IBT Staff Reporter

Scientists offered new hope in the fight against a difficult-to-treat skin cancer on Wednesday as an early-stage clinical trial showed an experimental drug dramatically shrank tumors.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks on track to win a second term and has a good chance of forming the center-right coalition that eluded her four years ago, the last polls released before Sunday's election indicated.

General Mills Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by strong sales in the United States and lower commodity costs.

Fighting in Somalia's capital Mogadishu killed at least 12 people and wounded 17 others after Islamist insurgents attacked government forces and African Union (AU) peacekeepers, witnesses said on Wednesday.

The European Union unveiled its blueprint on Wednesday for an overhaul of the way banks and financial markets are policed, a central plank to new rules designed to prevent a repeat of the global economic crisis.

Working Mother magazine on Tuesday named the best U.S. companies for working mothers, citing those that have kept or expanded family-friendly programs and policies amid the pressures of recession.

When the National Day parade rolls down Beijing's streets next week, foreign observers will look beyond the goose-stepping soldiers for signs that China is developing a new missile able to threaten U.S. aircraft carriers.

More than a year and a half into America's worst housing crisis since the Great Depression, rising unemployment is pushing ever more homeowners in rural Ohio toward foreclosure.

Sarah Palin, accused during her 2008 U.S. vice presidential campaign of having a limited knowledge of foreign affairs, travelled to Hong Kong to push on Wednesday for stronger ties and trade with China.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to take note of an improving economy at the close of a meeting on Wednesday, while cautioning that high unemployment puts the recovery at risk.

Smartphone maker Palm Inc said it would offer 20 million common shares for $16.25 each, a discount of 5 percent to the stock's Tuesday close.

The worst U.S. economic recession in 70 years is forcing senior citizens out of retirement, leaving them fighting for jobs in a weak labor market or risk homelessness, according to a private study.

Actress Mackenzie Phillips revealed that she had a sexual relationship with her father, John Phillips, the founder of The Mamas and the Papas band of the 1960's.

When the 49ers were battling the Cardinals in a National Football League game earlier this year, a Facebook update by stun gun maker Taser proclaimed that the San Francisco-based team's Taser formation could be the tipping factor.

Clare BaldwinIntel Corp rolled out a software developers' platform on Tuesday and stressed it will step up efforts to boost revenue from consumer electronics and other markets beyond its core, maturing personal computer business.

Microsoft Corp is developing a small tablet-style PC to rival a similar product that may be launched by Apple Inc, technology blog Gizmodo reported on Tuesday.

JPMorgan Chase & Co, the second-largest U.S. bank, launched a charge card for small businesses on Wednesday, entering a market long dominated by American Express Co.

West rallies for U.S. plan; Ford's India Push; Housing High

Some investors believe Goldman Sachs Group Inc may try to shed its commercial banking charter to sidestep U.S. government efforts to rein in exorbitant Wall Street pay.

With unemployment lines growing even as the recession eases its grip, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to extend jobless benefits for those who risk exhausting them.

As U2 wraps the 2009 dates of its groundbreaking 360 world stadium tour, the band is expected to gross about $300 million and sell about 3 million tickets to fewer than 50 shows.

U.S. mortgage applications jumped last week to their highest since late May as interest rates tumbled below 5 percent, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

Oil fell toward $71 a barrel on Wednesday, pressured by doubts over U.S. demand as investors cautiously awaited government inventory data after an industry report showed a surprise build in crude oil stockpiles.

U.S. mortgage applications jumped last week to their highest since late May as interest rates tumbled below 5 percent, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

It's always a challenge to say specifically what makes a TV comedy outstanding, but, as Justice Potter Stewart said of pornography 45 years ago, I know it when I see it. When it comes to Modern Family, you will, too.

Disney's imminent re-release of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D has many wondering if others will tap their film libraries for extra-dimensional opportunities, but it appears less a matter of if than when.

Before committing yourself to ABC's new hour comedy-drama Eastwick, try to turn off your brain. Forget the 1987 movie and its four big stars; forget that Charmed ran for eight seasons; forget that TV translations in 1992 and 2002 of the same source material died early. Once you're into it, try to forget the two boob and one vibrator jokes that materialize during the first five minutes.

Cougar Town is a place dreamed up by Bill Lawrence, the man who also helped give the world many excellent episodes of Scrubs. Courteney Cox, the woman who gave the world many amusing moments on Friends, is the star of ABC's Cougar Town. Their television marriage could have worked.

Megan Fox's black leather motorcycle costume, a 17-foot-tall robot and more than 100 other props, costumes and set pieces from the Transformers movie franchise are going up for auction near Los Angeles next month.