UNITED STATES

The Morgan Stanley investment banker accused of a hate crime in the assault of an Egyptian-born taxi driver over a fare is due back in a Connecticut court next week.

The marked increase in earthquakes in the central U.S. is almost certainly being caused by fracking, according to a new study.

U.S. stocks rose more than 1 percent on Thursday as lower Italian bond yields eased some euro-zone concerns and rumors about China's strong GDP growth bolstered investors' appetite for risk.

The Fed is also well aware that employment had peaked in each of the past two springs before resuming growth late in the year.

A letter sent to Mel Gibson from ex-film collaborator and screenwriter, Joe Eszerthas has hit the web, revealing not only more about Gibson's rage issues, but his continued death threats to ex-girlfriend, and mother of his child, Oksana Grigorieva. According to Kris Herzog, owner of the Navy SEAL Bodyguard Group, The Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills and former bodyguard for Mel Gibson and Oksana, Gibson has said on numerous occasions that he was going to kill Oksana.

Overall, 52.6 percent of Brazilian men and 44.7 percent of women are overweight.

The Casual Vacancy is JK Rowling's new book for adults. The Harry Potter author has had an astonishing career writing all-ages tales, but her upcoming tome will be a major departure.

Foster Friess has a long history of controversies. Most recently a statement he made Wednesday has been interpreted as a form of threat against President Barack Obama. Here's a run-down of some of the major Republican donor's top controversies.

India replaced China as the top purchaser of Iranian oil in the first quarter of 2012, and has been trading wheat and grains for fuel.

Manhattan's 2 World Financial Center was evacuated Thursday morning after workers who discovered what they believed to be a hand grenade contacted authorities -- it turned out to be a toy, police said.

International Business Machines Corp. said it would partner with the U.S. unit of Honda Motor Co. and PG&E Corp. to use the cloud for optimium charging of electric cars.

Dudley said strong first-quarter data might have been the result of unseasonably warm weather in much of the United States that pulled forward some economic activity and hiring.

Chris Dodd, a former U.S. senator who heads the Motion Picture Association of America, said there will be another push for some kind of anti-piracy legislation after the 2012 elections.

North Korea may wake on April 15 to find a present for the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-sung: the country's first functional satellite. And North Koreans may not have long to wait for another big event, as the regime prepares what may be a third nuclear test.

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV may be serving up cervezas en espanol, as the Belgian brewer has emerged as the lead bidder for Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana SA, maker of Presidente Beer.

U.S. 15-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to a new record low of 3.11 percent in the week ending April 12, mortgage financier Freddie Mac said Thursday.

Trade growth is expected to slow for a second year in 2012 amid severe downside risks that could push it even further below the 20-year average of 5.4 percent, the Geneva-based body forecast Thursday.

Shares of Micron Technology (NYSE: MU), the only U.S. independent maker of memory chips, rose 5 percent after it announced plans to sell convertible senior notes valued at $1 billion.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Myanmar, also known as Burma, on Friday, making him the first Western head of state to set foot on its soil in more than half a century.

Tehran's top negotiator Saeed Jalili told the group of six world powers gathered in Istanbul for talks this Saturday that Iran is ready to hold successful and progressive talks on cooperation.

Chavez, who is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of abdominal cancer, says that his appearance at the Summit of the Americas will depend on his health.