Blog on Business

Citi misses Street; 4Q profit down 11 percent

2012-01-29T01:00:00.001-08:00

Citigroup's loan portfolio improved late last year, partly because Americans were better about paying down credit card debt. But choppy financial markets hurt its investment banking profits, and the bank missed Wall Street expectations.

3 killed in Sacramento SUV-light rail train crash

2012-01-29T00:00:00.001-08:00

The driver of an SUV veered around a crossing arm and ignored flashing warning lights before the vehicle was struck by a light-rail train in Sacramento on Saturday, killing an infant and two adults, authorities said.

Doctors in Peru to remove 'parasitic twin'

2012-01-28T23:00:00.001-08:00

Doctors in Peru have found a "parasitic twin" in the stomach of a 3-year-old boy, and plan to surgically remove the tissue Monday.

Yemeni president heads to US for medical treatment

2012-01-28T22:00:00.001-08:00

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh headed to the United States on Saturday for medical treatment, his spokesman said, the latest stage in an effort to distance him from his country's policies to help ease a transition from his rule.

UN nuclear team arrives in Iran

2012-01-28T21:00:00.001-08:00

A U.N. nuclear team arrived in Tehran early Sunday for a mission expected to focus on Iran's alleged attempt to develop nuclear weapons.

Chef Paula Deen hid diabetes, pushed high-fat food

2012-01-28T20:00:00.001-08:00

Paula Deen, the Southern belle of butter and heavy cream, makes no apologies for waiting three years to disclose she has diabetes while continuing to dish up deep-fried cheesecake and other high-calorie, high-fat recipes on TV.

Utah girl credited with outing school bombing plot

2012-01-28T19:00:00.001-08:00

A 16-year-old Utah student who shared a suspicious text message with a school administrator foiled plans by two schoolmates who apparently were plotting to set off a bomb during a school assembly and run away in a stolen airplane, police said.

Pat Sajak: Vanna White and I were drunk on "Wheel of Fortune"

2012-01-28T18:00:00.001-08:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak has said in a broadcast interview that he and fellow host Vanna White were drunk when they taped some early episodes of the show, but that he is too old for that now. The 65-year-old Sajak made the revelation in an appearance earlier this week on cable network ESPN2's show "Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable." "When I first started and was much younger and could tolerate those things, we had a different show then," Sajak said in the broadcast interview. ...

Etta James remembered as triumphant trailblazer

2012-01-28T17:00:00.001-08:00

Rhythm & blues legend Etta James was remembered at a service Saturday attended by hundreds of friends, family and fans as a woman who triumphed against all odds to break down cultural and musical barriers in a style that was unfailingly honest.

St. Louis hosting 1st big parade on Iraq War's end

2012-01-28T16:00:00.001-08:00

Army Maj. Rich Radford looked around at the tens of thousands of people waving American flags and cheering, and was moved that so many people had braved a cold January wind Saturday in St. Louis to honor people like him: Iraq War veterans.

Family, friends gather for Etta James' funeral

2012-01-28T15:00:00.001-08:00

Hundreds of Etta James' friends, fans and family gathered Saturday at a Los Angeles-area church to remember the legendary rhythm and blues singer, who died this month.

Cruise ship fuel removal stalled due to rough seas

2012-01-28T14:00:00.001-08:00

Rough seas off Italy's Tuscan coast forced a delay in the planned Saturday start of the operation to remove a half-million gallons of fuel from the grounded Costa Concordia, and officials said pumping may now not begin until midweek.

Blood found at home where Maine tot was last seen

2012-01-28T13:00:00.001-08:00

Maine State Police investigators have been analyzing blood that was found in the home where a toddler was reported missing six weeks ago, an official said Saturday.

Solar storm sparks dazzling northern lights

2012-01-28T12:00:00.001-08:00

A storm from the broiling sun turned the chilly northernmost skies of Earth into an ever-changing and awe-provoking art show of northern lights on Tuesday.

Celebrity pot busts put tiny Texas county on map

2012-01-28T11:00:00.001-08:00

Nestled among the few remaining businesses that dot a rundown highway in this dusty West Texas town stands what's become a surprise destination for marijuana-toting celebrities: the Hudspeth County Jail.

NYPD officers rescue suspect dangling 7 floors up

2012-01-28T10:00:00.001-08:00

Police say two officers rescued a suspect as he dangled from a seventh-floor Manhattan apartment window after nearly lunging to his death.

Topless protesters detained at Davos forum

2012-01-28T09:00:00.001-08:00

Three topless Ukrainian protesters were detained Saturday while trying to break into an invitation-only gathering of international CEOs and political leaders to call attention to the needs of the world's poor. Separately, demonstrators from the Occupy movement marched to the edge of the gathering.

AP Exclusive: New taste for Thai elephant meat

2012-01-28T08:00:00.001-08:00

A new taste for eating elephant meat â" everything from trunks to sex organs â" has emerged in Thailand and could pose a new threat to the survival of the species.

Stocks slightly lower on Greek talks worries

2012-01-28T07:00:00.001-08:00

Stocks fell in the United States and Europe on Tuesday as investors worried that a deal to cut Greece's national debt and hold off a possible financial crisis might fall through.

Stock futures fall on worries about Greece

2012-01-28T06:00:00.001-08:00

European leaders' hard line in negotiations with Greek bondholders is driving U.S. stock markets lower as investors worry that a deal to cut Athens' mountain of debt might fall through.

Vienna sets tourism record despite eurozone crisis

2012-01-28T05:00:00.001-08:00

Officials say visitors from Russia and other countries with relatively healthy economies visited Vienna in record numbers in 2011 for the Austrian capital's best year ever for tourism despite the eurozone crisis.

911 call reveals frantic efforts to help Moore

2012-01-28T04:00:00.001-08:00

A 911 recording revealed frantic efforts by friends of Demi Moore to get help for the actress who was convulsing as they gathered around her and tried to comfort her.

Costa Cruises offers compensation to rescued passengers

2012-01-28T03:00:00.001-08:00

ROME (Reuters) - Costa Cruises has offered 11,000 euros ($14,500) in compensation to each of the more than 3,000 passengers aboard its liner that ran aground and capsized two weeks ago, Italian consumer groups said on Friday. The offer is an attempt by Costa Cruises to limit the legal fallout of the accident off the coast of Italy. Each passenger on the Costa Concordia will also receive a refund on the cruise and the costs of their return home. The offer applies to all passengers, whether child or adult, who suffered no physical injuries. Injured passengers will be dealt with individually. ...

Harley-Davidson posts profit versus year-ago loss

2012-01-28T02:00:00.001-08:00

Iconic motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc. posted a profit of $105.7 million for the fourth quarter, boosted by improved consumer confidence that prompted more riders to buy its often-pricy bikes.

Home sales up at end of dismal year, offering hope

2012-01-28T01:00:00.001-08:00

Home sales in December reached their highest pace in nearly a year. The gain coincided with other signs that the troubled U.S. housing market improved at the end of last year.