EARTHQUAKE

Toyota's February sales in China, where the auto maker aims to double business by 2015, went up 51.3 percent. Toyota is seeking to push its Chinese sales past 1 million units this year.

Three key research centers and a consortium of Internet companies said on Thursday they would work together on a European cloud computing platform to handle the continent's rapidly growing demand for computer capacity.

Toyota Motor Corp. will have in place by autumn a more resilient supply chain that would recover within two weeks of another massive earthquake hitting Japan, a top executive said on Friday.

Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> will have in place by autumn a more resilient supply chain that would recover within two weeks of another massive earthquake hitting Japan, a top executive said on Friday.

The Baroness Jenny Tonge resigned from the Liberal Democrat whip over controversial comments she made about Israel.

When a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan last year, it caused a massive tsunami killing nearly 16,000 people. The tsunami that dragged personal items from Japanese citizens, including televisions, dressers, refrigerators, out to sea, could wind up on the shores of Hawaii this year.

Automakers will report nearly 1.09 million new cars in February on Thursday, according to two industry forecasts, continuing the ongoing revival of the industry as sales jumped nearly 6 percent from February 2011 and an eye-popping 20 percent from January. That would equal a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) above 14 million units -- the highest level since early 2008.

A year ago, when the powerful 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami struck the coast of Japan, thousands of families were affected and many lost their close ones.

Retail sales in Japan rose above forecasts indicating a recovery in consumer spending which could help the country to attain economic growth this quarter.

The 2011 Tohoku earthquake that struck the coast of Japan, which triggered a tsunami and caused a widespread death and destruction, is regarded as one of the most powerful earthquakes in the history of the world.

There's a whole lot of shaking going on in the Asia-Pacific region Sunday, as an absolutely strong magnitude-6.7 earthquake hit southwestern Siberia in Russia and a relatively strong magnitude-5.9 quake struck southern Taiwan, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Japanese government will seek the resignation of the Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s (Tepco's) board of directors at a shareholder meeting in June in return for injecting $13 billion of public funds, the Mainichi newspaper said on Saturday.

Seismic activity on the red planet bodes well for the existence of life.

A large pocket of offshore natural gas could shift Eastern Mediterranean geopolitics on its head. As the threat of war looms between Israel and Iran, the newly found gas could add extra friction between the two countries.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission released a collection of transcripts of internal conference calls held in beginning hours after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in the earthquake in Japan, which reveal a sense of urgency and confusion that the situation generated.

Early this morning, an earthquake rumbled southeastern Missouri and sent shock waves into surrounding states. The tremors occurred in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which is the most active seismic area in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

Japan reported a record-high balance of trade deficit in January as last year's tsunami combined with floods in Thailand, the Eurozone's sovereign debt crisis, a slowing Chinese market and a soaring yen to leave the world's third-largest economy with its first trade deficit since the last century.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said that it has affirmed Japan's sovereign debt rating at AA- along with maintaining its negative outlook as the country faces dismal fiscal position.

Japan posted its biggest ever trade deficit in January, topping the previous record seen during the financial crisis in 2009, Ministry of Finance data showed Monday, underlining concerns that a persistent trade gap may undermine the country's ability to finance its debt.

Japan's Emperor Akihito underwent on Saturday a successful heart bypass operation and doctors said they hoped he would be able to resume the normal lifestyle he wished for.

Fracking may not be as dangerous as it's made out to be, according to a new study.