UNITED STATES

Government officials deny that Zardari is considering stepping down.

Of paramount concern is the fact that oil prices have jumped so high with the global economy in such doldrums. That means if the economy gets moving, oil prices will only go higher. And if the U.S. economy continues to slowly and steadily improve as it has recently, demand will slowly and steadily increase.

With Mitt Romney's announcement on Tuesday that he will not attend a debate moderated by Donald Trump, the endeavor seems to be collapsing before it has begun -- and rightly so.

U.S. banks want regulators to give them more time to liquidate investments in certain private equity funds under the Volcker rule, arguing that without more leeway they will have to hold fire sales.

To hear it from one side, private equity and hedge fund managers are under a veritable siege: under attack from politicians, regulators, an ornery market and uneasy clients. But the hedge fund managers themselves seem to be saying all is good in Greenwich.

The world's three biggest polluters China, the United States and India refused to move toward a new legal commitment to curb their carbon emissions Tuesday, increasing the risk that climate talks will fail to clinch a meaningful deal this week.

Stocks index futures pointed to slight losses at the open on Wednesday as investors found little reason to keep buying after two gains of gains and ahead of a European summit on the region's debt crisis.

Health officials are weighing stricter labels on the widely used new generation of birth control pills, based on data showing they may put women at a higher risk of dangerous blood clots.

Judging by their before and after photographs, U.S. presidents appear to age before our eyes, adding wrinkles and gray hair with each year in office.

Employees in fast-growing economies have more freedom over the technology they use for work than their counterparts in developed countries, and are more likely to see corporate provision of devices as a perk, according to a study.

Iranian authorities blocked a website on Wednesday hours after it was launched by the U.S. State Department to be a virtual embassy reaching out to people in the Islamic Republic.

The European Union (EU) summit this Friday will consume market attention, as it will discuss steps to resolve the Eurozone debt crisis. Price sensitivity to headlines will persist, if not intensify, and make for jerky market moves.

New York State's Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) recently published its final recommendations to the New York State Dept. of Health, proposing a model that would fully integrate Medicaid and Medicare services for those eligible for both programs (dual eligibility).

Palladium prices extended a two-month rally Wednesday as rising U.S. car and truck sales signaled increased demand for the white metal.

The 70th Anniversary of the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor calls for reflection on the significance of the Pearl Harbor memorials.

According to information conveyed by Indian Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, to the Rajya Sabha, a total of 8 fighter aircrafts and 4 helicopters, belonging to country's armed forces, have crashed between the period Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 2, 2011.

Stocks index futures were little changed on Wednesday after two days of gains as investors waited to see if European officials can craft a plan to combat the region's debt crisis at a summit this week.

Software company Basis International Ltd said a U.S. federal court in Albuquerque has granted a temporary restraining order against Research in Motion, barring the BlackBerry maker from using Basis' BBX trademark.

Stock index futures rose on Wednesday as optimism continued to grow that European Union leaders would craft bold measures to combat the region's debt crisis at a summit this week.

According to Jeffries, Verizon Communications Inc.'s (NYSE: VZ) standalone video streaming service, which is expected to launch in 2012, could be another potential competitor for Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX).

For most of her campaign, Michele Bachmann has made more headlines for her gaffes than for her platform, and her popularity has fallen as a result. But moving past the YouTube clips and headlines, what are the Minnesota congresswoman's political positions?