JAPAN

For some elderly survivors of Japan's March earthquake and tsunami, comfort comes in the form of a small white robotic seal named Paro.

Honda has raised its profit and sales forecast. The company is on a speedy path to recovery.

Isolated North Korea said on Monday it had agreed to further dialogue with the United States, and repeated it was willing to resume regional nuclear disarmament talks at an early date, without preconditions.

Honda Motor Co <7267.T> reported an unexpected quarterly profit and raised its annual outlook by more than a third, as Japan's No.3 automaker rebounded quickly from a severe parts shortage caused by the March 11 earthquake.

Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group, known for assembling Apple's iPhones and iPads in its China factories, plans to use 1 million robots within the next three years to replace workers performing some simple procedures, its chairman said.

Investors boosted stocks and sold safe-haven assets on Monday, betting that a last-minute deal in Washington meant the U.S. economy would avoid default.

Collated medallists after the eighth day of pool competition on day 16 of the world swimming championships in Shanghai on Sunday (* indicates medal winners on Sunday):

China's factory activity slowed down in July and by one measure contracted as manufacturing across much of Asia weakened on signs that global demand is losing momentum.

Honda Motor Co <7267.T> avoided an expected loss and raised its annual profit outlook by more than a third on Monday after it reported a 90 percent fall in quarterly operating profit, as it rebounded quickly from a severe parts shortage.

Honda Motor Co <7267.T> posted a 90 percent fall in quarterly operating profit as a severe parts shortage stemming from the March 11 earthquake slashed output, but avoided an expected loss and raised its annual profit guidance by more than a third.

The auto industry could lead an economic recovery in the United States, according to a recent survey by audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG.

Global financial markets reflected relief over the resolution of debt limit ceiling impasse in the U.S.

Japan's finance minister kept up verbal intervention against a rising yen even as a weak dollar won a reprieve on Monday as U.S. lawmakers reached an agreement to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a sovereign default.

Congressional leaders and President Obama reached a deal to raise the federal debt ceiling in an effort to avoid the first U.S. default but a series of crucial votes in both chambers of Congress remain before the President can sign it into law.

Japan's top government spokesman welcomed the U.S. debt ceiling agreement on Monday and said he hoped it would stabilise markets.

If debate in Washington over raising the U.S. debt ceiling finally ends with a deal on Sunday, the last-minute reprieve could spark a relief rally when global markets open.

Russian cosmonauts will undertake a spacewalk leaving the International Space Station on Wednesday to move a cargo boom from one airlock to another, install a prototype laser communications system and deploy Ham Radio's amateur micro-satellite.

Ryan Lochte stormed into the final of the men's 400 metres individual medley as top qualifier at the world swimming championships on the last day of competition on Sunday.

The world population is expected to breach seven billion this year, which is more than twice the number of people that lived on the earth just 50 years ago, according to recent projections by the United Nations. Is the world prepared for it?

Stocks are likely to face more selling pressure next week as the Tuesday deadline draws near for raising the U.S. debt ceiling and Washington remains paralyzed by political brinkmanship.

The global population will likely exceed seven billion in 2011 and is expected to exceed nine billion by 2050. By 2100, it will reach 10 billion, said a Harvard School of Public Health press release about an article published in Science magazine.