IBT Staff Reporter

Stock index futures edged higher on Tuesday after earnings from blue chips like Ford extended optimism about a strong earnings season but the debt ceiling stalemate kept investors nervous.

Nissan Motor <7201.T>, the largest Asian automaker in China, plans to invest 50 billion yuan ($7.8 billion) there by the end of 2015, as it accelerates its expansion in the world's largest auto market.

The leader of Canada's main opposition party, limping heavily and looking pale and drawn, said on Monday he would step down temporarily because of cancer but vowed to return once Parliament resumes in mid-September.

Microsoft has released Avatar Kinect for Xbox 360 gaming console with its Kinect motion camera accessory, which will be free for Xbox Live users till September.

Greece wants a voluntary swap of government bonds for longer maturity paper to start in August and be completed fast to emerge rapidly from an expected default rating, its deputy finance minister said on Tuesday.

Stock index futures were slightly higher on Tuesday after earnings from blue chip companies like Ford extended optimism about a strong earnings season but the debt ceiling stalemate kept investors nervous.

Ford Motor Co's quarterly profit beat Wall Street expectations helped by higher prices and improved sales in North America.

Liverpool are touted to continue actively in the transfer market with numerous rumours suggesting links to various players.

A day after hundreds of gay couples wedded, the first lawsuit was filed against the New York state measure, challenging politicians who allegedly violated open meeting laws as well as Senate rules on debate.

The United States edged closer on Tuesday to a devastating default as Republicans and Democrats were deadlocked over competing plans to raise the debt ceiling, one week before a deadline to act.

When same-sex marriage bill was passed by New York State Legislature on June 24, it apparently did not put an end to the gay marriage battle. If anything, it added coals to the fire. Once the new law went into effect, thousands of protestors the same day and a lawsuit filed the next day asking for the law to go null and void have demonstrated the unquenchable fire over the debate of same-sex marriage.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi Hernandez have been shortlisted for the new UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

There was no stopping of emotions as Amy had held sway over millions of audience with her enthralling albums 'Frank' and 'Back to Black.' The final impression left by Amy to all her friends, family members and audience was nothing but 'love'. Amy's mother Janis recollected her daughter's words, 'I love you Mum,' which the ill-fated singer uttered a day before her death.

A 50-year-old man woke up in a mortuary, in South Africa screaming to be rescued after he was presumed to be dead by his family.

Higgs bosom, the "God particle" is considered the last unknown piece in a giant jigsaw puzzle. Once that piece is in place we will be able to see and understand how most everything in the universe works. Physicists will finally once and for all be able to prove many of the physics theories in existence today as well, including Einstein's famous theory of general relativity, E=MC2.

New York City issued 659 marriage licenses yesterday and volunteer judges married 484 couples, gay and straight, according to a news release from Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office. "Today, surrounded by family and friends, you are making history," Bloomberg said as he presided over the wedding of two aides at Gracie Mansion, his official residence. The marriage-rights victory, which Governor Andrew Cuomo orchestrated and which and made headlines worldwide, more than doubled the number of...

BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley promised long-term growth after a weak performance for the next few months, in an attempt to ease investors' frustration at the oil major's sluggish share price.

A British university exchange student Meredith Kercher was sexually assaulted and stabbed in Perugia, Italy on November 1, 2007. Along with Rudy Guede, a resident of Perugia, Amanda Knox, a young Seattle student and a housemate of Kercher, and Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian student have been held responsible for Kercher?s tragic death.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc is moving its Vudu video streaming and rental service to a place where it can get attract more eyeballs -- the Walmart.com web site -- as the growing service competes for attention with a variety of video services.

Procedures for a voluntary swap of privately-held Greek government bonds for longer maturity paper will start in August, Greece's deputy finance minister said on Tuesday.

A Long Island woman has been charged with manslaughter in the death of her 8-year-old disabled daughter and is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.

Credit Suisse will likely announce cost savings measures including a cut of 1,500-2,000 jobs, a Swiss paper reported on Tuesday, without naming any sources.

Asian shares rebounded on Tuesday as upbeat earnings lured buyers, but the dollar slid to a record low against the Swiss franc after a speech by U.S. President Barack Obama gave no sign that a deadlock in Washington over raising the debt limit was easing.

A measure of business activity improved in June as companies borrowed more to replace equipment, a lender group said on Tuesday.

Asian shares edged higher on Tuesday, rebounding from Monday's fall, but the dollar slid to a record low against the Swiss franc after a speech by U.S. President Barack Obama gave no sign a deadlock in Washington over raising the debt limit was easing.

Social games maker Zynga is partnering with Tencent Holdings Ltd, the Chinese Internet company, to launch its first game in mainland China as it tries to find new users by tapping into the $5.8 billion Chinese games market.

Strong U.S. sales for Chrysler and growth in Brazil will help offset a weak European market for Fiat SpA, combined financial results are set to show on Tuesday as the two car makers move closer toward a full merger.

Robert Ettinger, the founding father of the cryonics movement dies at 92.

The data scientists are worked up about are a few spikes that may signify the existence of the Higgs boson particle, aka the "God Particle." This particle is thought to be what all matter was formed out of and the cause of The Big Bang.