Before that, it wasn't a popular Christmas plant in the U.S. at all. But, after Poinsett introduced the plant to the U.S., it slowly gained popularity and took the name of the ambassador, becoming known as the poinsettia.
Refineries in the Northeast are closing their doors, and as a result, more than half of the area's petroleum refining capacity will be reduced. The reduction is likely to be problematic for ultra-low sulfur diesel, gasoline, heating oil and jet fuel supplies.
In order to keep the American people updated on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill restoration, BP will be launching its new advertising campaign immediately after Christmas.
In the coming year, doomsday tourists will head to Mexico's Mayan heartland in record numbers anticipating the end of the world on Dec. 21, 2012.
More than 900 police officers will be fired.
Nigerian officials said they expect oil leaked from a Royal Dutch Shell offshore well to reach the country's shores Thursday. Shell officials suspect half of the estimated 40,000 barrels of oil leaked in the Atlantic this week have already naturally dissipated or evaporated.
Interest in arctic oil has climbed in recent years when industry, government and third party researchers independently made realizations that the amount of recoverable world-class oil deposits was greater than previously thought. That has yet to be properly tested with a drill bit.
Airbus is on course to end 2011 with well over 1,600 orders.
Following the House of Representatives' rejection of legislation to extend the payroll tax cut and jobless benefits for two months, on Tuesday the White House took to social media asking people to comment on what the rejection meant to them. For an average taxpayer earning $50,000 a year, terminating the tax cuts could mean an extra $1000 in Social Security tax from Jan. 1, 2012. When broken down that is about $40 for a pay period of two weeks.
A federal judge on Wednesday upheld an order to extradite to Mexico a former producer for the TV show Survivor to face charges he killed his wife while on holiday in the resort town of Cancun.
Which areas of the United States are likely to receive a White Christmas and which are not?
Several of the states that are applying for relief from provisions of the No Child Left Behind education law have submitted proposals that lack detail and evidence that they will produce substantive reform, according to a new report.port.
Vogue has chosen its top 10 models of 2011. Here are this year's winning ladies.
The International Business Times has compiled comprehensive profiles of the top seven Republican presidential candidates, with complete rundowns of their political positions, from Rick Santorum on abortion to Newt Gingrich on taxes. These profiles will be updated as the primary campaign continues.
At least 43 journalists were killed worldwide in direct relation to their work this year according to the year-end survey on journalists killed in the line of duty by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) .
Honda Motor Co <7267.T> expects U.S. sales to jump by 23 percent in 2012 as dealer inventories return to normal levels and the Japanese automaker makes up for lost ground against rivals, executives said.
After being overwhelmed by a Republican fight that has lasted most of 2011, 70 percent of respondents told Gallup they are looking forward to the end of the 2012 race.
Shell confirmed the loss of 319 barrels of drilling fluids from a booster line, which is separated from the actual well bore but provides additional drilling fluids. The company has decided to temporarily abandon the well in order to make needed repairs. The source of the leak is not yet disclosed.
Dalton Trumbo, one of the best-known figures from Hollywood's blacklist era, has received a posthumous vindication, the Writers Guide of America, West announced Monday.
Nissan Motor Co. said Monday it will begin conducting a voluntary recall of more than 50,000 Sentra vehicles, fearing that a faulty positive battery terminal could stall the vehicles while in motion.
Shares of silver mining companies got hammered Monday as the futures price of the metal fell on dimming prospects from China and Europe that next year will bring any improvement in demand.
Prices for silver and palladium, the two precious metals with the most industrial applications, fell Monday on growing evidence of weakening demand from China and a possible recession in Europe.
