The Local Newspaper

Hewlett-Packard chief executive Meg Whitman has pleaded for patience as she described operational challenges and other internal problems that contributed to a decline in earnings at one of the world's largest technology companies.

Taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland remained at the heart of the row over bankers' pay as it unveiled total losses of £2 billion for 2011 at the same time as paying £785 million in bonuses to its staff.

Luke Donald's defence of the Accenture Match Play title lasted only 14 holes in Tucson.

Energy giant Centrica said mild spring and autumn weather had fuelled a 30% slide in profits at its residential arm British Gas to £522 million last year.

Germany's Commerzbank has recorded a fourth-quarter profit of 316 million euro (£267 million) after the bank cut costs and had fewer bad loans.

This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.

An investigation into claims that some doctors are granting women illegal abortions based on the sex of their unborn baby has been launched by the Department of Health.

Simon Cowell is playing it coy about rumours that Fergie, Britney Spears and Janet Jackson are being considered for the US version of The X Factor.

Flawed economic arguments against tackling climate change are being used to slow the move to low-carbon growth, a leading economist has warned.

GPs have been overpaid millions of pounds for patients who have moved practice, died or been forced to leave the country, according to a new report.

Asian stock markets were mostly lower as investors fretted over the details of a deal to save Greece from financial collapse and preserve its place among nations that use the euro.

Mazda stock dived nearly 7% after the struggling car maker said it will raise about two billion US dollars from selling new shares to invest in assembly plants and developing new vehicle technologies.

David Cameron is to take on growing "snobbish attitudes" towards money-makers as he argues business is the best way to "smash poverty".

A man named by sources as serving Labour MP Eric Joyce has been arrested on suspicion of assault following a disturbance at the Palace of Westminster.

An extra £1 billion is being made available to businesses seeking support to create new jobs, the Government has announced.

The cost of treating and caring for patients with hip fractures could rise dramatically in the UK unless action is taken, according to a new report.

The UK must not block moves which would effectively ban polluting "tar sands" for use as transport fuels in Europe, green groups have warned ahead of a key EU vote.

Tourists face "rip-off charges" being imposed by some travel organisations, according to Which? Travel magazine.

The number of degree courses on offer at UK universities has been slashed by more than a quarter in the past six years, new research suggests.

Legal fees to settle personal injury claims after motor accidents are costing UK consumers a total of £2.4 million a day, the insurance industry has said.