IBT Staff Reporter

Stocks edged higher on Wednesday as better-than-expected data on U.S. manufacturing and industrial activity outweighed worries about euro-zone debt sparked by a warning on Spain's credit rating.

A British court will decide on Thursday whether to free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, scourge of the U.S. establishment for his leaks of diplomatic cables, on 200,000 pound ($317,000) bail over accusations of sex crimes in Sweden.

Stock index futures dipped on Wednesday after a warning for Spain about its credit rating, rekindling fears about euro-zone debt.

Ireland's main opposition party said on Wednesday it was obscene that a multi-billion euro EU/IMF bailout package protected senior bondholders in Ireland's banks at the expense of stretched taxpayers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it has removed common artificial sweetener saccharin, long believed to be a potential cancer-causing substance, from its list of hazardous substances.

At least for now in Italy, it seems like history moves in circles. The political crisis which forced the government into a confidence vote is far from over. Even as political analysts called Silvio Berlusconi's life 'a fitting autobiography of the nation,' the Italian PM narrowly survived a vote of confidence in the lower house of parliament by 314 to 311 on Tuesday. Riots broke out following his win, illustrating the instability within the country's borders.

Chrysler is recalling 76,000 Dodge Ram pickup trucks to fix a power steering issue that could make brake pedals return slowly after the driver applies them.

A study led by the Nottingham Business School and UK-based ABS quantifies the likely impact of business schools on local economies

Ford Motors on Wednesday said that it plans to build three production versions of electrified vehicles - battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel efficient gas-powered vehicles on the same assembly line.

General Motors has announced that 52 percent of its worldwide facilities are now landfill-free, meaning all waste generated from normal operations is reused, recycled or converted to energy.

The India-U.S. solar collaboration has hit some snags as the U.S. is trying to push India to remove regulations related to imports of solar technology, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Sealed off security zones in major American cities post 9/11 attacks has led to blighted landscapes and create an 'architecture of fear', said a study.

Airbus will fall one plane short of its delivery target for the A380 superjumbo this year, following engine checks in the wake of last month's Qantas

Ratings agency Moody's warned Spain on Wednesday that its debt rating could be downgraded, pushing Spain back into the euro zone debt spotlight ahead of an EU leaders' summit starting on Thursday.

Ireland's main opposition party wants to renegotiate the country's EU/IMF bailout to make holders of senior bank debt not covered by a government guarantee share the cost of bailing out the sector.

Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson have officially confirmed that they have decided to end their two-year-old marriage.

SuperGroup, the owner of Superdry brand, reported a 86 percent rise in pretax profit for the first half on strong sales growth at its retail and wholesale segments. But, the British fashion retailer warned rising raw material prices may affect gross margins in the next financial year.

The actor apparently lost his temper at a group and was filmed ranting at them

For all the 65 million PCs that are expected to be sold in China this year, one question that many people have not yet answered is: how much money is actually made selling these computers?

Nokia Siemens Networks won EU regulatory approval on Wednesday to purchase Motorola's mobile telecom network equipment business for $1.2 billion, in a deal meant to boost its presence in Japan and North America.

The United States risks major supply disruptions of rare earth metals used in clean energy products unless it diversifies its sources of the minerals, the Energy Department warns in a report due to be released later on Wednesday.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to get married in India. The couple has finally decided to marry, the Indian way, at the exotic destination of Jodhpur.

A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Wednesday his backers had raised around half of the 200,000 pounds ($317,400) cash he needs to secure bail after he was accused of sex crimes in Sweden.

Ratings agency Moody's warned Spain it could be downgraded and frustration at Germany and France over their handling of the euro zone debt crisis boiled over on Wednesday, ahead of a European Union summit.

Ireland's parliament will vote on a controversial multi-billion euro EU/IMF bailout loan on Wednesday, putting pressure on opposition parties critical of the aid package ahead of a general election early next year.

Novartis AG has wrapped up its long-awaited buyout of the remainder of U.S.-listed Alcon Inc

China is on course to attract a record $100 billion in foreign direct investment this year, the commerce ministry said on Wednesday, evidence that it remains a top destination for global firms despite concerns about market barriers and rising labor costs.

Ratings agency Moody's put Spain on review for a possible downgrade on Wednesday, highlighting concerns over a looming funding crunch next year and prompting the euro and bank shares to slide.