SOUTH KOREA

Apple Inc is famous for relying on low-cost Asian manufacturers to both source and assemble its popular gadgets, but the consumer device giant recently started receiving a critical component in its iPad and iPhones from closer to home - Texas.

Apple Inc is famous for relying on low-cost Asian manufacturers to both source and assemble its popular gadgets, but the consumer device giant recently started receiving a critical component in its iPad and iPhones from closer to home - Texas.

South Korea has imposed fresh sanctions involving limiting of financial transactions on Iran to force it to scrap its suspected nuclear weapons programme.

The A5 processor used in Apple’s iPhone 4S and iPad 2 is reportedly manufactured by rival Korean electronics giant Samsung from its factory in Austin.

Two of Hong Kong's biggest recent initial public offerings slumped in their trading debuts on Thursday, falling victim to weak investor demand that has pressured new listings in the once booming global IPO powerhouse.

China's economic growth could be slowing further as data on Thursday showed the first year-on-year drop in foreign direct investment in 28 months and a fresh fall in new orders signaled a further contraction in factory activity.

Foreign direct investment growth in China fell year-on-year for the first time in 28 months, with November's $8.8 billion of commitments down 9.8 percent and hurt by a sharp drop in inflows from the United States, Commerce Ministry data showed Thursday.

South Korea said on Wednesday it had asked China for security guarantees at its Beijing embassy after the building was hit by a small projectile as tensions run high after the killing of a South Korean coastguard by a Chinese fisherman.

South Korean women, who were forced into sexual slavery during the World War II, held their 1,000 weekly protest outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul.

Online gaming firm Nexon Co, an Asian rival to U.S.-based Zynga, slipped lower on its first morning of trading on Wednesday, following its $1.2 billion IPO, Japan's biggest this year.

Online gaming firm Nexon Co, a fast-growing Asian rival to U.S.-based Zynga, opened up slightly at 1,307 yen on its Tokyo trading debut on Wednesday, following its $1.2 billion IPO, Japan's biggest this year.

China expressed regret on Tuesday for the apparent murder of a South Korean coast guard officer at the hands of a Chinese fisherman.

A South Korean coastguard has been stabbed to death by a Chinese fisherman on Monday, a South Korean official said, according to Reuters. Another South Korean coastguard is reportedly injured.

This was the second time in less than four years that a South Korean coast guard official has been killed in such a clash over disputed fishing waters.

The South Korean government Monday cut its economic growth forecast for 2012.

A South Korean coast guard was stabbed to death by a Chinese fisherman Monday in an operation to apprehend a Chinese vessel operating illegally near South Korean waters, a South Korean official said.

Following Google’s recent announcement that Android Market has reached an important milestone - 10 billion downloads per month – the Internet search engine giant also released a detailed infographic that showed how the world is being driven forward by Google power.

Dutch architects MVRDV may describe their tower design as a pixeled cloud, but all viewers see are the Twin Towers exploding, and the striking resemblance has sparked instant controversy and threats against the designers. Though MVRDV claims the association is accidental, an earlier interview reveals Sept. 11 was a design inspiration for the team.

Panasonic Corp, which has warned it will post a $5.5 billion annual loss, will launch a smartphone in Europe next year, the latest Japanese maker to tiptoe late into a fiercely competitive market dominated by Samsung and Apple.

Panasonic Corp will launch a smartphone in Europe next year, the latest Japanese maker to tiptoe late into a fiercely competitive market dominated by Samsung Electronics and Apple.

British luxury fashion brand Mulberry said it had substantial room for growth in Europe, the United States and Asia, as it reported first-half profit more than treble last year's due to robust international demand.