VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Slumping oil prices take its toll on the Canadian economy. Canada is now officially in a recession for the first time in six years, as crude prices plummet due to supply glut and falling global demand, particularly from China.

Amazon announced Wednesday that it will offer its Prime Instant Video service in Japan next month, going toe-to-toe with rival Netflix in the video streaming industry.

Prices of various precious metals have dropped, hitting junior miners. This prompted the junior miners to venture on various unconventional options, ranging from exporting eggs to farming medical marijuana.

Madewell, a smaller J. Crew brand, recalled 50,600 pairs of sandals that were sold online in Canada and the US. The recall was done because a metal shank from the inside of the shoe can dislodge and come out of the bottom of the outsole. When this happens, it could pose a fall hazard for the wearer.

Digital payment app has become a trend and BlackBerry Messenger now allows its user to send money online by integrating with PayPal.

Canada is now facing its worst dilemma - a mild contraction, according to Stephen Poloz, governor of the Bank of Canada.

The Simple Choice North America Plan, otherwise known as "Mobile without Borders," is the latest installment of T-Mobile's Un-carrier Amped program.

Canada must join a proposed Pacific trade pact but will strive to protect farmers, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Thursday, referring to foreign pressure to scrap tariffs that protect the dairy industry.

U.S. lawmakers approved legislation key to securing a hallmark Pacific trade deal by a comfortable margin on Wednesday, advancing President Barack Obama's efforts to strengthen U.S. economic ties with Asia.

Overseas markets bring in more advertising revenue than the United States for Facebook Inc, amounting to 51 percent of global ad sales in the first quarter, with growth in Asia the fastest in the world at 57 percent, company executives told Reuters.

Summer travel on U.S. airlines is expected to reach an all-time high this year on the wings of a strong U.S. economy, Washington-based trade group Airlines for America said on Monday.

Honda Motor Co (7267.T) on Thursday recalled close to 5 million vehicles fitted with potentially faulty Takata Corp (7312.T) air bag inflators, as investigations showed the problem behind one of the biggest auto safety crises may be more widespread than thought.

A 12-nation Pacific trade agreement cleared a crucial test in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, giving a resounding thumbs-up to legislation that holds the key to President Barack Obama's diplomatic pivot to Asia.

Japan's three biggest carmakers said on Wednesday they would expand a huge global recall triggered by potentially fatal air bags made by Takata Corp, saying they were taking back millions of vehicles worldwide for investigation.

Japan's Takata Corp (7312.T) said it expects to return to profit this financial year on higher Asian and U.S. sales, but the troubled company made few provisions for possible costs related to a massive global recall of its exploding air bags.