February 8, 2012
BP ups dividend as profits rise
BP has raised its dividend to shareholders by 14%, the first increase since the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill, following sharply higher profits. Replacement cost profit, which is profit stripping out the effect of oil and other price movements, for…
February 8, 2012
Brazil’s Itau Unibanco has record profits in 2011
Itau Unibanco has posted the highest-ever annual profits for a bank from Brazil. Itau Unibanco, the biggest private bank in Brazil, said net profits rose almost 10% to 14.6bn reais ($8.5bn, £5.3bn) in 2011 from the previous year. The bank is also…
February 8, 2012
UBS profits slump on weak business
Profits UBS have slumped by 76% in its latest quarterly results. Net income for the last three months of 2011 were 393m Swiss francs ($430m; £270m), down from 1.7bn francs a year ago and well short of expectations. Business levels fell both at its…
February 8, 2012
US Senators Warn Egypt of ‘Disastrous Rupture’ in Relations
Three United States Senators are warning of a “disastrous rupture” in relations with Egypt if the case of 19 Americans charged with illegal fundraising is not resolved soon. Republicans John McCain and Kelly Ayotte and Independent Joe Lieberman…
February 8, 2012
Santorum Leading in Minnesota Caucus, Missouri Primary
U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum appears poised for a campaign boost with a strong showing in two of Tuesday's nominating caucuses. The former senator from Pennsylvania has a solid initial lead in Minnesota, earning 43 percent…
February 8, 2012
California Court Rules Voter-Approved Ban on Gay Marriage Unconstitutional
A California appeals court has ruled that a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The judges said in their ruling Tuesday the ban, known as Proposition 8, “serves no purpose” other than to lessen the “status and human…
February 8, 2012
Britain Marks Charles Dickens’ 200th Birthday
Britain's Prince Charles has led ceremonies marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, one of English literature's most famous and celebrated novelists. The prince laid a wreath at Dickens' grave Tuesday at Westminster Abbey's…
February 8, 2012
Hezbollah’s Nasrallah Admits Receiving Material Support from Iran
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has acknowledged for the first time that the Lebanese militant group receives financial and material support from Iran, a longtime ally. He made the admission in a video-link speech to supporters in the Lebanese…
February 6, 2012
Conrad Murray, James DeBarge on Same Cell Block
Michael Jackson’s former doctor and former brother-in-law are reportedly on the same cell block in Los Angeles. The King of Pop’s personal physician Conrad Murray is said to be neighbors at Los Angeles County Men’s Jail with singer James DeBarge,…
February 6, 2012
Chronicle beats The Woman in Black at US box office
Chronicle, a film about teenagers with super powers, has beaten Daniel Radcliffe thriller The Woman in Black to top the North American film chart. The films took $22m (£14m) and $21m (£13.3m) respectively on their opening weekends, according to…