IBT Staff Reporter

Moody's Investors Service on Wednesday downgraded two of France's top banks, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole, in a new blow to efforts by European policymakers to restore market confidence in the region.

Sentiment at Asia's top companies fell in the third quarter, hitting its lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2009 as doubts about the strength of the global economy weighed, a Reuters survey showed.

In a heated stand-off between Republican Presidential candidates during Monday's Republican presidential debate, Texas Governor, Rick Perry, was caught in the crossfire over his 2007 executive order that required Texas schoolgirls to receive vaccinations against the sexually transmitted HPV virus.

Sony Corp will launch its new PlayStation Vita handheld games device on December 17 in Japan, kicking off a global rollout, and insisted it will not reduce the price in the face of discounting by rival Nintendo.

Bank of Japan board member Ryuzo Miyao said on Wednesday the country's economy may get less support than initially expected from overseas demand as the recovery in the U.S. and European economies loses steam.

Japan's economy may get less support than expected from overseas demand as Europe's debt woes escalate and U.S. growth slows sharply, a Bank of Japan policymaker said, painting a bleak picture for the prospects of recovery from the March earthquake and tsunami.

China and the United States urged Europe's leaders to prevent the euro area debt mess from spreading, underlining the international alarm over a crisis now threatening Italy, the zone's third-biggest economy.

Asian stocks, U.S. index futures and the euro fell on Wednesday as investors remained unconvinced that euro zone leaders have a coherent plan to tackle the bloc's sovereign debt problems, which many fear could trigger a new banking crisis.

Bank of Japan board member Ryuzo Miyao said on Wednesday the country's economy may get less support than initially expected from overseas demand as the recovery in the U.S. and European economies loses steam.

Sony Corp will launch its new PlayStation Vita handheld games device on December 17 in Japan, and will not discount the price, the head of its Japanese games unit said on Wednesday.

Lady Gaga, Bono and Usher will pay tribute to the work of the Bill Clinton Foundation in a one-night concert at the Hollywood Bowl in October, the organization and Yahoo said on Tuesday.

Former vice president Dick Cheney spoke out in favor of same-sex marriage on Tuesday in an appearance on The View.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc will double the money it spends with women-owned businesses, train women around the world and push major suppliers to use more women and minorities on work they do for the retailer as it keeps trying to shed a poor corporate image.

Suzuki Motor will likely locate a planned new $1.3 billion passenger car factory in Gujarat, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Wednesday.

Samsung Card said on Wednesday it planned to sell a 20.64 percent stake in unlisted affiliate Samsung Everland through a block deal or initial public offering, in a deal media reports estimate could be worth more than 1 trillion won ($928 million).

Samsung Card <029780.KS> said on Wednesday it planned to sell a 20.64 percent stake in unlisted affiliate Samsung Everland through a block deal or initial public offering, in a deal media reports estimate could be worth more than 1 trillion won ($928 million).

Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe 2011 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, becoming the fourth African woman to win the title since the beginning of the pageant. She also became the first Angolan Miss Universe.

Yahoo's board will meet on Wednesday to discuss a wide range of options facing the troubled Internet firm, including the search for a new chief executive, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

Can a computer tell when it hurts? It can if you train it, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

The race for former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner's seat was too close to call as the polls closed, raising the possibility of an embarrassing loss for Democrats in a district that has never elected a Republican.

A rebound in Asian stocks and the euro stalled and gold edged up on Wednesday as investors waited for convincing signs of progress on taming the euro zone debt crisis.

The Asian Development Bank trimmed most of its 2011 and 2012 growth forecasts for the region while noting that Asia's emerging economies are showing resilience in the face of the darkening global environment.

The government should ban truckers from using cellphones while driving except in emergencies, transportation safety investigators said on Tuesday.

The Japanese government is considering compiling a fourth extra budget for the fiscal year to March of about 1 to 2 trillion yen ($13-26 billion) to fund additional economic steps without issuing new bonds, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The UK called for the release of a woman kidnapped at a Kenyan beach resort.

Lawyers for Trust Company of the West and its former chief investment officer, star bond fund manager Jeffrey Gundlach, presented their closing arguments Tuesday to a 12-person jury that is to decide their fate.

Those redirected into the small town of Gander, Newfoundland return to thank residents for their kindness during the tragedy of September 11, 2001.

The anniversary of September 11 brought fearful travel on two airlines escorted by fighter jets.

Though Apple has not announced anything officially about the highly anticipated iPhone 5, rumors about the probable specifications (based on details embedded in the beta version of iOS 5 and improvements expected on the next iPhone), have turned cacophonous on the web.