CHINA

France is gradually losing its vitality and presence in global export markets.

Apple has been sued by Proview Technology for allegedly infringing upon their trademarked iPad name, and the Hong Kong-based company stands to win $1.6 billion and an apology from the world's biggest tablet maker.

The 29 Chinese workers captured in Sudan last month were released on Tuesday.

The International Monetary Fund and Vice President Joe Biden have both raised doubts about China's economic growth, although for different reasons.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), the giant beverage maker, said on Tuesday that net income fell 71 percent in the fourth quarter on substantial restructuring charges, but increased beverage sales beat Wall Street expectations, and it announced a cost cutting plan to pay for rising commodity costs and bolster its brands.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Damascus for talks with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday.

After coming off the bench to score 25 points in last weekend's game, setting a personal record and leading the New York Knicks to a victory against the New Jersey Nets, hopes were high that Jeremy Lin would help the Knicks defeat the Utah Jazz in Thursday night's game. Lin delivered.

Iranian buyers have defaulted on payments for about 200,000 tonnes of rice from their top supplier India, exporters and rice millers said on Tuesday, a sign of the mounting pressure on Tehran from a new wave of Western sanctions.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc has named an industry veteran, but a relative newcomer to China, to run what is a strategically crucial business for the world's biggest retailer as it faces tougher competition in the fastest growing major economy.

As recently as last November, deep into the Syrian crisis, Brazil specifically rejected any foreign intervention in Syria.

IBM's 900,000 square-foot Bangalore computer center is Asia's largest to date.

At least two top 10 shareholders in miner Xstrata said Tuesday they would vote against a takeover by commodities trader Glencore, threatening the creation of a powerhouse spanning mining, shareholders except Glencore, which is barred agriculture and trading.

Glencore, which currently holds 34 percent of Xstrata stakes, offered 2.8 new shares for each Xstrata share in an agreed all-share merger of equals.

India's economy is expected to grow at 6.9 percent in the current financial year, its slowest pace in three years, according to the official data released by the government.

Commodities trader Glencore agreed an all-share takeover of mining group Xstrata worth $90 billion on Tuesday in the industry's largest ever deal, creating a powerhouse spanning mining, agriculture and trading.

Glencore and Xstrata agreed an all-share merger worth $90 billion on Tuesday in the industry's largest ever deal, creating a commodities powerhouse spanning mining, agriculture and trading.

Glencore and Xstrata agreed an all-share merger worth $90 billion on Tuesday in the industry's largest ever deal, creating a commodities powerhouse spanning mining, agriculture and trading.

Toyota Motor Corp reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly operating profit and raised its annual forecast on cost cuts and Japanese government subsidies, though this is still some way below analysts' expectations.

China's vulnerability to the slump in global demand has been highlighted by the IMF in an economic outlook report on the world's second largest economy.

Bombardment of Homs on eve of visit by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov as world powers scramble for diplomatic strategy.

A Syrian regime military assault on Homs killed dozens of people on the eve of a visit to Damascus by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov aimed at pressing President Bashar al-Assad to end an 11-month uprising by implementing swift reform.