A French minister vowed Thursday to cut bureaucracy in a bid to lure foreign investors, and said her South Korean roots would help to boost France's profile in booming Asia.
Asian markets were mostly lower on Friday as traders took a breather after healthy gains in the previous session while Chinese data showed growth in manufacturing activity had slowed.
Exposure to higher levels of fine particulates -- the airborne pollution that is an emerging problem in many Asian cities -- causes a sharp rise in deaths from heart attacks.
The yen strengthened slightly in Asian trading on Tuesday after a US Treasury official praised Japan's recent moves to boost the economy as Tokyo faces claims it is manipulating the currency's slide.
The euro slipped in Asian trade on Wednesday after a buying spree sparked by Greece's bailout deal fizzled owing to lingering concerns over Europe's sovereign debt problems.
The euro fell in Asian trade on Wednesday and shares eased after eurozone finance chiefs said they had failed to agree on a deal to unlock the latest batch of crucial bailout cash for Greece.
Asia accounts for 88 percent of all malaria cases and most of the 46,000 annual deaths occurring outside Africa, a new report shows Friday as experts demand more urgency in fighting the deadly disease..
Opium cultivation in Southeast Asia has doubled over the last six years as growing demand for heroin in China and the rest of Asia lures more farmers to grow poppies.
Every Australian school will be partnered online with one in Asia by 2025 as regional languages become "central" to education reform plans, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Monday.
Asia will be the first to feel the impact of any Middle East oil supply disruption as regional demand surges, the International Energy Agency said Monday.
An actress in the anti-Islamic trailer that set off violent protests in the Muslim world has sued the reputed producer, saying he duped her into thinking it was about ancient Egyptians.
Asia must fight complacency and transform its economic and social models if it is to keep driving global growth in years to come as Europe and the United States slow.
Stocks in Apple's Asian component suppliers were mixed Thursday after the launch of the iPhone 5, with analysts citing uncertainty over its impact in the hugely competitive smartphone market.
A Hong Kong action-thriller and a rural drama from Bangladesh will open and close Asia's top film festival next month, as its South Korean hosts look to share more of the spotlight with regional offerings.