IBT Staff Reporter

Stocks rose on Thursday as a mixed batch of data failed to deter buyers looking for bargains after a more than 7 percent selloff in the last few weeks.

A gauge of regional manufacturing activity slumped to a near two-year low in June, suggesting U.S. factories were faltering, overshadowing better than expected readings on the labor and housing markets.

International lenders scrambled to save Greece from default as Prime Minister George Papandreou struggled to quell a revolt in his socialist party against EU/IMF-ordained austerity measures.

On June 15, the State Assembly passed a gay marriage bill by an 80-63 vote.The passage of the bill marks the fourth time in two years, and same-sex marriage is now just one vote away from legalization in New York. The same day, former Giants receiver David Tyree voiced his warning for same-sex marriage bill leading to anarchy.

Reports surfaced Wednesday night that a prisoner confessed to being involved in the 1994 robbery of rapper Tupac Shakur, according to a statement posted online.

Bluewater Productions is set to release a comic book on Steve Jobs that it says will tackle both his innovative genius, and his egomaniacal, corporate pirate side.

Scandal plauged Congressman Anthony Weiner has disclosed his decision to resign his seat as a member of Congress, amid unrelenting pressure from top Democrats for him to go, The Times reported.

With a midnight strike deadline looming, Macy's and Local 1-S of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), the union representing workers in four New York stores, reached a tentative five-year agreement to avoid a strike.

A prisoner incarcerated in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, said he killed Tupac Shakur in 1994.

Ashton hits the runway in Colcci's Summer 2012 collection.

Millionaires are less optimistic about the U.S. economy's prospects than their wealth advisers and are taking a cautious approach in their investments, according to a new data analysis released on Thursday from Fidelity Investments.

The number of Americans signing up for jobless benefits fell last week, while housing starts and building permits rose in May, offering some hope the economy could be starting to pull out of its soft patch.

Mexican Central Bank Governor and IMF-contender Agustin Carstens rebuked his European counterparts on Thursday for reneging on their promise to back a non-European to head the fund and vowed to give emerging powers more say if elected.

Allstate Corp , the largest publicly traded U.S. home and auto insurer, said it lost $2 billion in April and May from severe tornadoes and thunderstorms, nearly equaling its catastrophe losses for all of 2010.

Pyongyang demanded today that Seoul repatriate nine North Korean nationals who defected to the South last weekend, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Kate will dress herself on U.S. and Canada tour.

Israelis are cheesed off and they're turning to Facebook to spread the word.

Blackberry maker RIM’s first tablet PC, the PlayBook is officially launched on Thursday in UK, which may give a tough competition to Apple’s iPad 2, especially over the starting price tag.

China must boost its cyber-warfare strength to counter a Pentagon push, the country's top military newspaper said on Thursday after weeks of friction over accusations that Beijing may have launched a string of Internet hacking attacks.

In spite of rumors that surfaced last week about Kate Middelton, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William employing a housekeeper-dresser, it was announced that the couple will stick to leading a simple life.

Disappointed that their hockey team failed to win the Stanley Cup, fans of the Vancouver Canucks rioted in downtown Vancouver after the conclusion of Game 7, overturning and burning cars and smashing store windows.

In Playboy's latest issue, singer and actor, Justin Timberlake came to Britney's defense regarding her dancing as of late.

The proven system to drive breakthrough creativity that Josh Linkner promises requires highly developed mental and emotional discipline, Bob Morris writes in this International Business Times feature.

Kate will only bring her hair stylist on her trip abroad.

New claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, while housing starts and permits for future construction rose in May, signs that offered some hope the economy could soon pull out of its soft patch.

Housing starts rose more than expected and permits for future construction touched a five month high in May, a government report showed on Thursday, but any recovery will be hampered by a glut of pre-owned homes.

Jose Mourinho has made signing Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko his top priority, according to reports, as he seeks to shore up his forward line in a bid to get the better of arch-rivals Barcelona.

The IMF will release crucial loans to save Greece from default despite a likely delay by the European Union in agreeing a second bailout for the heavily indebted state, euro zone sources said on Thursday.

After MacMaster's apology, Orientalism became a hot button word online, especially in the Arab-American Web community. Najla Said, daughter of the founder of the term Orientalism talks to IBTimes in an exclusive interview.