IBT Staff Reporter

If political history is any guide, Gordon Brown is heading for certain defeat in a British general election next year.

Beijing appeared to be a bloated metropolis all gussied up for the August Olympics, scrubbed clean with colorful potted plants lining the streets, with not a speck of litter marring the immaculate avenues.

General Motors Corp and the United Auto Workers have reached an agreement on contract changes and restructuring $20 billion in debt owed to a trust fund for retiree healthcare, the union said on Thursday.

You’ve probably heard the cliché statistic: you are far more likely to die in a car crash than in a plane crash.

Oil fell nearly 2 percent on Thursday, dragged down from six-month highs as signs of job market weakness stoked concerns about the economy.

The Obama administration is mulling a new agency to better protect consumers who buy financial products or take out mortgages from practices like those that led to the current financial crisis, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Thursday.

One of Jamie’s long-time interests has been road cycling, and a couple of years ago, I decided I’d like to take it up, too. As a novice, I appreciated the patience and care Jamie took to teach me the rules of the road and coach me on the physical aspects of riding. When the bike trail was crowded or road conditions were dicey, he got in the habit of riding lead, calling out warnings about approac...

Dear Sam: In the last three months, I have had three interviews that were effectively cancelled. For the first interview, I arrived exactly at the scheduled time. I was actually early, but by the time I found the part of the building I was supposed to be in, it was my appointment time. I was told I would not be granted an interview because I was not there 15 minutes early.

Suntech Power Holding Co on Thursday saw its shares fall 7.8 percent after it posted a first quarter net loss of 96 percent.

Wall Street securities firms will emerge from the current recession in a down-sized mode, with few of the jobs cut replaced by 2013, even as the industry returns to profitability next year, a New York City fiscal monitor said in a gloomy report released on Wednesday.

Britain risks losing its precious triple-A credit rating because of the danger that government debt may soar close to 100 percent of GDP, and uncertainty over policy before an election due by next year.

The Obama administration is mulling a new agency to better protect consumers from practices like those that led to the current financial crisis, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Thursday.

U.K. retail sales in April bounced higher than expected, showing signs that the recession is easing.

SAP will soon introduce a mobile version of its Business ByDesign Web-based software suite, a senior executive said on Thursday.

U.S. stocks slid on Thursday as signs of further job market weakness and a disappointing Fed regional survey added to doubts that the economy was set for quick recovery.

General Motors Corp and the United Auto Workers have reached an agreement on contract changes and restructuring $20 billion in debt owed to a trust fund for retiree healthcare, the union said on Thursday.

Dell Inc , plans to aggressively pursue corporate customers in an effort to win back market share in the United States, even as enterprise technology spending remains uncertain.

Opera Software ASA chief executive Jon von Tetzchner hopes the Norwegian firm, known for its mobile browser, will stay independent despite major industry players increasing focus on the sector.

The co-chief executives of BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd said on Thursday they would donate about C$290 million ($253 million) of RIM shares owned by them to two charitable foundations.

Barnes & Noble Inc reported a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss and raised its full-year outlook on Thursday, boosted by cost-cutting and sales that fell less than planned in a weak book retail market.

Barnes & Noble Inc reported a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss and raised its full-year outlook on Thursday, boosted by cost-cutting and sales that fell less than planned in a weak book retail market.

Stocks slid on Thursday as signs of further jobs weakness and a disappointing Fed regional survey fueled doubts about prospects for a quick economic recovery.

U.S. emissions of the main greenhouse gas -- carbon dioxide -- from energy sources, such as gasoline, diesel and coal, fell a record 2.8 percent last year as the recession hit consumer demand for fuel, the government said on Wednesday.

Victims of sexual abuse and neglect in Catholic-run schools and orphanages in Ireland swamped counselling services on Thursday after the publication of the harrowing findings of a nine-year investigation.

London-listed solar wafer manufacturer ReneSola lowered its full-year expectations and reported a 13 percent fall in first-quarter net revenues, sending its shares down over 16 percent.

GameStop Corp said on Thursday its same-store sales dropped more than expected in the last quarter and it lowered its full-year same-store sales forecast.

New York's mayor and police chief sought to calm Jewish worshipers on Thursday, the morning after authorities said they foiled a plot to blow up two synagogues and simultaneously shoot down military planes.

The Philippines is due to sign rules on Monday to implement a law encouraging investments in renewable energy, a move expected to cut the country's reliance on imported fuel, a senior official said on Thursday.

British-based carbon offset project developer EcoSecurities posted a rise in its cash balance on Thursday, helped by healthy carbon offset delivery volumes.