.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
European equities drop on virus cases, weak data
The pan-European STOXX 600 on Friday ended down 4.46 points, or 1.1 percent, at 410.70, widening losses to 3.1 percent from 423.64 on Jan. 24, its worst week in almost six months. On the month, it lost 1.2 percent — its worst January since 2016. “Each new case adds to the uncertainty about the virus,” Cooperatieve Rabobank UA strategist Philip Marey said. Travel and leisure stocks also extended losses as more airlines suspended flights to and from China. The UK’s official exit from the EU later on Friday had no immediate effects on stocks, but it fuels uncertainty going forward.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Local shares stage mild rebound
Staff writer, with CNA and AFPLocal shares on Friday rebounded slightly after plunging a session earlier, but market sentiment was still hurt by uncertainty over a spreading coronavirus epidemic, dealers said. “After yesterday’s steep fall, today’s rebound failed to attract many investors to chase prices, which limited the upturn,” Huang said. Among the rebounding big tech stocks, TSMC, the most heavily weighted stock in the local market, rose 1.11 percent to close at NT$320, with 62.24 million shares changing hands. Among them, Formosa Plastics Corp (台灣塑膠) rose 1.97 percent to close at NT$93.40 and Nan Ya Plastics Corp (南亞塑膠) gained 1.6 percent to end at NT$69.70. Food and beverage conglomerate Uni-President Enterprises Corp (統一企業) rose 0.83 percent to close at NT$72.60 and Asia Cement Corp (亞洲水泥) added 0.56 percent to end at NT$45.15.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Pets not spreading virus, WHO says
By Liu Pei-fen and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe WHO on Wednesday posted a statement on Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo, debunking rumors that dogs and cats could contract or transmit the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). “No current evidence shows that domestic pets, such as dogs and cats, could catch the novel coronavirus,” the post said in Mandarin. Some online commenters said Chinese media were promoting panic, as they reportedly exaggerated Li’s statement to mean that pets could spread the virus, when Li had said that pets that have had contact with people infected by 2019-nCoV should be quarantined. Worried pet owners could keep their animals away from crowded places and carefully spray them with disinfectant with 75 percent alcohol content to remove bacteria and germs after being outside, Taiwan Animal Protection Monitor Network said, citing a veterinarian’s suggestions. However, owners should avoid the eyes, mouth, nose and any open wounds when applying a disinfectant, it added.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Oil has slowest start since 1991 as virus effects loom
BloombergOil is off to the worst start to a year since 1991, last month tumbling 16 percent on concern that the spread of a coronavirus in China will curb demand for transportation fuels. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called the virus an unprecedented public health threat. “This virus is requiring more out of the group as the demand picture gets weaker,” CIBC Private Wealth Management senior equity trader Rebecca Babin said. The more active April contract slid US$0.71 to US$56.62 per barrel, US$4.94 per barrel more than West Texas Intermediate for that month. Copper is widely used in manufacturing and is often seen as an indicator of how that sector is doing.
Source:Taipei Times
February 01, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Fears: WHO declares global emergency
China first informed the WHO about cases of the new virus in late December. Eighteen other countries have since reported cases, as scientists race to understand how exactly the virus is spreading and how severe it is. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted the worrisome spread of the virus between people outside China. On Thursday, France confirmed that a doctor who was in contact with a patient with the new virus later became infected. Meanwhile, the US and South Korea confirmed their first cases of person-to-person spread of the virus.
Source:Taipei Times
January 31, 2020 15:56 UTC
Los Angeles Clippers honor Bryant
AFP, LOS ANGELESDe’Aaron Fox on Thursday scored a career-high 34 points as the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers 124-103 in the first game at the Staples Center since Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash. 24 Los Angeles Lakers jerseys were left uncovered in the upper left corner of the arena. Buddy Hield added 19 points off the bench for the Kings, who set a franchise record with 21 three-pointers. Powell followed with a three-pointer and then a dunk with 35 seconds left to give the Raptors a six-point lead. He then added two free throws to get the lead back to six with 20 seconds left.
Source:Taipei Times
January 31, 2020 15:56 UTC