JAPAN

Japan's unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Monday refused to step down after the resignation of his foreign minister over a political funding scandal that has added to pressure on him to quit or call a snap election.

Asian stock markets declined first time in three days on Monday as sentiment was dampened by higher oil prices amid continuing political unrest in the Middle East.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX) reported positive interim results on March 2 from a Phase 2 two-part study of 'telaprevir' combination therapy for treatment of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HCV-HIV co-infection. The shares of the drugmaker touched a new 52-week high of $51.10 on Friday.

Hong Kong stocks edged lower on Monday as higher oil prices weighed but a buoyant day in Shanghai shielded the market from bigger declines and underscored the growing optimism for Chinese shares.

The foreign minister of Japan, Seiji Maehara, has resigned his office after revelations emerged that he accepted a political donation from a foreign source (which is illegal according to Japanese law).

Siberian craftsman Anatoly Konenko is responsible for the smallest aquarium in the world.

A decade after the release of Internet Explorer 6, Microsoft is making another attempt to rid the world of the browser.

China will beef up its military budget by 12.7 percent this year, the government said on Friday, a return to double-digit spending increases that will stir regional unease.

China Investment Corp, the country's $300 billion sovereign wealth fund, is counting on getting a fresh injection of cash from the government to invest abroad, a senior CIC official told Reuters on Friday.

China said on Friday its military spending for 2011 would rise 12.7 percent, resuming double-digit hikes that have stoked regional disquiet about Beijing's expanding strength.

China is ramping up its military spending at a time its financial firepower is increasingly in focus after it unseated Japan as the second biggest economy in the world.

Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX) touched a new 52-week high of $50.83 on Thursday. The company announced positive interim results on Wednesday from a Phase 2 two-part study of 'telaprevir' combination therapy for treatment of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HCV-HIV co-infection.

Here are the ten countries with the highest suicide rates (per 100,000 people):

If Yahoo decides to divest its Japanese assets, then it might look to monetize its assets in china as well, where it owns about 40 percent of the Internet company Alibaba Group.

Yahoo is said to be in talks to sell its 35 percent stake in Yahoo Japan, a move that will give Yahoo the necessary cash infusion to fight against arch rival Google and Facebook.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX) announced positive interim results on Wednesday from a Phase 2 two-part study of 'telaprevir' combination therapy for treatment of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HCV-HIV co-infection. The shares of the drugmaker touched a new 52-week high of $47.82 on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks ended with modest gains on Wednesday after ADP National Employment report showed that the private sector employment rose more than expected in February, but shares came off their highs due to fears over the continued unrest in Libya and rising crude oil prices.

China has worked on tougher regulations for rare earth minerals by setting stricter emission limits on miners, which 60% of the local industry would struggle to meet.

Sony Music and Japanese entertainment company Avex have rendered a written apology over the choice of attire by Japanese pop group Kishidan, who appeared on MTV Japan's Megavector program on February 23 wearing costumes that resembled the uniforms of the SS.

U.S. stocks edged up higher on some positive jobs data and reassurance from the Federal Reserve that the economy is recovering.

U.S. stocks advanced in early trade on Wednesday after ADP National Employment report showed that the private sector employment rose more than expected in February.