IBT Staff Reporter

Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs on Thursday sharply criticized Adobe Systems popular Flash multimedia software, calling it unreliable and ill-suited for mobile devices, escalating a pitched battle between the two companies.

Ms. Bak (in late 20s) avoids taking a bus or a subway train for fear of making mistakes because she feels frequent urination.

The Senate opened debate on Wall Street reform on Thursday with an amendment to bar use of taxpayer funds in any future government actions to dismantle financial mega-firms that get into trouble.

U.S. stocks chalked up their best day in nearly two months on Thursday as investors welcomed a string of robust earnings reports, while Greece appeared close to a bailout deal, easing fears about a wider sovereign debt crisis.

(Reuters) - More Americans got vaccinated against influenza in the past season than ever before, but too few people are seeking vaccines, U.S. health experts reported on Thursday.

Delighted at his cyber success, Venezuela's new Twitter convert President Hugo Chavez on Thursday praised the micro-blogging site and invited Cuba's Fidel Castro and Bolivian President Evo Morales to join.

Developing markets were critical for consumer product makers last quarter, as strong sales growth in countries like China helped drive profits while markets such as the United States remained somewhat sluggish.

Goldman Sachs & Co, Citigroup Inc and other high-profile banks must defend against allegations by 15 California cities and counties that they conspired to rig bids for municipal investment contracts and derivatives, a U.S. judge ruled.

It's good to have some commodities in your portfolio, according to a recent academic study slated for publication in the Journal of Investing.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as investors welcomed a string of solid earnings reports, while debt-laden Greece appeared to be nearing a bailout deal, easing fears about the stability of the euro zone.

Two Johnson and Johnson subsidiaries agreed to pay more than $81 million to resolve allegations of illegal promotion of the epilepsy drug Topamax, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

Volkswagen's first-quarter earnings were weighed down by a loss on its stake in iconic sports car maker Porsche AG, VW's finance chief said on Thursday.

Greece readied severe austerity measures on Thursday to secure a multi-billion-euro aid package and avoid debt default, providing relief to financial markets but drawing threats of a mighty battle from unions.

The Obama administration's pay czar said on Thursday that the lure of fat paychecks influenced Goldman Sachs Group Inc's bets against subprime mortgages before the market collapsed during the financial crisis.

Underwriters for Toyota Auto and Ally Master Owner Trust asset-backed offerings on Thursday launched larger-than-expected auto sales at tighter spread levels as investors chased supply, market sources said.

Visa Inc reported a 33 percent increase in second quarter earnings, better than Wall Street expected, as consumer spending rebounded and management said it was increasingly optimistic about the economy.

Aetna Inc posted better-than-expected quarterly profit on improved medical cost trends, and shares of the health insurer rose 2.9 percent amid easing fears about the new U.S. health reform law.

Higher oil prices boosted quarterly profits for Exxon Mobil Corp and ConocoPhillips , but Exxon saw its earnings hurt by recently enacted U.S. health reform legislation.

Under the new anti-smoking policy announced just recently, Australia will become the first country in the world to force tobacco companies to ban the use of logos and colourful designs on their cigarette packs.

Following a doctor's breach of infection control protocols, it was estimated hundreds of patients in northwest of Western Australia may have been exposed to diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.

Sarah Fairy Belle Sanders will be hosting Australia's Biggest Morning Tea outside The Dunes Café on May 27 in an effort to raise funds for the Cancer Council in South Australia.

Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs on Thursday called Adobe Systems Flash multimedia software a closed system that is ill-suited for the company's suite of mobile devices, escalating the war of words between the two companies.

Half of all Victorians do not realize that alcohol causes cancer, research revealed, and this prompts the Alcohol Policy Coalition to call for health advisory labels on alcohol products to better inform consumers.

Following a spike of multi-resistant gonorrhoea cases detected in Australia, the World Health Organization has alerted of an increase in untreatable gonorrhoea in Australia.

Apple Inc has acquired two small companies, a chip designer and personal assistant software maker, to bolster its advantage in the increasingly competitive mobile arena.

Goldman Sachs may soon settle its fraud case with the U.S. regulator, the New York Post reported on Thursday, opting to end a legal fight rather than endure a repeat of the public flogging it received this week.

Dwight Howard became the latest victim of the National Basketball Association's tough stance against criticizing game officials as the league handed the Orlando Magic center a $35,000 fine on Wednesday.

The number of U.S. workers submitting new claims for unemployment benefits fell slightly last week, implying only a gradual labor market improvement even as the economic recovery broadens out.

Corrects spelling of analyst's first name in paragraph 11