The US retail sales pick-up in April compares to a drop in March, suggesting growth in the world's largest economy.
Chancellor reports strong agreement among delegates to tackle tax cheats.
Nikkei gains 3% in the last four days of the week on robust employment report from the US.
Tensions between regional superpowers rise over who owns Ryukyu Islands.
Huge cyber bank theft allowed criminals to access ATM machines in 27 countries and steal $45m.
After Cyprus' near meltdown, G7 finance ministers will be focusing on banking and finance reforms.
Dollar rises to highest level in more than four years.
Japanese firms' shares zoom on the back of weak yen which is boosting exports.
Arsenal look to make a move for Borussia Dortmund defender Lukasz Piszczek
Markets await a string of key regional data apart from quarterly earnings reports.
The interest rate cut along with supplementary budget is expected to help accelerate economic recovery.
Most Asian indices near a two-year peak boosted by positive earnings reports.
Ryukyu Islands belong to Beijing, according to China's Communist party mouthpiece People's Daily.
Toyota expects 40% rise in 2014 profit on increased sales outside Japan.
Top Chinese bank scraps all financial deals with North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank
Former model addicted to plastic surgery injected cooking oil into her face when doctors refused to perform any more operations.
Area disappeared underwater when the Atlantic Ocean formed - and could contain diamonds.
The Nikkei rises above 14,000 for the first time since June 2008.
Antibiotic-resistant form of gonorrhoea has potential to be as deadly as Aids virus.
Ferguson will have a hip operation in late July, after returning from the club's pre-season tour
The ECB's rate cut and an unexpected decline in US jobless claims revive investors' hopes for global recovery.
Asia has shed previous week's gains after weak data from the US and China brought back global growth concerns.