IBT Staff Reporter

Chinese green groups on Thursday accused iPhone maker Apple of failing to properly oversee its Chinese suppliers, leading to poor environmental and safety standards, and dozens of poisoned factory workers.

India's top listed biotechnology firm Biocon said quarterly profit rose by a fourth, aided by strong sales of its biopharmaceutical drugs and profit in research services, lifting its shares over 3 percent.

China finished 2010 with a bang, its growth soaring past expectations while inflation slowed less than expected, numbers that could prod the government to ratchet up its easy-does-it approach to policy tightening.

The Supreme Court of India has adjourned until the second week of February a hearing on a petition seeking to lift a ban on iron ore exports from Karnataka, a court order showed on Thursday.

SKS Microfinance shares rose 13 percent on Thursday, a day after a panel appointed by the Reserve Bank submitted guidelines for the microfinance sector, providing clarity for the country's embattled industry.

Food inflation eased for the second straight week in January, tracking lower fruit and vegetable prices, but accelerating headline inflation in December is likely to put pressure on the Reserve Bank to raise rates at policy review on Jan. 25

Research shows that jobs in the green sector in California grew by three percent over a period when the total employment growth in the state grew by one percent

Study by Northwestern professor shows that top employers may not even consider candidates who do not have degrees from the super-elite league of Universities

British wealth management group St James's Place said 37 percent rise in new single investments boosted funds under management to an all time high of 27 billion pounds ($43 billion).

US coffee chain Starbucks on Wednesday began allowing customers in its US stores to pay through their Starbucks Card Mobile app on their iPhone, iPod touch or BlackBerry mobile phones.

Rumours began circulating yesterday that Apple's (AAPL) white Iphone 4 will finally start making its way to shelves form February 27th.

Cracks deepened in Asian equities on Thursday, with markets set to post their worst daily performance in more than five months, while the euro took a breather from its recent rally as it neared key resistance levels.

The United States and China on Wednesday agreed on $45 billion in U.S. export deals and to give U.S. companies greater access to China's $88 billion-plus government contracts market at the start of Chinese President Hu Jintao's four-day state visit.

Asian stocks retreated from two-month peaks on Thursday due to disappointing earnings from Wall Street majors, while the euro gave in to some profit taking after extending its rally overnight to a eight-week high.

Among the group of 25 female leatherback turtles tracked by scientists, Darwinia was the best diving sea turtle out of all. Scientists placed a simple transmitter on the back of the turtle and tracked them for over 5 years.

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams charged Doctor Kermit Gosnell with first degree murder in the killing of seven viable babies born alive, among numerous other charges made on Wednesday.

Burning Man tickets 2011 which will be held in Black Rock City, Nevada are available for purchase currently.

Samsung Electronics Co said on Thursday it had acquired Dutch display firm Liquavista, which specializes in electronic paper technology, as the world's biggest LCD screen maker seeks to expand in the booming mobile display market.

For U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro, the choice of a Goldman Sachs Group insider as her new top funds regulator could be a double-edged sword.

Tom Hardy, who played Eames in Christopher Nolan's dreams-within-dreams film Inception last year, has been cast by the director as Bane in the next Batman Movie.

The United States and China on Wednesday agreed on $45 billion in U.S. export deals and to give U.S. companies greater access to China's $88 billion-plus government contracts market at the start of Chinese President Hu Jintao's four-day state visit.

Seagate Technology Plc reported sharply lower profit on Wednesday as sales of its computer hard drives and storage devices fell and it recorded restructuring costs as it gears up for a massive share buyback after the failure of a private equity takeover deal.

Gold rose for a third straight day on Wednesday on a weaker dollar and strong Asian physical demand, while platinum and palladium hit multi-year highs on an improving global economic outlook.

The euro rose to an eight-week high on Wednesday on increasing optimism that Europe can defuse its debt crisis, but equities fell on poor U.S. housing data and bank earnings, while a rally in commodities faded.

Goldman Sachs' commodities trading risk has hit a near seven-year low, quarterly results on Wednesday showed, suggesting the Wall Street giant had become less aggressive lately in taking advantage of surging oil, metals and grains prices.

A committee of Hewlett Packard directors will investigate former CEO Mark Hurd's departure from the company amid sexual harassment allegations last year, according to a recent court filing.

The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to repeal last year's health care overhaul.

Online marketplace eBay Inc provided investors with a bullish 2011 profit outlook after the holiday quarter showed signs it is delivering a promised turnaround, as improvements in its buyer experience helped boost sales at its marketplaces unit.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday highlighted ways in which China is changing its policies that are likely to boost sales to the third largest U.S. trading partner.