August 4, 2011
Oprah Winfrey and James Earl Jones awarded Oscars
Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey and actor James Earl Jones are to receive honorary Oscars, it has been announced. Winfrey, who was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar in 1985 for The Colour Purple, will receive the Jean Hersholt…
August 4, 2011
Leonardo DiCaprio tops Forbes male Hollywood rich list
Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp have topped a list of Hollywood's highest-earning actors, according to Forbes.com. The pair earned $77 million (£47m) and $50 million (£30m) respectively to the year ending on 1 May. Comedian Adam Sandler, who…
August 4, 2011
Latin musicians sue over Grammy changes
Four Latin jazz musicians are suing the organisers of the Grammy Awards over axing their genre as an award category. Grammy nominees Bobby Sanabria and Mark Levine are among those accusing the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of…
August 4, 2011
Japan government and central bank intervene to cut yen
The Japanese government and central bank have intervened to weaken the yen and protect economic growth. In the morning, Japan moved into the currency markets, cutting the value of the yen against the US dollar. The Bank of Japan announced further…
August 4, 2011
Italy ‘to default’ but Spain may ‘just’ escape
Debt-laden Italy is likely to default, but Spain might just avoid it, according to the British think tank, the Centre for Economics and Business Research. With the countries weighed down by debt, the think tank modelled "good" and "bad" economic…
August 4, 2011
European stock markets continue to slide
European shares have fallen sharply as fears grow about eurozone debt levels and the health of the global economy. The main share indexes in London and Frankfurt were both down 2.3%, while the Cac 40 in Paris dropped by 1.9%. US stocks initially…
August 4, 2011
FAA shutdown: Obama urges Congress to settle latest row
President Barack Obama has again urged Congress to end a funding row that has partially shut down the body which oversees US air safety. He said it was a "lose-lose situation" that could cost the government $1bn (£610m) in uncollected air fare…
August 4, 2011
Syria unrest: UN condemns government crackdown
The UN Security Council has condemned the Syrian government for its deadly crackdown on protesters. It is the first clear condemnation issued by the Security Council, which includes longstanding allies of Syria such as Russia. The statement was…
August 4, 2011
Famine Declared in 3 New Parts of Somalia
The United Nations says famine has spread to three new parts of southern Somalia, including areas in the capital, Mogadishu. A statement Wednesday said famine conditions are present in two districts of the Middle Shabelle region, the Afgoye…
August 4, 2011
Egypt’s Mubarak Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ in Historic Trial
Egypt's deposed president, Hosni Mubarak, wheeled into a Cairo courtroom in a hospital bed, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he ordered the killing of some 850 revolutionary protesters who drove him from power in an 18-day February…