YOU have to hand it to the spin doctors who work for BP.

David Cameron is to visit the US for the first time as British Prime Minister on July 20 for talks with President Barack Obama, it was confirmed today.

The Gulf oil spill is raising tensions on both sides of the Atlantic, with a "British" company being portrayed as the villain.

David Cameron was under pressure to intervene in the row over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill today amid growing anger over Barack Obama's "anti-British" attacks on BP.

Shares in battered oil giant BP plunged as much as 11% today after hitting a 14-year low in New York trading overnight, amid intensifying political attacks on the group in the United States.

The worst US oil spill in decades spread into precious shoreline habitat along the Gulf Coast today as documents emerged showing British Petroleum downplayed the possibility of a catastrophic accident at the offshore rig that exploded.

One of the country’s top international businessmen has insisted Ireland is not a ‘basket-case economy’ and will not be destroyed by this recession.

Hollywood heartthrob Orlando Bloom is imitating British funnyman Steve Cogan's comedy alter-ego Alan Partridge when it comes to romance.

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez declared he would nationalise electrical and telecommunication companies, taking a bold step toward increasing state control as he promised to transform Venezuela into a socialist country.

Oil prices climbed today fuelled by concerns at possible production cuts and worries over how global superpowers will react to North Korea’s nuclear weapons test.

The ISEQ index lost ground yesterday, reflecting losses on most European bourses.

BP says the corrosion discovered at its huge Alaskan oil field is so severe it could shut down America’s single biggest source of domestic crude for months and drive world fuel prices even higher.

A GROUP of American black leaders including the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are to boycott British oil giant BP, accusing it of exploiting customers and racially discriminating in its business practices.

A group of American black leaders including the Revs Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are to boycott British oil giant BP, accusing the company of exploiting customers and racially discriminating in its business practices.

British Petroleum was today said to be facing a criminal investigation into a massive oil spill in Alaska, in which 270,000 gallons of crude leaked into Prudhoe Bay.

FORMER attorney general Peter Sutherland has landed the post of chairman at the London School of Economics (LSE).

THE €15 billion National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF) is to review its policy on ethical investments.

One of the most famous protestors against multinational oil companies will be represented at Saturday’s national rally to free the Rossport Five.

FORMER attorney general Peter Sutherland will serve as chairman of oil giant British Petroleum for a further three years.

PETER Sutherland, the former Fine Gael attorney-general earned more than €560,000 as chairman of British Petroleum (BP) last year.

Singapore Petroleum is to buy British Petroleum’s retail marketing business in Singapore and has conditionally agreed to buy BP’s stake in a liquefied petroleum gas venture, in a deal worth about £40m (€59.5m).

British Petroleum’s Russian venture, TNK-BP, denied today that it might be forced to stop production at its largest Siberian field following reports that the energy industry’s regulator alleged the firm was developing the field in violation of the law.

TULLOW OIL is preparing a $500 million offer for Energy Africa company, a move that will double the size of the Irish firm.

BP plc's oil output in Angola is set to rise from 50,000 barrels per day currently to 250,000 in 2007 after winning a large concession from national oil company Sonangol, the company said in a statement.

A CHILD'S body that resembles an abducted five-year-old American girl was found in a rugged, heavily forested area of a neighbouring county, but officials couldn't immediately say if it was that of missing Samantha Runnion.

A massive British oil tanker collided with another carrier in the Gulf of Oman today, but no oil was spilled.

Belgium’s oldest university bestowed an honorary doctorate on Crown Prince Philippe for his ‘‘contribution to world peace,’’ ignoring protests by professors and students who said he did not deserve the prestigious award.