IBT Staff Reporter

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has reportedly accepted an offer of mediation from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez while an opposition group has rejected it, according to a report.

BP will not pay bonuses for 2010 to the top executives whose divisions were involved in the worst-ever offshore U.S. oil spill last year, the company said in an annual report dominated by the disaster.

The European Central Bank may hike interest rates next month, far earlier than markets expected, though any rise would not signal a series of increases, President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has launched an appeal against a ruling that he should be extradited from Britain to Sweden over alleged sex crimes, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Wednesday marked the legendary children's book author birthday, and the day before was Justin Bieber's 17th birthday.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp took a huge step toward securing its prized $14 billion buyout of satellite broadcaster BSkyB when Britain accepted its proposals to ease competition concerns.

The people behind Just Chill, a stress relieving beverage, offered the Two and a Half Men actor $3 million to promote the drink.

Twitter has no plans to go public any time soon and does not need additional funds because it is making money, the co-founder of the popular microblogging site said.

One of the surprises that came out of the Apple iPad announcement was the price: $499 minus a wireless plan.

Gold and Silver Bullion prices fell sharply London lunchtime on Thursday, bouncing 1.5% and 2.3% below this week's record Dollar highs after European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said a Eurozone rate rise is possible next month.

New claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to their lowest level in more than 2-1/2 years, signaling an acceleration in job creation could be taking shape.

The European Central Bank said on Thursday it could soon raise interest rates, heightening concerns about the implications for struggling euro zone countries as EU leaders strive to find a solution.

Apple unveiled the next version of its game-changer tablet iPad, the iPad 2, and the sequel is certainly tantalizing with a slimmer and a lighter frame.

Ohio is moving faster than Wisconsin to weaken public unions. Ohio's Senate voted on Wednesday to prohibit public employees from striking and to restrict certain collective bargaining rights, including negotiations on pensions and health care.

Japan is set to launch at the weekend its next-generation high-speed train, featuring sleek green and silver cars with pink stripes and named for the peregrine falcon.

The European Central Bank may hike interest rates next month, far earlier than markets expected, though any rise would not signal the start of a series of increases, President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday.

Stocks rallied more than 1 percent in early trading on Thursday as crude oil prices fell and jobless claims dropped to a 2-1/2 year low.

Establishing a no-fly zone over Libya would require widespread bombings to destroy Libyan air defenses first, a top U.S. defense official said on Wednesday.

The European Central Bank held interest rates at a record low of 1.0 percent as expected on Thursday, despite rising inflation fears.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti attempted to relieve some pressure on Fernando Torres saying he is not asking him to score.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp took a huge step toward securing its prized $14 billion buyout of BSkyB when Britain accepted its proposals to alleviate competition concerns.

The European Central Bank will step up its anti-inflation rhetoric and may phase out some of its crisis support measures on Thursday as it prepares the ground for an interest rate rise likely later this year.

New claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to their lowest level in more than 2-1/2 years, signaling an acceleration in job creation could be under way.

The European Central Bank will exercise strong vigilance over rising inflation, President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday, deploying a phrase that in the past signaled a rate rise was only a month away.

Stock index futures pointed to a sharply higher open on Thursday as crude oil prices fell and jobless claims dropped to their lowest level in more than 2-1/2 years.

A recent study says Facebook can have a positive effect on people's self esteem.

Justin Bieber broke free from his mild mannered ways and shocked the world by flashing the middle finger at the paparazzi. Start the slideshow to go through some famous finger flipping celebs:

Twitter has no plan to go public in the near future and does not need additional funds because it is making money, the co-founder of the popular microblogging site said.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday after the Arab League said a peace plan for Libya was under consideration, sending oil prices lower.