IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. Senator John Kerry raised the possibility on Wednesday that a major energy and climate change bill he is trying to craft might not contain the cap and trade mechanism for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

FBI agents on Wednesday arrested a New York man on charges that he uploaded a copy of the movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine to the Internet before its May theatrical release, a spokeswoman said.

Courtney Love was prohibited from having any direct contact with her daughter Frances Bean, 17, TMZ.com reported Wednesday citing a restraining order issued by a judge.

Germany may trim incentives for solar power producers next year but still aims to double the proportion of energy it generates from renewable sources by 2020, despite overcapacity and a subdued economic outlook.

Spain's Gas Natural said on Wednesday it had renewed a euro medium term note issue and extended it to up to 10 billion euros ($14.57 billion) from 4.7 billion issued earlier this year.

Saks Inc is cutting 116 jobs in the cosmetics and fragrance departments of its flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York as it moves to get outside vendors such as Chanel, Lancome and Clinique to fully staff their Saks counters themselves.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is considering ways to enable access to the Internet through set-top boxes for television sets.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday seized on easing U.S. job losses to voice growing optimism on the economy's prospects, but repeated a vow to keep interest rates unusually low for an extended period.

U.S. stocks trimmed gains on Wednesday, with the Dow turning negative after the Federal Reserve reiterated its intention to keep interest rates low for the foreseeable future to ensure a sustainable economic recovery.

I'm not about to challenge our fabulous Byron King for it, but I figure he won't begrudge me the title of Go-To Gal On Emerging Technologies of the XIV Dynasty through the Late XVIII Century

The U.S. government accused Intel Corp of illegally using its market dominance to stifle competition, in a lawsuit that seeks to stop the marketing practices that have helped maintain Intel's status as the world's biggest chip maker.

I'm not normally much for big predictions, but this one is a no-brainer: The U.S. dollar is going to skyrocket sometime in 2010, which is huge news for your portfolio...

Mounir Moufarrige, president and chief executive of French fashion house Emanuel Ungaro, has resigned just over two months after a widely panned collection by American actress Lindsay Lohan.

The nephew of Walt Disney, Roy Disney, died Wednesday morning following a year-long battle against cancer, CNN reported citing a Walt Disney Co. spokesman.

Fearless singer Taylor Swift graces the cover of People's most intriguing of 2009, on a list that names mom-of-eight Kate Gosselin the mother of all reality stars and British singer Susan Boyle as the surprise hit, the magazine said on Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday voiced guarded optimism the battered U.S. job market was improving, but it repeated a vow to keep interest rates extraordinarily low for an extended period.

Prudential Financial Inc said on Wednesday it expects the sale of its minority stake in Wachovia Securities to produce a $1.5 billion after-tax gain.

Susan Boyle led the U.S. pop album chart for a third week Wednesday, while Chris Brown's new album debuted at a disappointing No. 7.

Golden Globe nominations seldom lead to the big box-office bounce that Oscar contenders can enjoy, but positive media attention can help limited releases mount successful expansions.

Switzerland will decide next year whether to extradite film director Roman Polanski to the United States for sentencing over a 1977 case of unlawful sex with a minor, the Justice Ministry said on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as a benign reading on the November Consumer Price Index bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep its accommodative monetary stance to foster an economic recovery.

U.S. stocks maintained gains on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said it would leave interest rates unchanged and reaffirmed its promise to keep rates low for an extended period.

When six A-list directors -- Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker); James Cameron (Avatar); Lee Daniels (Precious); Peter Jackson (The Lovely Bones); Jason Reitman (Up in the Air); and Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds) -- gathered recently for a candid discussion of filmmaking, hilarity ensued immediately as they swapped war stories.

In its last scheduled meeting of the 2009 calendar year, a committee of top Federal Reserve officials said on Wednesday that it would continue to keep interest rates at record low levels for an extended period, as expected, but acknowledged that the labor market deterioration is abating.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gave a big Thank You For The Music to ABBA on Tuesday, announcing that the Swedish pop group would be among its 2010 inductees.

G-III Apparel Group Ltd (GIII.O) said its offering of 1.7 million common shares was priced at $19.50 apiece, a discount of 8 percent to the stock's previous close.

TAM Linhas Aereas (TAMM4.SA) (TAM.N), Brazil's largest airline, said on Wednesday it plans to spin off its Multiples SA unit in an initial public offering, hoping to capitalize on a boom in share sales.

Shares of the latest initial public offering backed by private equity firm Blackstone Group (BX.N) rose nearly 7 percent in their New York Stock Exchange debut after an initally cool reception.

The full U.S. Senate seems certain to put off until next month a vote to reconfirm Ben Bernanke to a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, a Democratic aide said on Wednesday.