IBT Staff Reporter

Washington scrambled on Thursday to assess whether security had been compromised after Google Inc revealed a major hacker attack targeting U.S. officials that the Internet giant pegged to China.

U.S. stocks ended a volatile trading day mostly flat on Thursday as investors were reluctant to make bets a day before a critical labor market report that could magnify fears the economy is slowing.

Moody's Investors Service said it may downgrade the debt ratings of Bank of America Corp, Citigroup Inc and Wells Fargo & Co, citing concerns about waning U.S. political willingness to offer support for the largest banks.

Comedian Jimmy Fallon made his debut Thursday morning as the new video host of Universal Studios Hollywood's behind-the-scenes Studio Tour. To celebrate, Fallon belted out his own rendition of Tram-tastic, the original new Studio Tour theme song he wrote himself.

It was announced Thursday that Glee's Jane Lynch has been tapped to host the Emmy awards this year.

Ford Motor Co is developing its smallest engine ever as part of its push to wring out greater fuel savings as gasoline prices rise and federal standards on fuel economy grow stricter.

In the same category as cell phone usage that was identified as possibly carcinogenic by WHO in a recent report, numerous food items we consume on a daily basis may be just as harmful. If you have been impacted by cell phone usage on cancer, check these out too.

Reports that a teenager from China sold his kidney to buy an iPad 2 and iPhone are causing an outcry, first and foremost by his horrified mother.

Apple Inc supplier Foxconn Technology Group said on Thursday it has reopened its electronics polishing facilities following a probe into an explosion in a China factory.

Jennifer Aniston stars in Smartwater video and print advertisements.

Rihanna responded to the controversy surrounding her latest video, which portrays violent acts of rape and murder, via Twitter.

Groupon has become the next big social company to file for an IPO, following in LinkedIn's footsteps.

Google Inc's allegations that hackers, probably from China, sought to access the Gmail accounts of senior U.S. officials are very serious and the U.S. government is investigating them, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday.

In a court hearing Thursday morning, Jaycee Dugard's mother read a statement to kidnappers Phillip and Nancy Garrido on behalf of her daughter.

A surprise decision by the U.S. education department to dilute a key rule governing federal aid to for-profit colleges has ended the uncertainty around the companies' growth prospects, giving a boost to the stocks.

There are documented stories of friends and co-workers fighting over the division of the prize, of co-workers expecting a share because they always went in together to buy a ticket except this once, of gambling binges that made millions evaporate, of murder and substance abuse and family feuds. Is this what is in store for the 20 employees of the Melville, Long Island, Costco store who won the $200 million Powerball jackpot last night?

The New York Times named Jill Abramson as its first woman executive editor, putting her in control of one the world's most respected newspapers as the industry struggles to keep advertisers and readers.

A Chinese student, 17, living in Huaishan City, China has sold his right kidney to buy Apple's latest iPad 2.

The slowdown has begun. The economy has started to sputter and unemployment claims have tipped 400,000 for the last seven weeks. Manufacturing is cooling, the housing market is struggling and consumers are keeping a close eye on spending, meaning the U.S. economy might be on a slower path to full health than expected.

A Ghana-bound United Airlines flight 990 last Sunday was escorted back to Washington, D.C., by U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets after an argument between two passengers over a reclining seat erupted into a mid-air assault.

Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday said an alleged contract and emails that a New York man says entitle him to a huge stake in the social networking website are forgeries.

Mitt Romney officially launched his bid to become President of the United States, assessing his President Barack Obama's record on helping the U.S. economy grow a failure.

A teenager from China gave his kidney away to buy an iPad.

Moody's Investors Service said Thursday there is a very small but rising risk of a short-lived default by the United States if the country's debt limit is not increased in coming weeks.

Stocks rebounded from early lows but struggled to find direction on Thursday as news of fresh help for Greece calmed investors worried about the economic outlook ahead of a key jobs report.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced a new symbol for healthy eating today and stopped using the food pyramid it first introduced in 1992. The 20-year-old food pyramid was the basis for nutritional guideline throughout the United States.

Sony has completed restoring the Sony PlayStation Network ahead of schedule. The restoration includes Qriocity music service and PlayStation's online store. The PSN store will be back and shelved with a full lineup of new games and trials , along with discounted items.

Greece agreed with its EU and IMF lenders to impose yet deeper austerity and speed up state selloffs in exchange for fresh funds to avert a debt default, a senior official said on Thursday.

Goldman Sachs Group received a subpoena from New York prosecutors seeking information on the investment bank's role leading into the global financial crisis, a person familiar with the matter said.