CHINA

Apple fans can't wait to get their hands on the iPhone 5, Apple's sixth-generation smartphone believed to finally debut and hit stores next month. But for those who can't wait for the finalized product, China GadgetLand is selling what it claims to be a full "iPhone 5" set, complete with an LCD screen and digitizer assembly, for just $199. By and large, this iPhone looks to line up with most previous reports, specs, and rumored features of the phone.

The move to ease media censorship raises hopes that Thein Sein?s government will continue to make further reforms in order to put Burma on a firm path towards democracy.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) Chief Exectutive Officer Doug Oberhelman has long been an optimist, but these days he's been scaling back on his optimism.

Gold prices continued to decline this week, dragging even lower due to unusually weak demand from China and India - the two largest gold consumers - that has extended for several months.

Kobe Bryant scored 68 points in the exhibition game in China. The Lakers star made news overseas for the second time this month, after helping Team USA win gold in London.

The death penalty, with a two-year reprieve, usually equates to a life sentence in China. Under the terms of the sentence, Gu will be spared execution if she does not commit any further crimes in the next two years.

Asian stock markets declined Monday on worries that the Chinese government will tighten measures to control rising property prices.

Shanghai police has sparked a controversy for publishing a rank list of beggars most frequently caught begging on the city's metro trains since 2008, with many criticizing the authorities' lack of respect toward the disadvantaged, the Chinese media reported.

Asian stocks fell Monday as it became apparent to investors that Europe's policymakers were still lingering on taking decisive action to contend with the euro zone debt crisis.

The Supreme Court will hear final arguments starting this week in a landmark case over drug patents that could change the rules for the country's healthcare sector and potentially curb its global role as a supplier of cut-price generic medicines.

Most Asian markets fell Monday as investor confidence was weighed down by the lack of stimulus measures from policymakers to support the global economy and regain the growth momentum.

The Miss World 2012 title was awarded to Yu Wenxia on August 18, marking the second time that Miss China had been crowned the honor. The last time China won the Miss World competition was in 2007 when Zhang Zilin took the pageant.

The verdict is out. The wife of disgraced Chinese political heavyweight Bo Xilai gets death (but not really) for the murder of Neil Heywood

Ten Japanese nationalists bring their flags to the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands only a few days after 14 Chinese nationalists from Hong Kong do the same.

Myanmar government has set up a 27-member commission to probe the recent sectarian violence that killed dozens and displaced tens of thousands in the western state of Rakhine along the Bangladesh border, state media reported.

Asian stocks ended mixed last week as market players continued to wait for policy makers to come up with bold stimulus measures to boost the weakening global economy.

The minutes of the July 31-Aug. 1 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, to be released on Wednesday, will dominate markets in a week light on data.

Patrick Ricard, who built Pernod Ricard SA (Paris: RI) into the second-largest alcohol beverage company in the world, died Friday, the company said.

France, Germany, Spain, China and Japan, among other nations, have moved by leaps and bounds ahead of the U.S. in cutting-edge rail transportation (and in rail line profitability), while Amtrak struggles to survive on budgetary scraps from Congress. Many rail experts believe that only investments from the private sector and sovereign wealth funds can save Amtrak.

Asian markets were mixed in the week as investors maintained a watchful mode awaiting monetary easing measures from policymakers around the world to tackle the weakening of the global economic growth.

The release date for Apple’s iPhone 5 is allegedly coming in September alongside an iPad Mini, and the Internet has not stopped buzzing with rumors and speculations about the device. This information has not been confirmed by Apple, but increasing evidence points to the following: fans could see the iPhone 5 next month.