IBT Staff Reporter

Russia, the world's top crude exporter, said it had begun scheduled oil shipments to China via an East Siberian link on Saturday as the Kremlin cements ties with its energy-hungry neighbor.

The recent snowstorms in the northeastern U.S. and a similar blizzard last year might make some doubt the climate is changing. The short answer is: no, and in fact some of the people who study climate predicted wetter winters - and more snow, at least for a while.

News from the world of MBA that could have a far-reaching impact

Japan's top mobile operator, NTT DoCoMo, is looking to launch a tablet computer that will be produced by LG Electronics and run on software developed by Google, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.

China's factory inflation cooled in December as manufacturers expanded more slowly after a strong run in growth, lessening the need for the country's central bank to tighten monetary policy too far.

Queues stretched for kilometres at immigration offices in South Africa on Friday as thousands of Zimbabweans tried to meet a year-end deadline to file papers for legalising their stay in the country.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday he would fight to shield the euro as the currency's members struggle with a debt crisis and vowed to fulfill France's commitments to improve its own finances.

California-based Ubiquity Broadcasting Corp. says it will be the first in the world to broadcast and produce a 3D surf event, at one of the world’s most famous surfing locations, the feared Pipeline.

The popular Internet telephone service Skype could be dealt a major setback in one of the world's largest markets as the Chinese government cracks down on what it called illegal Internet telephone providers.

- Wireless pioneer Craig McCaw has resigned as chairman of Clearwire Corp days ahead of a deadline on critical financial decision by its majority shareholder, Sprint Nextel.

Money flows to global equity and other stock funds accelerated during the fourth quarter, signaling a possible twist in 2011 from the record investments made in bond portfolios over the last year, according to a report published by EPFR Global on Friday.

They look so much alike in Oscar-hopeful film The Social Network, they could be one man, and in fact, they are. But what the Winklevoss twins share with the actor who plays them has less to do with looks and more with their privileged background.

Transocean Ltd , the world's biggest offshore rig contractor, aims to stop a seventh U.S. body from investigating the accident that sank one of its rigs while causing the largest U.S. offshore oil spill.

An arbitrator ruled that United Continental Holdings cannot use Continental's codes for 70-seat jets operated by its regional partners since a labor contract requires them to be flown by Continental pilots.

Transocean Ltd, the world's biggest offshore rig contractor, aims to stop a seventh U.S. body from investigating the accident that sank one of its rigs while causing the largest U.S. offshore oil spill.

After nearly two decades of hearing don't ask, don't tell, gay U.S. military men and women are now hearing, do ask, do tell, and even, find a friend from a new social network website, Out Military.

U.S. stocks closed out a year of double-digit gains and the S&P's best December since 1991 with a quiet and little changed session on Friday as investors found no reason to make big bets ahead of the new year.

The race to the top of the global mergers and acquisitions league table looks set to end with Goldman Sachs retaking the honours from the rival which derailed its nine-year grip on the ranking last year.

Shares of Imax Corp went for a roller-coaster ride on the last day of 2010, climbing steeply on a report Sony Corp or Walt Disney might be interested, but plunging after Imax poured cold water on the speculation.

ArcelorMittal on Friday upped its offer for control of Baffinland Iron Mines to match a rival bid from Nunavut Iron for the vast iron ore deposit in the Canadian Arctic, in a deal worth $550 million.

Oil prices hit a 26-month high over $92 a barrel on Friday, closing the year up 15 percent on expectations that the economic recovery will drive demand growth next year and send prices into triple digits.

Hedge funds often claim to offer strong returns that are not correlated with broader markets, but in 2010 many failed on both of those counts.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Friday, the final day of the year, as investors were reluctant to make big bets after a rally that put the S&P on track for its best December performance in nearly two decades.

Craig McCaw, one of the founders of Clearwire, has stepped down as chairman of the company's board.

The euro currency area has only a one-in-five chance of surviving in its current form over the next 10 years because of competitive imbalances between its members, a leading British think tank said on Friday.

Shares of Imax Corp jumped as much as 20 percent on Friday after a media report suggested Sony Corp may be readying a bid for the big-screen movie company at more than $40 per share.

CVS Caremark, No. 2 U.S. drugstore chain, agreed to buy Universal American's Medicare prescription drug business for about $1.25 billion to expand in a growing segment of the pharmacy benefit market.

Nunavut Iron Ore is considering how to react after No. 1 steelmaker ArcelorMittal on Friday matched the private equity-backed company's takeover bid for Baffinland Iron Mines , a junior miner sitting on a giant iron ore deposit in the Canadian Arctic.

Ford is set to debut a new technology that will let parents block explicit satellite radio content in the vehicle.