IBT Staff Reporter

Apple iPhone and iPod Touch users will be able to get videos of the current 13 finalists in a confessional format, along with bios, pictures, news and other behind-the-scenes content from the reigning TV ratings leader.

The world economy is likely to shrink to below zero this year, in what many are now referring to as the Great Recession, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

The recession-hit U.S. economy is proving weaker than economists expected just a month ago, but forecasters still think a recovery is in the cards for later this year, a survey released on Tuesday showed.

Asian shares outside Japan posted their best gains in a month on Tuesday while safe-haven flight to the dollar eased, but the moves were seen as only a momentary reprieve from a gloomy economic outlook.

The U.S. government's plan to strip banks of troubled assets could force some firms to record large losses, but the move would help restore confidence in the banking system, the head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said in an interview in Tuesday's Washington Post.

Oil edged down below $47 a barrel on Tuesday, as dealers mulled OPEC output options at a meeting this weekend and ahead of weekly U.S. stocks data expected to show another fall in crude inventories.

Asian shares rebounded on Tuesday from a three-session losing streak, while the safe-haven bid on the dollar retreated in moves seen as a momentary reprieve from concerns about the weak outlook for the global economy.

Oil held above $47 a barrel on Tuesday, as dealers mulled the possibility of deeper OPEC output cuts at a meeting this weekend and ahead of weekly U.S. stocks data expected to show another fall in crude inventories.

Public health experts say that authorities and Zimbabweans themselves must take care not to spread cholera as the number of reported cases continues to rise.

Members of the Obama administration's autos task force met for the first time with the national leadership of the United Auto Workers on Monday as part of a visit to the Detroit area where they again met with executives of General Motors Corp and Chrysler.

Dow Chemical Co agreed on Monday to go through with its purchase of Rohm and Haas Co reaching a settlement after the two sides were scheduled to go to a trial over Dow's refusal to close the deal.

Google Inc's online video site, YouTube, said on Monday it will block all music videos to British users after it was unable to reach a rights deal with the main songwriters' collection society.

Google Inc. has confirmed its plan to push the clean energy plan and predicts less Emissions by 2030. The plan promotes energy efficiency and a massive renewable-energy.

Members of the Obama administration's autos task force toured General Motors Corp and Chrysler facilities in the Detroit area on Monday, checking new technology and meeting with company executives.

On March 9, Microsoft Corporation declared a quarterly dividend of $0.13 and also announced a a new addition to its board members.

Citigroup Inc. spent about $3.5 million to provide rewards for top-performing advisers at its Smith Barney brokerage unit, funded by operating revenue to achieves a nearly 80 percent cost saving.

On March 9, 2009, Motorola introduced the MC55 EDA stands for Enterprise Digital Assistant, a highly durable, yet small smart phone, which has the ability to survive even when it drops, which will be displayed during next week's IWCE show in Las Vegas.

New York state's top legal officer and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank demanded on Monday that Bank of America Corp provide more details on $6.9 billion in bonuses paid in 2008, including $3.6 billion at the former Merrill Lynch & Co.

IBM Corp.'s chairman and chief executive, Sam Palmisano, received a compensation package that is calculated to be worth nearly $21 million in 2008, slightly higher than the year before, according to reports.

On March 9, the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) announced the operating data of TAM for February 2009.

Tyson Foods Inc, the world’s largest meat producer and marketer, said Monday, it has entered $1 billion new secured credit facility with JPMorgan as administrative agent and has closed its previously announced offering of $810 million.

Today, at the Everything Channel Xchange Conference in New Orleans, Seagate teaming with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), demonstrated a new interface that could one day make hard-disk speeds run even faster.

AMD introduced the new ATI FirePro 2450, a low profile quad display graphics accelerator that consumes minimal power of less than 18 watts delivering exceptional power efficiency.

U.S. stocks fell in choppy trade and the Nasdaq slid to a fresh 6 and 1/2-year low on Monday as shares of the biggest drugmakers fell after Merck's proposed a $41 billion takeover of Schering-Plough .

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Monday it hired former Michaels Stores Inc Chief Executive Brian Cornell as the president and CEO of its Sam's Club warehouse business, effective April 3.

U.S. stocks fell in choppy trade and the Nasdaq slid to a fresh 6 and 1/2-year low on Monday as shares of the biggest drugmakers fell after Merck's proposed a $41 billion takeover of Schering-Plough .

The Dalai Lama is set to mark his 50 years in exile on Tuesday by demanding meaningful autonomy for his Tibetan homeland and saying that Chinese rule there has at times been hell on earth.

Shares of Wells Fargo rose 15.8 percent on Monday after billionaire investor Warren Buffett made positive comments about the California-based bank.

Barclays agreed on Monday to acquire the Bear Wagner Specialists LLC operations from JPMorgan Chase & Co, a move that will leave the New York Stock Exchange with five designated market makers.