CHINA

Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> reported its first quarterly loss in two years on Tuesday as Japan's biggest earthquake on record hammered production and the yen's rise hit profitability on exports. The company raised its annual forecast.

South Korea's central bank bought 25 tonnes of gold over the past two months in its first purchase in more than a decade, saying the time was ripe to boost its gold holding, but markets barely moved on the news.

More clues are piling up in regards to the release date of Apple's highly anticipated iPhone 5 set to hit the markets this fall. The latest news speculate that Target will be offering price drops on the iPhone 4 for five bucks if you trade in an old 3GS model. Customers can also purchase a 16GB iPhone 4 for $170 with a two year contract or go to Radio shack and get an iPhone 4 32GB model for $270.

The United States' debt woes still threaten the global economy despite a last-minute deal struck by Congress, China's main official newspaper said on Tuesday, nonetheless adding there was no short-term escape from the dominance of the dollar.

U.S. cattle futures set a two-week high on Monday lifted by a sharp drop in this week's cattle supplies and on news of active beef exports last week, traders said.

Alaska scientists have discovered the fossil of a rare, prehistoric marine reptile that is likely the most complete remnant of the creature ever found in North America.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States Monday of living beyond its means "like a parasite" on the global economy and said dollar dominance was a threat to the financial markets.

Chinese Internet portal Sohu.com Inc's shares fell more than 11 percent on Monday, as a 37 percent rise in quarterly net profit failed to impress investors amidst falling gross margins and higher operating expenses.

Anyone who complains that WOMAD is "too safe" must have missed the mosh pit that appeared at the front of gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello?'s late Sunday set, where the frenetic dancing of the band's teenage fans briefly descended into cheerful anarchy.

High inflation and soaring real estate prices have thrown thousands of residents into dire straits.

South Africa's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell for the fourth straight month to a seasonally adjusted 44.2 in July from 53.9 in June, sponsor Kagiso Securities said on Monday.

Pakistan cannot afford to antagonize China.

Technology is increasingly displacing the need for workers worldwide. Foxconn, making of Apple's iPhones and iPads, plans to add one million robots to factories in the next three years. HSBC is cutting out "unnecessary bureaucracy" in eliminating 30,000 jobs.

The next-generation iPhone is now said to debut in October, instead of the much-rumored September launch.

Averting a U.S. debt default solves only the immediate fiscal problem for the West and its big creditors in Asia.

Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn is adding one million robots over the next three years in hopes of reducing labor costs.

Sprint?s Motorola Photon 4G Can Be Stiff Competitor for iPhone 5

Foxconn has announced that it would be replacing its workers with 1 million robots in the coming three years.

Glencore , the world's largest diversified commodities trader, has booked a supertanker to store part of the nearly four million barrels of gas oil it purchased in July, industry sources said on Monday.

Honda has raised its profit and sales forecast. The company is on a speedy path to recovery.

Factories in Asia and Europe all but stagnated in July, according to business surveys that showed the weakest rates of growth since major industrial powers were struggling through the 2009 recession.