BBC World Service

The Spanish province of Catalonia has voted to ban bullfighting, saying its barbaric and dangerous. But bullfight supporters say it's vital to tourism.

New research identifies the 12 things we need to perform the perfect handshake.

BP earned $5 billion in the second quarter, a higher figure over this time last year. The company will now rope the profits into the overall loss.

BP executives are meeting to discuss the fate of CEO Tony Hayward, who has been on thin ice for months for his handling of the Gulf oil crisis.

Learning from the BP spill, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are committing a quarter of a billion dollars each to construct a rapid response unit that could quickly move in place to collect leaking oil.

Steve Chiotakis talks to the BBC's Rebecca Singer about what BP's sales of some of its assets means for the company.

BP is selling some of its assets to pay Gulf spill clean-up costs at a speed surprising analysts.

Ireland sold $2 billion worth of government debt today to fund its country's budget. The move was more expensive due to Moody's cutting Ireland's credit rating.

British investor Anthony Ward has purchased $1 billion worth of cocoa beans. This could have an bitter effect on the price of chocolate bars.

Members of Congress are trying to restrict BP from drilling new oil and gas wells in the U.S.