UNITED STATES

US President Obama will meet India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the first time at G20 summit in London on Thursday.

As investigators delve into the private life and personal possessions of Wall Street swindler Bernard Madoff, at least one thing has become apparent -- he was obsessed with bulls.

U.S. lawmakers are pushing to raise U.S. defenses against cyber attacks, allowing the government to write and implement security guidelines for confidential industry.

Stocks rallied for a third day on Thursday as more data pointed to a stabilizing economy and changes to a bank-accounting rule that is seen as shoring up the volatile financial sector in the short term.

U.S. accounting rulemakers bowed to congressional and financial industry pressure on Thursday by allowing more flexibility in valuing toxic assets, a move expected to boost bank earnings and improve their capital levels.

Amid the current push for clean energy by President Barack Obama, Google Inc. and environmentalists have launched a map service to help renewable energy project managers see off-limits areas in the western U.S. where new infrastructure would cause significant damage to the environment.

Oil rose nearly 9 percent to top $52 a barrel on Thursday, in line with a broad rally in global markets on hopes actions agreed at the G20 summit in London would restore global growth.

Online video games maker Changyou.com Ltd soared in its trading debut on Thursday, with shares up 26 percent, putting it on pace for the most successful stock launch in nearly a year.

Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Iger expressed caution over the US cable industry’s move to restrict online viewing of television shows to cable subscribers, saying that the limits could provoke backlash from consumers.

Oil rose 8 percent to $52 a barrel on Thursday, in line with a broad rally in global markets, on hopes actions agreed at the G20 summit in London would restore global growth.

Microsoft Corp expects several phones on the U.S. market to be powered by its Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system after it launches in the fall of 2009, according to a company executive.

Stocks jumped on Thursday as changes in bank accounting rules boosted optimism the financial system may stabilize in the short term, while world leaders agreed on measures to fight the recession.

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits surged to a 26-1/2-year high last week, data showed on Thursday, indicating that layoffs have yet to peak even as other reports signaled some improvement in the economy.

General Electric Co and Intel Corp have joined forces to develop devices to help doctors monitor patients' health remotely, an area they believe could become a multibillion-dollar business.

Oil rose more than 7 percent to $52 a barrel on Thursday, in line with a broad rally in global markets on hopes actions agreed at the G20 summit in London would restore global growth.

Bank of America Corp Chairman and Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis said it may take several quarters for the bank to repay its $45 billion of federal bailout money, although he believes the U.S. economy may bottom out in the second half of this year.

U.S. stocks jumped 4 percent on Thursday after world leaders agreed to pump an additional trillion dollars into the economy to fight the financial crisis and on rule changes aimed at giving banks flexibility when dealing with toxic assets.

Online video games maker Changyou.com Ltd soared in its trading debut on Thursday, with shares up nearly 36 percent, putting it on pace for the most successful stock launch in nearly a year.

Leaders of the G20 nations agreed to pump an additional trillion dollars to fight the economic crisis on Thursday, in an effort to shorten the recession and save jobs.

Stocks surged more than 4 percent on Thursday as world leaders agreed to a trillion-dollar deal to fight the economic downturn and banks were allowed more flexibility to value toxic assets that have clogged up the financial system.

The Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress on Thursday moved toward passing a federal budget that embraces President Barack Obama's initiatives on healthcare, energy and education but leaves the government deeply in debt for the foreseeable future.