IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. stock index futures rose sharply on Wednesday after a healthy bond sale in Portugal and signs of strength in the U.S. banking sector.

Australian students from University of New South Wales have designed what they claim to be the world’s fastest solar car Sunswift Ivy by clocking a speed of 88 kilometers per hour after smashing a previous Guinness World Record of 79 kilometers per hour speed.

The European Union's top economic official called on Wednesday for a stronger European financial safety net as Portugal, seen as the next candidate for a bailout, comfortably sold its first debt of the year.

U.S. stock index futures rose sharply on Wednesday, tracking global stocks, after a healthy bond sale in Portugal eased worries about Lisbon's ability to finance itself.

The European Union's top economics official called on Wednesday for a strengthening of Europe's financial safety net as Portugal, widely seen as the next candidate for a bailout, returned to the market for funds.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was surely all about tablets with around 100 or so launches but it would also be safe to conclude that it was all about Google's Android, as a majority of tablets showcased run on either Honeycomb or Froyo.

Germany's economy rebounded last year at its fastest rate since reunification but the contribution of consumers to the recovery remained weak compared to booming corporate investment.

Singapore plans to impose restrictions on a liberal, popular news website ahead of general elections Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong may call this year.

Trying to quit smoking as part of New Year's resolutions? Personalized phone counseling along with Web-based guidance may help, according to a study.

Frieda Pinto’s appearance in their New Year commercial led to the rumors of Aishwarya being dropped as their spokeswoman

Portugal is likely to pay record high premiums to place debt on Wednesday, but recent bond buying by the European Central Bank should avert a dramatic rise in yields to levels that prompt the country to seek a bailout.

Europe can definitely solve its debt problems and China will continue to support the euro's role as an alternative to the dollar in global financial markets, a Chinese central bank adviser said on Wednesday.

Another Chinese interest rate increase in the first quarter is likely, a central bank adviser said on Wednesday, but a vice governor cautioned against raising rates too steeply for fear of luring in hot money.

For the testing year ending June 30, 2010, European schools received more than 85,000 GMAT scores, marking an increase of almost 90 percent from 2006 numbers

American International Group Inc accepted a $2.16 billion cash offer for its Taiwan Nan Shan Life unit from a group led by local conglomerate Ruentex, marking the beginning of the end of a drawn-out process fraught with political wrangling.

Symantec's MessageLabs says Rustock, the largest of the spam botnets, is back with a bang since Monday, and appears set to continue where it left off on Dec. 25 as the biggest source of worldwide spam.

Producers are trying their best to persuade him to enter rehab again

Indian budget carrier IndiGo is considering all options including an initial public offering to finance a $15.6 billion plane order with Airbus, but has made no decision yet, the firm's president said on Wednesday.

Hong Kong beat rivals Singapore and Australia to be rated the world’s freest economy for a straight seventeenth consecutive year, according to a ranking by US-based Heritage Foundation.

State-owned Bank of China Ltd has offered yuan trading to U.S. customers, a sign that Beijing this year may increasingly promote the use of the Chinese currency in major financial centers.

India's proposed food security bill will take at least a year to be finalised, delaying a key vote-winning policy for the ruling Congress party as crucial state elections loom, the Financial Express reported on Wednesday.

Hong Kong was rated the world's freest economy for a 17th straight year in a ranking by the U.S.-based Heritage Foundation, above rivals Singapore and Australia for the title.

China would welcome assurances its financial assets in the United States are safe, a senior diplomat said on Wednesday, ahead of President Hu Jintao's visit next week, but played down rifts between the two powers.

Corrects paragraphs 1-3 to clarify the ruling will not bar website supporting parties and candidates

British housebuilder Barratt Developments Plc said it expects operating margin for the first half to be around 5 percent, significantly up from 2.4 percent in the year-ago period. The company said its average selling price rose by about 6 percent.

Export-driven software services companies are set to report robust growth in quarterly earnings and a firm outlook, driven by an expected increase in clients' technology budgets.

The government is not worried about a slowdown in the November industrial output, which reflects month-to-month volatility, the deputy chairman of India's Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said.

Court finds enough evidence to order trial for involuntary manslaughter.

China would welcome assurance about the security of its financial assets in the United States, a senior diplomat said on Wednesday ahead of President Hu Jintao's visit next week, while playing down rifts between the two powers.