JAPAN

The Burmese python is wrecking the Florida Everglades ecosystem and have devastated small mammal populations in the area, but its not the only species that is causing harm to the ecosystem.

Although plenty of early-adopters worldwide have already pre-ordered the Play Station Vita (http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/289809/20120130/ps-vita-games-price-release-date-playstation.htm) for $349.99, optimistic penny-pinchers may want to hold their breath, in the hopes that Sony or its retailers will drop the price in the weeks following the PS Vita's global release on February 22nd.

Samsung Electronics lost a bid to overturn a ruling barring its local unit from selling its Galaxy 10.1 tablets in Germany, handing a symbolic legal victory to Apple Inc in efforts to keep its lead spot in the tablet computer market.

Toshiba Corp., Japan's biggest chip maker, booked a 72 percent fall in quarterly operating profit on Tuesday and slashed its annual profit forecast as a strong yen and the Eurozone debt crisis hit profits.

European Union regulators are investigating whether Samsung Electronics breached antitrust rules in its legal battles against rivals, among them Apple, which use its mobile technology patents.

Toshiba Corp., Japan's biggest chip maker, booked a 72 percent fall in quarterly operating profit on Tuesday and slashed its annual profit forecast as a strong yen and the Eurozone debt crisis hit profits.

Japan's Nikkei share average ended nearly flat on Tuesday, but logged its best January performance in 13 years as investors remained optimistic that the U.S. economic recovery could offset disappointing domestic corporate earnings.

Samsung Electronics lost a bid to overturn a ruling barring its local unit from selling its Galaxy 10.1 tablets in Germany, handing a symbolic legal victory to Apple Inc in efforts to keep its lead spot in the tablet computer market.

JPMorgan on Tuesday said its global co-head of emerging markets and head of fixed income for Asia would be leaving the company.

The euro rose and world shares recovered on Tuesday on hopes of a deal this week to free up the next tranche of aid for Greece, though concerns about Portugal following a similar path capped gains and fresh data on the region's economic outlook weighed on sentiment.

Honda Motor Co forecast a worse-than-expected 65 percent drop in profit for the year to March after natural disasters in Japan and Thailand hammered it harder than its rivals while the strong yen delivered an added blow.

Asian shares and the euro rose on Tuesday after Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos raised hopes that a deal would be reached this week to avoid a potentially chaotic debt default, but worries over Portugal's refinancing ability capped gains.

Honda Motor Co posted a 65 percent slide in quarterly operating profit on Tuesday and forecast the same drop for the full year, when natural disasters in Japan and Thailand hit it harder than rivals.

Japan's Nikkei share average was on track to snap a three-day losing run Tuesday and headed for its best January performance since 1999, as investors took cues from optimism about the U.S. economy and shrugged off weaker corporate earnings results.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's warned Monday that it may downgrade "a number of highly rated" Group of 20 countries in 2015 if their governments fail to enact reforms to curb rising health-care spending and other costs related to aging populations.

Honda Motor Co <7267.T> is expected to report a double-digit slide in quarterly operating profit on Tuesday and forecast a still larger drop for the full year, as natural disasters in Japan and Thailand hit it harder than rivals.

Rescue efforts are underway to save abandoned pets in Japan's Fukushima prefecture, and the future isn't looking too bright for all of them, especially those that may be left behind.

China lost an appeal at the World Trade Organization on Monday in a case about its export restrictions on raw materials, a ruling that could make it harder for major commodity exporters to withhold supplies on the global market.

The PlayStation Vita--the latest handheld gaming system from Sony--will soon reach North America, and rabid gamers are geeking out while waiting for the release date, Feb. 22, unless they've pre-ordered the first edition bundle pack. The PS Vita will have a base price of $249.99 or a bundle pack with games for $349.99.

Japan’s population may shrink by one-third over the next fifty years.

Japan's second-biggest refiner, TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK, said on Monday its $4-billion purchase of a controlling stake in itself from U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil Corp would help speed business decisions.