Asia
China says U.S. hacking accusations lack technical proof
February 20, 2013 3:49 pm | News | CommentsAccusations by a U.S. computer security company that a secretive Chinese military unit is likely behind a series of hacking attacks are scientifically flawed and hence unreliable, China's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
White House targets trade secret theft with new strategy
February 20, 2013 3:39 pm | by Doug Palmer, Reuters | News | CommentsThe White House will tackle the theft of U.S. trade secrets on Wednesday with a new strategy to protect American companies from losing hundreds of billions of dollars in an area of growing concern in relations with China.
Sony cuts Japanese retail price for PlayStation Vita game console
February 19, 2013 11:23 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSony Computer Entertainment Inc. said Monday it will lower the Japanese retail price of its PlayStation Vita game console from Feb. 28. The prices of the 3G/Wi-Fi model and Wi-Fi model, which are currently available at 29,980 yen and 24,980 yen, respectively, will be both reduced to 19,980 yen, Sony Corp.'s gaming unit said.
Double digit growth continues for domestic appliances in Southeast Asia
February 19, 2013 10:28 am | by GfK | News | CommentsThe rising affluence of contrasting ends of consumers is stimulating sales of major domestic appliances in Southeast Asia. This mix in consumer development has grown the total market worth of the washers, air-conditioners, refrigerators and microwave ovens by a healthy 13 percent in 2012 over the previous year.
TEPCO launches tender for thermal power despite call for postponement
February 15, 2013 11:26 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsTokyo Electric Power Co. launched a tender Friday to choose new suppliers of electricity generated by coal-fired thermal plants, despite a call by the government to postpone it due to concerns about global warming.
Kansai Electric, Sumitomo to acquire thermal power plant in Australia
February 15, 2013 11:12 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsKansai Electric Power Co. and trading house Sumitomo Corp. said Friday they will jointly acquire a coal-fired power plant in Australia to participate in power business in the country. The Japanese firms will buy all shares of the Bluewaters power stations with a total output of 416,000 kilowatts...
NKorea nuke test may offer intelligence windfall
February 13, 2013 10:50 am | by ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press | News | CommentsNorth Korea's underground nuclear test shows it is making big strides toward becoming a true nuclear power. But the test may also reveal key clues the secretive nation might have hoped to hide about how close, or how far away, it is from fielding a nuclear weapon capable of striking the United States or its allies.
Test shows N. Korea's desire for nuclear status
February 12, 2013 10:24 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsNorth Korea's third nuclear test, carried out Tuesday, apparently reflects the country's intention to push the United States back into direct negotiations with it in an attempt to ensure security guarantees and recognition of the regime of leader Kim Jong Un from Washington, which Pyongyang calls its "sworn enemy."
Japan proposes nuclear power cooperation to Saudi Arabia
February 11, 2013 10:46 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsJapan's trade and industry minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Saturday proposed providing Saudi Arabia with a range of assistance for the construction of nuclear power plants. The vice head of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, Waleed Hussain Abulfaraj, Motegi suggested that the two countries sign a document to that end at an early date.
Zero4All provides glimpse into changing electronics industry
February 11, 2013 10:35 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsIn one of the biggest business stories of this still-young year, the Dutch manufacturing company Philips recently announced the sale of its long-running consumer electronics division to the Japanese company Funai Electric. The news of the sale was an immediate hit with investors; Philips' stock values rose by two percent overnight.
Renesas earnings update
February 8, 2013 9:26 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsStruggling Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics Corp. on Friday widened its fiscal 2012 group net loss projection to 176 billion yen from an earlier 150 billion yen due to sluggish chip demand amid the stagnant global economy.
Sony earnings update
February 7, 2013 11:57 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSony Corp. on Thursday reported a group net loss of 50.87 billion yen in the April to December period, compared to a wider loss of 201.45 billion yen a year earlier, and retained its outlook to return to profitability for the full year through March, reflecting the effects of restructuring efforts and the weakening yen.
Haier to set up R&D center in Saitama
February 7, 2013 11:40 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsHaier Group Corp., a leading Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer, plans to establish a research and development center in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, possibly in 2014, company officials said Thursday.
Samsung phone battery catches fire, injures man
February 7, 2013 11:36 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsSouth Korean fire officials say a man suffered burns after the battery from a Samsung smartphone caught fire in his trouser pocket. Officials at Bupyeong Fire Station in Incheon city said Wednesday the lithium-ion battery was not in the phone when it caught fire. Such batteries are quick to charge but prone to overheating.
Microsoft and Huawei launch phone for Africa
February 5, 2013 11:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsChinese phone maker Huawei and Microsoft are combining forces to sell a new smartphone in Africa, which they say is the world's fastest growing mobile phone market. The two companies launched the Huawei 4Afrika Tuesday. The phone runs Windows Phone 8 and comes pre-loaded with applications designed for the African market.
Hitachi cuts earnings outlook on slowing growth in Asia
February 4, 2013 11:00 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsHitachi Ltd. said Monday it has revised down its group earnings outlook for the current business year through March due to the continuing economic slump in Europe and slowing growth in emerging markets including China and India.
Environment Ministry seeks delay in TEPCO thermal power
February 4, 2013 10:54 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Environment Ministry has asked the industry ministry to have Tokyo Electric Power Co. postpone its plan to hold a tender to choose suppliers of electricity generated by coal-fired thermal plants, sources close to the matter said Monday.
LG Electronics sinks to loss after EU fine
January 30, 2013 10:31 am | by YOUKYUNG LEE, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsLG Electronics Inc. reported its first quarterly loss in a year Wednesday after Europe slapped it with a massive fine for price fixing. Its net loss totaled 468 billion won ($429 million) for the last quarter of 2012, compared with a loss of 112 billion a year earlier.
US investigators ask Boeing for battery history
January 30, 2013 10:29 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach & Joan Lowy, AP Business Writers | News | CommentsU.S. investigators said Wednesday they asked Boeing Co. to provide a full operating history of lithium-ion batteries used in its grounded 787 Dreamliners after Japan's All Nippon Airways revealed it had repeatedly replaced the batteries even before overheating problems surfaced.
Funai Electric to acquire audio operations of Philips
January 29, 2013 10:28 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFunai Electric Co. said Tuesday it will acquire the audio equipment businesses of Royal Philips Electronics later this year so it can expand its product range and improve its performance. The Osaka-based consumer electronics maker will acquire all shares to be floated by a new company that the Dutch maker will set up in the April-September period.
Mitsubishi to operate megasolar power plants in Fukushima
January 28, 2013 10:28 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsMitsubishi Corp. said Monday it plans to start operating two mega solar power plants in Fukushima Prefecture from August 2014. With their combined output planned to reach 18,000 kilowatts, the plants in the city of Iwaki can sustain some 7,000 households, according to the major trading house.
Demand for flat screen TV continues to surge across Southeast Asia
January 25, 2013 12:10 pm | by GFK | News | CommentsThe constant evolution and innovation in the world of TV technology have been successfully fueling consumer demand and driving consistent growth in the industry over the last few years. In the Southeast Asia region, flat panel TVs have continued to register a surge in demand in 2012, selling over 8.3 million units in the first eleven months of the year...
Japanese gov't fund wants to merge lithium-ion business
January 25, 2013 11:54 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA state-backed corporate turnaround fund is encouraging Sony Corp., NEC Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. to merge their lithium-ion battery businesses in the face of intensifying international competition, sources close to the matter said Friday.
Toshiba, GE to set up joint venture for thermal power generation
January 24, 2013 11:23 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsToshiba Corp. and General Electric Co. of the United States have agreed to set up a joint venture by the end of the year for the development and sales of a high-efficiency thermal power system, the Japanese electronics giant said Thursday.
Applications to extend operation of aging Japan reactors put on hold
January 23, 2013 11:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsJapan's nuclear regulatory authority on Wednesday decided not to accept applications from utilities seeking to extend the operation of reactors beyond 30 years under existing procedures, given that new regulations will be introduced in July.
