IBT Staff Reporter

Inside an aging sports arena, where rows of dental chairs and a hospital smell have replaced the former Los Angeles Lakers basketball court, thousands of Americans are seeking free healthcare.

Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it is increasing production over the rest of the year to meet increased demand spurred by the U.S. government's Cash for Clunkers sales incentive program.

Mexico's peso firmed to a 9-month high on Thursday as appetite for higher risk assets grew after data showed Europe's biggest economies had exited recession.

A U.S. federal court has ordered Microsoft Corp to stop selling some versions of its widely used Word software in the United States in two months, ruling in favor of a small Canadian firm that accused the software giant of violating its patents.

Retail sales fell unexpectedly in July, the government reported on Thursday despite the boost from the cash-for-clunkers automobile incentive program. U.S. retail sales fell 0.1 percent the Commerce

The official Michael Jackson's photo book will be available for customers on the Christmas holiday season, according to a publishing company.

U.S. gold futures rose Thursday on follow-through buying after the Federal Reserve said it would keep interest rates near zero, bolstering bullion's status as a hedge against inflation.

Walmart Stores Inc posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Thursday as a clampdown on inventory offset falling sales, and the company forecast a full-year profit that could beat Wall Street estimates, sending its shares up 1.7 percent.

World sugar prices have surged to historic levels as India, the largest sugar consumer, turns to imports after a poor monsoon decimated its cane crop.

Four countries in East Asia are experiencing slow internet connection due to typhoon Morakot that slashed villages including undersea cables. Internet users in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines faces internet slowdown including Voice calls as the unders sea cables suffered from the damages it has received from typhoon Morakot.

Golf fans who are stuck at work are have no access to TV today, don't despair, we have all the PGA Championship live streaming links for you so you can relax and watch it from wherever you may be today.

Oil prices rose on Thursday to near $71 a barrel after better-than-expected results from U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart reinforced hopes for an economic recovery and pushed up Wall Street stocks.

Large U.S. food companies have been pushing the Obama administration to ease sugar import curbs, threatening higher consumer prices and possible job losses, citing forecasts for unprecedented sugar shortages.

The PGA Championship 2009 gets underway today and ends on August 16 at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota and the championship will be available online via a live stream, as well as on TV.

Magna and its Russian partner Sberbank have reached agreement in principle with General Motors management over a contract to buy a stake in GM's European unit Opel, Magna's co-CEO Siegfried Wolf told Reuters on Thursday.

Shanghai copper prices hit their upside limit in the first few minutes of trade on Thursday, excited by London's gains in the previous session, when investors were enthused by the U.S. Federal Reserve's comments that the country's economy was showing signs of levelling out. FUNDAMENTALS

The 91st PGA Championship will start on Thursday at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

U.S. bankruptcy filings rose 35 percent over the 12 months ending June 30 as the recession took a steep toll on households and businesses, the office that oversees U.S. courts said on Thursday.

Kohl's Corp issued a disappointing outlook for the rest of 2009 on Thursday, citing higher costs from opening new stores and persistently frugal shoppers, and shares fell 1 percent.

U.S. stocks edged lower on Thursday as gloomy government reports on retail sales and employment undercut hopes that the economy was on the road to recovery.

A former Afghan president, Burhanuddin Rabbani, survived a Taliban ambush on Thursday in northern Kunduz province, where militants clashed with police for a second straight night, officials said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday rejected a complaint by former prime minister Ahmed Qurie that he had lost his seat on the executive of Fatah in an unsound party election.

Oil pared early gains above $72 a barrel on Thursday after U.S. retail sales data emerged showing a slightly unexpected fall in consumer spending from the world's largest economy.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in July and the number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week, indicating the recession-hit economy faced a bumpy recovery.

A battle pitting Philippine troops against Muslim guerrillas on a remote southern island killed at least 53 people, the military said on Thursday, but analysts said the clash is unlikely to have sidelined the rebels.

A senior Iranian cleric seen as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor said obeying the head of government was like obeying God, the moderate Etemad-e Melli newspaper said on Thursday.

Network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc Chief Executive John Chambers said on Wednesday that the company's latest expansion in the online media and entertainment business will help improve relations between the music industry and Silicon Valley.

Pressure mounted on Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Thursday to speed up operations to rescue hundreds of residents of remote mountainous villages buried or stranded in the aftermath of typhoon Morakot.

Nestle, the world's biggest food group, said on Thursday it had no plans for a big acquisition with cash from its Alcon stake sale, despite long-term speculation linking it with L'Oreal.