Author: Business News Asia

Blue Bell Ice Cream said it has voluntarily shut down operations at its Broken Arrow Oklahoma plant to pave the way for a thorough inspection following the deaths of three people linked to a foodborne illness. “We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing everything possible to provide our consumers with safe products and to preserve the trust we have built with them and their families for more than a century,” the company said in a statement. The company said its other plants will continue to operate, adding that the Broken…

Local government units in areas that are expected to be hit by typhoon Chedeng (international name Maysak) in the Philippines are gearing up for the onslaught of the storm, which is expected to make landfall in Casiguran, Aurora. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the location of the typhoon’s center was 625 kilometers East Southeast of Casiguran, Aurora as of 5 a.m. Saturday. The typhoon still packs maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It was forecast to move West Northwest at 19 kph.…

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) placed seven provinces in Luzon under public storm warning signal Number 1 as typhoon Chedeng, international name Maysak, continues to move West Northwestward closer to Eastern Luzon. Public storms warning signal Number was raised in the provinces of Isabela, Aurora, Quirino, Quezon (including Polillo Island), Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. Signal Number 1 means winds of 30 to 60 kilometers per hour are expected in at least 36 hours. Based on the latest Pagasa forecast, Chedeng has maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness…

Here are the top business stories around Asia for April 3, 2015 Japan’s Richest Man is Tadashi Yanai The latest list released by Forbes showed that retail mogul Tadashi Yanai is the richest man in Japan with a net worth of USD21.1 billion. Yanai, founder and CEO of Fast Retailing, was ranked second last year, thanks to the sales increase at his apparel chain, Uniqlo. Joining Yanai in the top 10 are Masayoshi Son (USD13.9 billion), Nobutada Saji & family (USD10.9 billion), Hiroshi Mikitani (USD10.5 billion), Takemitsu Takizaki (USD8.8 billion), Keiichiro Takahara & family (USD5.4 billion), Han Chang-Woo & family…

A study conducted by the Asian Diabetes Foundation showed that Singapore has the highest proportion of younger type-2 diabetes patients, a report by Channel News Asia said. The survey, which spanned two-years and involved 319 patients from Singapore, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Vietnam and Taiwan, also revealed that 3 in 10 Singaporeans had diabetes before reaching the age of 40. The proportion with younger patients in Singapore is the highest among the nine countries involved in the two-year survey by the Asian Diabetes Foundation. According to the study, Singapore currently has more than 498,000 patients…

What started as a child’s play turned tragic when a six-year-old died after falling from the second floor of a mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday afternoon. Authorities said the girl, identified as Nurhayada Sofia Musa, was playing near the escalator of the Kenanga Wholesale City Mall when she accidentally fell from the second floor and into the ground floor. Dang Wangi Police Chief ACP Zainol Samah said the child died on scene due to severe head injuries. Her body was brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for post-mortem examination. The six-year-old girl was with her parents coming into the…

SINGAPORE – Two foreign workers died while three others were injured when fire broke out in their rented apartment at 88 Lorong 6 Geylang Friday morning. The identities of the fatalities, believed to be foreign workers, have not been disclosed yet. They were declared dead at the scene by responding paramedics. According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the fire struck a unit on the second level of the four-storey building where the victims were asleep at 4 a.m. The unit is rented out by the owner, identified as Mrs Bala, for about a year already. When paramedics arrived…

PHILIPPINES – Typhoon Chedeng, international name Maysak, has weakened slightly as it moves towards the eastern coast of Central and Northern Luzon in the Philippines, the country’s weather forecaster said. According to the latest severe weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) at 2 pm Friday, typhoon Chedeng was located at 880 kilometers East Southeast of Casiguran, Aurora. It continues to pack maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph. The strength of the typhoon was much weaker than the 240 kph registered before it entered…

MALAYSIA – Malaysian Prime Minister Mohd Najib Tun Razak turned to Twitter to announce that Malaysia condemned the attack by militant group al-Shabag in Garissa University College in Kenya that killed 147 people. In a post on his Twitter account, the Malaysian Prime Minister said Malaysia condemns the attack in Kenya and stressed that extremism committed in the name of Islam will always be rejected in his country. “Msia condemns the attack in Kenya and rejects extremism committed in the name of Islam. Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance & respect”. The Malaysian prime minister joins the number of…

South Korea’s largest car manufacturer, Hyundai Motor Co, and Japanese car producer Toyota Motor Corp are expanding their car production capacity in China with new plants in the country. Toyota was expected to announce building a new car plant in China, ending a three-year expansion freeze. The China expansion is part of the USD1.3 billion investment that Toyota will pour in Chin and Mexico. The new car plant, which will be located in the city of Guangzhou, will increase Toyota’s annual production capacity in China by up to 100,000. The new plant will produce up to 100,000 Yaris subcompacts a…

PHILIPPINES – An unregistered passenger vessel overloaded with cargo capsized in the waters off Pata and Tapul Island in the province of Sulu Thursday night, the Philippine Coast Guard said today. Based on the report released by the military’s Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), the MPB Wilayza was believed to be overloaded with several sacks of cements, iron bars and more than 50 passengers and crew when it capsized Thursday night. The sinking occurred as typhoon Chedeng, international name Maysak, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday night. Authorities, however, said the sea condition was normal when the vessel capsized.…

The international community has strongly condemned the brutal attack by militant group al-Shabab in Garissa University College in Kenya, Thursday, killing at least 147 people. Most of those killed were Christian students who were sleeping at the university dorms when the attacked occurred, authorities said. The United States has offered assistance in the fight against al-Shabab while other world leaders said they will assist in going after the terror group. Authorities said they have taken Garissa University College under control following the deadly attack. Four of the armed attackers were killed. Kenya immediately implemented a national curfew following the deadly siege.…

PHILIPPINES – An unregistered passenger vessel overloaded with cargo capsized in the waters off Pata and Tapul Island in the province of Sulu Thursday night, the Philippine Coast Guard said today. Based on the report released by the military’s Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), the MPB Wilayza was believed to be overloaded with several sacks of cements, iron bars and more than 50 passengers and crew when it capsized Thursday night. The sinking occurred as typhoon Chedeng, international name Maysak, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday night. Authorities, however, said the sea condition was normal when the vessel capsized.…

Here are the top business stories around the world for April 2, 2015. McDonalds, Walmart Raise Workers’ Pay Fastfood giant McDonald’s and US retailer Walmart have voluntarily agreed to increase low-wage workers at its stores in the US, joining other major US companies to raise wages as the country’s economy has picked up. McDonald’s also said it will add benefits for its more than 90,000 workers. GoDaddy’s Stock Market Debut Makes a Splash Internet registrar GoDaddy Inc made a splash on Wednesday as its shares soared 31 percent on the first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.…

Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, one of Southeast Asia’s notorious militants, was killed by Philippines troops in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed. The confirmation of Marwan’s death was hailed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which have been under fire for the botched raid that killed 44 elite policemen. The raid was aimed at arresting Marwan, who was allegedly cuddled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Marwan was a bomb-making expert. Officials said Marwan was responsible for dozens of bombings over the past decade that killed…

New York-based global financial information service provider Bloomberg LP announced plans to ramp up hiring of more news professionals in China this year as it seeks to localize operations in the country. Bloomberg Chairman Peter Grauer said the privately owned company will hire more news professionals in China, with focus on those who can write about what is going on in the markets using the local language. “We will also be in a position to translate stories from outside the country that are of interest to the local markets and the local economy as well,” he told China Daily, adding…

KENYA – At least 15 people were killed while more than 500 students remained unaccounted for after militants from the Somali terror group Al-Shabaab attacked Garissa University College in Kenya early Thursday, authorities said. The gunmen killed students and police officers and are holding hostages, a militant spokesman and aid officials confirmed. The situation was continuing, authorities said. “The attackers shot the students and university staff indiscriminately. We are in heavy operation as the attackers are still holding their position in the students’ hostel at the university,” according to a statement from Kenyan Police Inspector-General Joseph Boinnet. Authorities said the…

Typhoon Chedeng, international name Maysak, may not make landfall on Saturday as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said the movement of the typhoon has slowed down. The weather agency in the Philippines said Chedeng could make landfall in Aurora-Isabela area on Easter Sunday, when most of the Christian Filipinos travel via boats and planes to go back to their work the following day. Pagasa also delayed the raising of public storm signals from Thursday afternoon to Thursday night because of the slow movement of the typhoon. “Typhoon Chedeng has slightly weakened as it continues to move…

PHILIPPINES – At least three persons were killed while 13 others were injured when a passenger van collided with a passenger bus in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, Thursday. The vehicular accident occurred just as millions of Filipinos rush to their hometowns to observe the Holy Week, commemorating the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Kauswagan Police Station Chief Senior Insp. Mark Anthony Quita said the passenger van crashed head on with the bus owned by Rural Transit Mindanao Incorporated along the national road of Kauswagan in the province of Lanao del Norte. The bus driver, identified as Melvin Dasdasan of…

Filipino hitmaker Roel Cortez, the singer behind the hit songs “Napakasakit Kuya Eddie” and “Iniibig Kita” has died after battling colon cancer, his family has confirmed. Details about his death have not been disclosed as of this posting yet but sources said Cortez had been battling the cancer for years. Cortez was featured in the GMA Show “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho”, where he was seen suffering from cancer and poverty. Cortez, born in 1967, rose to fame due to his songs and compositions in the early 80s. Among his notable songs are “Napakasakit Kuya Eddie”, which has become an anthem…