IBT Staff Reporter

Richard Holbrooke, a top U.S. diplomat who was a key figure in negotiating peace to end the war in Bosnia 15 years ago, and was the special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, died on Monday.

U.S. investment bank JPMorgan said it does not hold more than 90 percent of copper stock warrants in London Metal Exchange warehouses, but declined on Tuesday to comment on whether it had a smaller position.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday after surprisingly strong November retail sales boosted optimism about consumer spending in the holiday shopping season, even as the Federal Reserve issued yet another cautious statement about the economy.

IBM's supercomputer Watson is due to star in the upcoming Jeopardy episodes in February pitched against the two most successful Jeopardy players, Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings.

A British judge granted bail of 200,000 pounds ($317,400) on Tuesday for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, wanted in Sweden for alleged sex crimes and the target of U.S. fury over the release of secret diplomatic cables.

A British judge granted bail of 200,000 pounds ($317,400) on Tuesday for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, wanted in Sweden for alleged sex crimes and the target of U.S. fury over the release of secret diplomatic cables.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, arrested in Britain on Swedish allegations of sex crimes, was granted bail by a British court on Tuesday.

Viacom has attracted some high-profile support in its legal battle with YouTube, including software giant Microsoft and artists such as Garth Brooks and Sting.

The FT reported that market-making brokerage and bank J.P.Morgan has materially reduced its bets on lower silver prices, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The chief executive officers of large U.S. companies are much more optimistic about the economy than a few months ago, although their expectations for growth remain modest, according to a quarterly survey by the Business Roundtable.

Germany threw its weight on Tuesday behind a potential capital increase by the European Central Bank, saying it would react positively to such a move if the ECB deems it necessary.

U.S. retail sales continued to rise in November for the fifth month, boosted by holiday shopping as well as fuel prices, the U.S. Commerce Department said.

Retail sales were stronger than expected in November as consumers stepped up despite the shadow of high unemployment, while producer prices rose, offering further evidence the economic recovery gathered steam in the fourth quarter.

Sales at retailers rose more than expected in November as consumers splurged on clothing and other items at the start of the holiday season and receipts at gasoline stations surged, more evidence the economic recovery gathered steam in the fourth quarter.

Fancy new features like 3D screens and Internet connectivity have failed to inspire U.S. television shoppers, dashing a hoped-for recovery in the global consumer electronics industry.

Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki have been crowned the International Tennis Federation world champions for the year 2010.

Wipro Ltd said its global consulting, system integration and its outsourcing business unit Wipro Technologies has opened its new development center in Budapest, Hungary, to service Magyar Telekom, Hungary’s biggest telecom service provider.

Prosecutors said on Tuesday they would appeal against a British judge's decision to grant bail to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been arrested in Britain on Swedish allegations of sex crimes.

The Federal Reserve said on Tuesday it ordered Weststar Financial Services Corp to refrain from paying dividends or otherwise reducing the capital from its main subsidiary, The Bank of Asheville, in North Carolina.

The National Retail Federation raised its holiday sales forecast, saying stock market gains and higher income have lifted consumer confidence and given shoppers the ability to spend more this year.

The European Central Bank could decide this week on whether to increase its capital -- giving it a cushion against any losses on its bond purchases -- after Germany threw its weight behind the idea on Tuesday.

A Qatar astronomer and scientists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have discovered a new alien planet, named as Qatar-1b, bigger than Jupiter.

Strong November retail sales lifted U.S. stocks on Tuesday on optimism about consumer spending, even as weak sales from electronics bellwether Best Buy showed some specialty retailers could be struggling.

As Congress considers a broad tax deal proposed by President Barack Obama and Republicans, high tech and manufacturing businesses are particularly favorable to a provision that would extend research and development tax credits.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter sparked controversy with his response to gay rights groups' criticism of FIFA, when he joked that the gay fans travelling to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup should refrain from any sexual activities.

The Apple engineer talks about how he created an Ancient Greek computing device, the Antikythera Mechanism out of Legos.

Demand is strong at David Dumas' South Carolina men's clothing store, but after being battered during the past two holiday seasons by the recession and financial market meltdown, he does not want to get too excited.

Members of the World Trade Organization are showing new energy and determination to reach a global trade deal but must now abandon fixed positions to clinch the agreement, the head of the WTO said on Tuesday.

Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?, asked Shakespeare. Now, women of the world have replied: No, just tell me I have beautiful lips.