Author: Business News Asia

Two United States allies have announced their decisions to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), beating the 31 March deadline set by China for countries that want to be founding members. Denmark submitted its application letter on Saturday while Australia followed on Sunday, China’s Ministry of Finance said, adding that China welcomed the decisions of the two countries. According to the statement issued by the ministry, Denmark will become a founding member of the AIIB on April 12 while Australia will be admitted on April 13 if all existing members approve their applications. In a joint statement with…

Indonesian authorities have officially terminated its search operation in the landslide hit Sukabumi district in West Java Province on Sunday after the bodies of all of those reported missing were recovered. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson of the national disaster management agency, said the operation was terminated because all the 12 bodies of the missing people have been found. Rescuers recovered the 12 bodies under the debris of the damaged houses following the landslide that struck Sukabumi district Saturday night. Nugroho said the landslide was triggered by heavy downpour that softened the soil of a hill in Tegal Panjang village at…

Turkish authorities confirmed that 12 people were killed while five others were seriously injured when a car and a minibus collided with a truck in Yenice District of Turkey’s Sanliurfa province Sunday afternoon. Four of the fatalities died on the spot while eight others died in the hospital while undergoing treatment, authorities said. An investigation into the accident was underway. Five others were still being treated in the hospital but were expected to survive the tragic road accident. How the car and the minibus collided with the truck was still being investigated and the identities of the fatalities have not…

For the fifth time, Australia emerged as champion in the Cricket World Cup, crashing New Zealand by seven wickets in the final at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. Retiring captain Michael Clarke guided cricketing superpower Australia in the finals, playing a key role with a 74-run knock in his final ODI appearance. Clarke (74 from 72) was the standout batsmen for the home side as the world No.1 easily accounted for New Zealand’s modest 183 with 101 balls to spare to confirm itself as king of the one-day format. Clarke got the needed support from Steve Smith, who hit…

At least 20 people were rushed to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries early Sunday after an Air Canada plane overshoot the runway at Halifax Stanfied International Airport in Nova Scotia, authorities said today. Airport spokesman Peter Spurway said the Airbus A320 plane took a very hard landing and skidded off the runway. The incident was attributed to bad weather. Heavy snow was reported in the area at the time of the accident, which was approximately 12:43 a.m. local time. The plane was carrying 133 passengers and five crew members. “Right now, we have some minor injuries. Nothing that is deemed…

Global non-governmental organization World Vision and the local police of Siem Reap are conducting separate investigations on the food poisoning incident that downed more than 500 people, including children, in Chikreng distric, Siem Reap province. In a statement, World Vision said a thorough internal investigation will take place in conjunction with the local police investigation. “The findings will help World Vision put in place specific measures to ensure that food that is provided at World Vision events are safe for consumption,” the statement furnished to BusinessNewsAsia.com said. The food poisoning incident happened at a World Vision-sponsored event on 27 March.…

The World Cancer Research Fund said drinking at least one cup of coffee a day could decrease the odds of getting the fatal liver cancer. In a news analysis that the World Cancer Research Fund released this week, researchers also put an exact number on how much drinking alcohol is dangerous to the liver. Experts said drinking three or more of alcoholic drinks increases the odds of liver cancer while drinking at least a cup of coffee a day could lower the risks. For those who cannot fight the urge to drink alcohol, researchers said limiting intake to two or…

Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was passionate and obsessed about the mountainous area of the French Alps that he used to ask his family to bring him to the area to fly it in a glider. That means the co-pilot of the plane that crashed into the French Alps, which killed everyone onboard, knew the place too well. “He was passionate about the Alps and even obsessed. I’m sure he knew the crash area well because he had flown it in a glider,” said Dieter Wagner, a member of the Montabaur club. Sources said the co-pilot and his family would take…

Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein warned that war could break out in Southern Philippines if the on-going peace process will not be continued. Quoted by a Malaysian news site, Hishammuddin said the Filipino people should not cancel the peace process that has been going on for 12 years just because of one incident. Hishammuddin was refering to the Mamasapano, Maguindanao incident on January 25, where 44 members of the elite Philippine National Police Special Action Force were killed in a shootout with Muslim militants. Several Filipinos have called on the cancellation of the peace process because the Moro…

Filipino boxing champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes remains the undisputed WBO junior featherweight champion after he defended his belt against Mexican Gilberto Parra in the main evnt of Pinoy Pride 30 Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It was not an easy job for Nietes, who had to wait until the ninth-round to send the Mexican boxer to the canvas. Parra, however, managed to survive the round after he was saved by the bell. A ringside physician, however, stopped Parra from going into the 10th round due to his injury, caused by the series of left-right combination to the face…

Nigeria’s presidential election has been marred by the killing of at least 15 people, including an opposition politician, after gunmen opened fire near voting stations in Nigeria. The police said the attacks were launched by Islamist Boko Haram insurgents who are opposed to the conduct of the election and vowed to kill any Nigerian who will go out to vote. Three people were reportedly killed in Yobe state and three more in Gombe state. The victims were all voters, the police said. In Gombe, unidentified gunmen opened fire at a grup of voters, killing eight people, including the opposition house…

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire proved once again that he still has the heart and soul of a champion boxer after winning by TKO against Brazilian fighter William Prado Saturday night in Manila. Donaire, fresh from a defeat by Nicholas Walters, unleashed a series of body and head punches on the Brazilian fighter from the first round of the scheduled 12-round fight in Manila. Prado tried to block the uppercuts of Donaire but the Filipino Flash managed to break into the Brazilian’s wall of defense. In the second round, swelling formed in the eye of Prado while Donaire continued battering…

Officer John Moynihan, the police officer who was hailed as a hero for his role in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, is now fighting for his life. Authorities said Moynihan was shot in the face during a traffic stop early Friday evening and is now in an induced coma fighting for his life. “The officer her is in tough shape, but we’re all pulling for him, and hopefully he’ll pull through. His family’s with him, the clergy has been here and… let’s pray for him,” said police Commissioner William Evans. Evans said Moynihan was among the police officers…

Russia becomes the latest European nation to announce joining the China-lead Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), beating the 31 March deadline set by China for countries that want to be founding members. Russia’s move, however, did not come as a surprise because China and the former Soviet Union have long been allies, with China investing billions of dollars into Russia when other Western nations staged an embargo. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov made the announcement during the Boao Forum in China on Saturday, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin had made the decision in favor of joining the AIIB. Russia…

Reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton defeated Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel during the qualifying session at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Saturday. The win gives Mercedes’ Hamilton the wet pole after clocking a time of one minute and 49.834 seconds despite heavy rains at the Sepang International Circuit. Hamilton beat Vettel by less than a 10th of a second, F1 officials said. The defending world champion tamed the wet conditions in Q3 to edge out Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the final moments of qualifying, enjoying an advantage of just 0.074 seconds at the checkered flag. “I think the first lap was…

CAMBODIA – At least 570 Cambodians fell ill after partaking on what authorities believed were contaminated breads filled with meat and vegetables allegedly distributed by NGO World Vision Saturday afternoon. Most of those who fell ill were children but no one was in serious condition and almost half of them have recovered and returned home, health authorities said. Siem Reap Provincial Health Chief Kros Sarath confirmed the incident, saying the victims were attending an event for school children at Chhi Kreng district in northwestern Cambodia’s Siem Reap province. After eating the filled bread, the Cambodians started feeling dizzy and vomited.…

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is an open initiative and all countries are welcomed to join the effort. During the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in Boao, China, President Xi said the Chinese government is committed to vigorously promoting a system of regional financial cooperation and exploring a platform for exchanges and cooperation among Asian financial institutions. “We will … advance complementary and coordinated development between the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and such multilateral financial institutions as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank,” Xi said. “The ‘Belt…

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey believes Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will emerge as winner in his fight against US undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. Pacquiao is set to battle it out in the ring with Mayweather Jr on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden, in what is considered as the fight of the century. Rousey said Mayweather will find it hard to defeat Pacquiao, who is also a Filipino congressman, if Pacquiao will utilize his skills and power. The UFC Women’s champion said she stands with her prediction because she is also a fighter…

Authorities said seven children, aged 3 to 14, in Arizona witnessed how their father stabbed their mother to death insider their house following a heated confrontation over videogames. Goodyear police said the children witnessed at least part of the horrible scene Thursday night when John Leo Davis, 37, stabbed his wife Michele Davis, 35, following a heated argument. Michele reportedly confronted John Leo for slapping one of their seven children for playing videogames for too long. The confrontation, however, became heated and the children told the police that they saw their father going after their mother with a knife. The…

She might have escaped being charged with murder but Dynel Lane is still charged in court for felonies that could get her at least 100 years prison term if found guilty, authorities said Friday. Lane was charged Friday with eight felonies, including attempted initial-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful termination of a pregnancy just days after prosecutors junked the murder charged that was supposed to be filed against her. The unlawful termination charge was filed below a new law intended to be a compromise among opponents and supporters of abortion rights. The maximum punishment for the felony…