IBT Staff Reporter

Sony Music is investigating the possibility that pranksters rather than hackers posted fake stories on its Irish website, a source close to the company said on Wednesday.

China will reform its export of rare earths based in part on World Trade Organization rules, state media reported on Wednesday, a day after the global trade governing body ruled against its curbs on exports.

Questlove, the lead drummer for the R&B group The Roots, said the only reason a jury found Casey Anthony not guilty of murder charges was because she is white.

A study showed an increase in the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular cases among smokers who take the drug Chantix to help them quit.

The Seattle pitching continues to lead the team toward victories as starting pitcher Felix Hernandez gave a strong performance striking out 10 Oakland Atheletics over 8 innings. Despite his efforts, the victory went to fellow teammate Brandon League while Jamey Wright got the save. Seattle's pitching has been on a roll thanks to Hernandez's fifthy double digit strikeout game of the year and considerabley his best game so far this season.

Banks and other large financial companies that could be seized and liquidated by the U.S. government are balking at a proposed plan they argue gives regulators too much power to snatch back executives' pay if their institutions fail.

Christine Lagarde, who took office as IMF managing director on Tuesday, has signed up for tougher ethical rules than her predecessor as the lender seeks to inoculate itself from further hits to its reputation in the aftermath of Dominique Strauss-Kahn's resignation under fire.

Stocks were poised for a lower open on Wednesday after Moody's downgrade of Portugal's credit rating to junk and China's interest rate rise sparked jitters about global growth prospects.

As the two titans - iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 - clash in the tablet arena, HP's tablet, the TouchPad, seems a better spectator than a contender.

Quidsi, a New Jersey based e-commerce provider, which was bought by Amazon, is launching Wag.com, an e-commerce site selling pet related products.

Casey Anthony was convicted of four misdemeanor counts of lying to law enforcement officers. Though she could face up to four years in prison, her having spent 3 years in jail may release Anthony as early as tomorrow, when the sentence is announced.What's more, Anthony can potentially appeal the conviction and be found completely innocent.

Users have tried out the Google+ and praises have been high for the social network's latest return into the market. As the tech giant looks to continue its momentum, Facebook will look to counter Google, setting up an epic battle of social networks in the coming months. For now there are five things that users would like to see even as Google+ is diligently building its new network.

The downgrading of freshly bailed-out Portugal's credit rating to junk shocked financial markets on Wednesday and cast new doubt on European efforts to rescue distressed euro zone states without debt restructuring.

Microsoft Corp has demanded that Samsung Electronics Co Ltd pay $15 for each smartphone handset it makes based on Google Inc's Android operating system as the software giant has a wide range of patents used in the mobile platform, local media reported on Wednesday.

A skeleton found in Queensland suggests a specimen of prehistoric megafauna the size of a large SUV--the largest marsupial that ever lived. It stood about 6' 6 at the shoulder and was nearly 10 feet long.

Stock index futures fell on Wednesday after Moody's downgrade of Portugal's credit rating to junk and China's interest rate rise triggered unease about global growth prospects.

AirAsia has drawn up plans to buy an extra 100 Airbus A320neo jets, potentially taking its record-breaking order to 300, a source with direct knowledge of ongoing discussions said.

The number of planned layoffs at U.S. firms increased for the second month in a row in June, though downsizing in the first half of the year was at the lowest level since 2000, a report on Wednesday showed.

China's central bank increased interest rates for the third time this year on Wednesday, making clear that taming inflation is a top priority even when as the economy slows gently.

Governor Brian Schweitzer vowed to cling to Exxon Mobil to get the company clean up the oil spill over the weekend that fouled the Yellowstone River in Montana.

British lawmakers will hold an emergency debate on Wednesday over a phone-hacking scandal at a top-selling newspaper that has prompted calls for the resignation of a well-connected Rupert Murdoch executive and provoked a public outcry that could damage the paper's sales.

Nearly a third of European Union banks being tested for their resilience in bad markets may need some outside support, credit rating agency Moody's said on Wednesday.

Purchase applications for U.S. home mortgages rose last week, but refinancing activity plunged as interest rates jumped, an industry group said on Wednesday.

A well choreographed action-packed movie which appealed to the young audience

The Bank of Japan is expected to hold off on easing monetary policy further and revise up its assessment of the economy next week, encouraged by a pickup in factory output and recovery in business sentiment hit by the devastating earthquake in March.

The downgrading of freshly bailed-out Portugal's credit rating to junk shocked financial markets on Wednesday and cast new doubt on European efforts to rescue distressed euro zone states without debt restructuring.

A recent report from ComScore cited some interesting figures detailing how Apple's iPhone and Android devices are beating the BlackBerry.

Arsenal miss out on Ricardo Alvarez as Inter Milan race first to secure his services.

AirAsia Bhd will buy an extra 100 Airbus A320neo jets, taking its record-breaking order to 300 planes, a source said, a deal that would make the Malaysia-based low-cost airline one of the world's largest carriers.