CHINA

Most Asian stock markets ended with gains Monday as higher-than-expected reading of China’s official Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) boosted sentiment.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Friday were: Metabolix, AXT Inc, Echelon Corp, Ku6 Media Co, Saba Software and Penford Corp. The top after-market NASDAQ losers were: Nortek, TripAdvisor, Groupon, Vera Bradley, Illumina and Amsurg Corp.

(Reuters) - Asia's manufacturers stepped up the pace in March to fill an influx of new orders as Europe's debt crisis subsided and U.S. growth picked up, dispelling some of the gloom that had shrouded the global economy.

China's big factories were surprisingly busy in March as a stream of new orders lifted activity to an 11-month high, but credit-constrained smaller manufacturers struggled, suggesting that the economy is still losing steam.

The United States vowed to nearly double its funding to the Syrian opposition, and Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised the Syrian people they will not be left alone.

China's big factories were surprisingly busy in March as a stream of new orders lifted activity to an 11-month high, but credit-constrained smaller manufacturers struggled, suggesting that the economy is still losing steam.

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi won a seat in parliament Sunday, as her National League for Democracy claimed a near-sweep in historic by-elections that will test Myanmar's reform credentials and could convince the West to end sanctions.

Samsung Electronics continues to keep silence over the highly anticipated smartphone of the year -- Samsung Galaxy S3. However, the media world is abuzz with the next generation gadget's rumored specs, features and unofficial pictures.

Foxconn Technology Group will keep on increasing worker salaries in China and cutting the hours of work, Chairman Terry Gou said on Sunday, after it came under fire for poor working conditions for employees making Apple iPhones and iPads.

Foxconn Technology Group will keep increasing worker salaries in China and cutting work hours, Chairman Terry Gou said on Sunday, after it came under fire for poor working conditions for employees making Apple iPhones and iPads.

South Korean exports in March fell 1.4 percent from a year ago, missing a consensus forecast for a small gain and adding to questions about the strength of a global recovery even with a boost to shipments in the first month of a landmark free trade pact with the United States.

Why are the lights and logos out at the Empire State Building, Sydney Opera House, Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer, Burj Khalifa, and Great Wall of China? They've all gone dark for Earth Hour 2012 as a symbolic gesture of each nation's commitment to sustainability.

BP, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips ended litigation with Alaska over a field of natural gas in the state's North Slope that has remained undeveloped for 30 years.

Chinese authorities have shut down 16 websites and arrested six people after rumors of an attempted coup in Beijing spread over the Internet last week, China's state media reported.

Hardly 7 months have passed when Tim Cook took the post of CEO at Apple Inc. and now he has gained the top spot on top 25 Highest Rated Tech CEOs of 2012 ranking list. Tim Cook received the hottest spotlight within a few months, while it took years for Steve Jobs become so popular.

A Chinese graduate was said to be involved in attacks that were linked to Japan, India and Tibet. Trend Micro released the research paper, which unveiled details on the hacker.

The competition among major vendors in the tablet market has heated up with the launch of Apple's new iPad.

Syria says the year-long revolt to topple President Bashar al-Assad is now over, but it will keep its forces in cities to maintain security until it is safe to withdraw in keeping with a U.N.-backed peace deal.

A fire that broke out in the engines of Azamara Quest cruise has left it drifting in the waters 200 miles off the coast of Balikpapan (Borneo), Indonesia. The fire which broke out at 8:19 p.m. ship time on March 30 has disabled its engines.

Iran is helping Syria skirt the sanctions imposed on it by the US and other Western countries by providing it with a vessel to transport oil to China, Reuters has reported quoting sources.

In a sense, a controversial radio talk show host, and former Fox News commentator, had it right: The United States could be headed for a major period of social unrest -- or worse -- but not for the reasons he stated.