Chartis Global Risk Assessments - China's political elite had planned on a smooth ride over the next year as a fifth generation of leaders will begin to assume the reins of power. Instead, as highlighted in today's China Monthly Report, the Party has been rocked by a major scandal just as the performance of the economy, itself starting a transition, has become less predictable.

Eurozone Insight: With news that the Greek government, its rescuers and its creditors have reached agreement over a second €130 billion bailout, the imminent risk of a Greek default seems to have been averted. The Eurozone can, for the moment, breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Produced with input from Chartis - The growth of the internet has created a new business and personal environment. Communication – and reaction – is almost instantaneous. Programs allow customers’ details to be stored immediately. Social networking allows businesses to reach a far wider audience than their existing business base and potential readers of advertisements. This new environment has evolved very quickly, and it is still developing. Unfortunately, so are the associated threats and risks.

In 2010 over 3.5 million employees undertook overseas trips. One quarter of these overseas trips were to high or extreme risk locations. Whether it’s safety and security concerns as a result of terrorism and civil unrest or natural disasters such as ash clouds or earthquakes, the threats facing business travellers have rarely been greater.

Chartis Global Risk Assessments - Kenya’s promise is clouded by impending elections and the threat of terrorism from Somalia. Kenya’s political and economic outlook is dominated by the impending presidential and legislative elections. Although due before the end of the year, these could be delayed until March 2013. The last elections, in 2007, triggered a wave of ethnic violence in which more than 1,200 people were killed, shattering Kenya’s long-standing reputation for stability.

Chartis Global Risk Assessments - Morales is caught between the rival demands of foreign investors and his own political base. With Evo Morales now into his seventh year as president, Bolivia has experienced a period of unusual political stability. Prior to his coming to power in 2006, there had been five presidents in as many years, each struggling with a minority mandate. Morales won a landslide victory in December 2005, and enjoyed an even greater re-election triumph five years later.

Chartis Global Risk Assessments - An oil supply surplus is at risk from geopolitical shocks, especially in the Persian Gulf. Oil prices have had a relatively strong start to the year, largely reflecting saber-rattling in the Persian Gulf and an escalation of Islamist militancy in Nigeria. A high political risk premium is expected to keep prices at elevated levels at least in the first quarter of 2012. Later, however, if fears of major supply disruption retreat, fundamentals should reassert themselves and drive prices somewhat lower.

Chartis Global Risk Assessments - The greatest threat to Kazakhstan is lack of clarity over the presidential succession. Eruptions of labor unrest and Islamist militancy require reassessment of political risk in Kazakhstan, an energy-rich and strategically pivotal state in Central Asia.

Chartis Global Risk Assessments - North Korean transition poses challenges for Beijing/Tentative signs of turnaround in China’s economy/Village revolt tests leaders’ approach to unrest/Shale gas ventures with US firms expanding

Chartis Global Risk Assessments - How prudent is Brazil’s approach to exploiting vast offshore reserves of pre-salt oil? Brazil’s oil windfall may well be delayed because the demands on Petrobras are so onerous.

Chartis Global Risk Assessments - How much progress has Nigeria made with its economic reform program? Nigeria, geared up for ambitious reforms, is reeling from a fierce campaign of Islamist terrorism.

Chartis Global Risk Assessments - What will Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency mean for Russia’s political and economic prospects? Foreign investors will still face hazards but new opportunities may beckon in the energy sector.

Reprint from Strategic Risk - Two years ago the Federation of European Risk Management Associations entitled its biennial forum ‘Global village: the future of risk management’. It was an apposite title. Almost all major European companies have become global organisations to some extent, selling and sourcing goods and services beyond the European boundaries.

Reprint from Strategic Risk - This guide looks at the claims issues topping the agenda today, whether that’s in connection with property, business interruption and liability claims, or guidance on three associated areas: fraud, absence management and reputational damage.

Reprint from Commercial Risks Europe - Companies are often unaware of the potentially huge environmental exposures they face and are unclear about whether their existing general liability policy covers these risks.

Regulations effective in all parts of the UK includes new concepts to make businesses that cause environmental damage responsible for the full consequences.

Chartis White Paper - The Chartis liability proposition for large companies helps them improve the quality of their risk and control their costs with a range of inclusive services. It also provides solutions for some emerging risks highlighted in research among AIRMIC members.

This note looks at two particularly important areas of the legislation: directors’ duties and the rights of shareholders to sue directors (“derivative actions”).