HSBC Reports 10% Profit Rise As It Exits Brazil

Profit before tax at the UK's largest bank has risen by 10% to £8.7bn in the first six months of the year.

The profit rise came off the back off a 6% increase in revenue to  £21.1bn.

The results for the first half of the financial year come a little over a month after HSBC announced that it would axe up to 8,000 jobs in the UK as part of a global restructuring.

On that same investor call in June, the bank also outlined its plans to exit its Turkish and Brazilian operations, the latter of which it confirmed this morning as it revealed the sale of its Brazilian subsidiary to Bradesco for $5.2bn (£3.3bn).

This move sees HSBC move further away from its once global ambition to be the "world's local bank". It does still, however, employ nearly 270,000 people in 72 countries. 

Stuart Gulliver, who took the helm as HSBC's boss in 2011, praised the performance of its Asian operations.

"Strong revenue performance across our Asia businesses helped drive increased profits and Global Banking and Markets had a good six months," he said.

HSBC is currently toying with the idea of relocating its headquartersaway from the UK. The fact that its Asia business is continuing to perform strongly will add further clout to the argument for it to relocate back to Hong Kong. 

The group expects to announce a decision by the end of the year, and stress that any change would take two years to execute.

HSBC revealed in June that it expected 80% of its profit before tax in the future to come from Asia as it looks to focus on Guangdong region of China, which it views as a new 'Silk Road'.

"We think there is an opportunity to create another Hong Kong in Guangdong," it said. 

The results also revealed a provision of just over $1.1bn (£0.7bn) as regulatory settlements continue to haunt the bank, a Sky News City Editor Mark Kleinman reported earlier.

The latest provisions will come nearly nine months after HSBC was among six banks to pay fines to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US's Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over the FX scandal.

Shares in the bank have fallen over 8% in the last 12 months. 

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Will Smith Addresses Split Rumour 'Foolishness'

Will Smith has taken to Facebook to once again deny reports he is to divorce his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Speculation has surrounded the couple's relationship for years and Smith has admitted he does not usually feel the need to "respond to foolishness". 

The Hollywood star and Pinkett Smith have been married since 1997 and have a son, Jaden, and a daughter, Willow.

Smith wrote on his Facebook page: "Under normal circumstances, I don't usually respond to foolishness. (Because it's contagious).

"But, so many people have extended me their 'deepest condolences' that I figured - 'What the hell ... I can be foolish, too!'

"So, in the interest of redundant, repetitious, over & over-again-ness ... Jada and I are ... NOT GETTING A DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! : -)

"I promise you all - if I ever decide to divorce my Queen - I SWEAR I'll tell you myself!"

The 46-year-old actor and director added: "Dumb People Should Have to Wear Scarlet D's."

Pinkett Smith supported her husband on Twitter by tweeting: "My king has spoken."

The pair often talk about their relationship, which some have speculated is an open marriage.

In April, Pinkett Smith told the Huffington Post: "I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay.

"Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man. I'm here as his partner, but he is his own man. He has to decide who he wants to be and that's not for me to do for him. Or vice versa."

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Singer Gwen Stefani Files For Divorce

Singer Gwen Stefani has filed for divorce from her British husband Gavin Rossdale.

The No Doubt singer has been married to fellow singer Rossdale for almost 13 years.

They have three sons together, the youngest of whom is aged one.

Stefani filed her petition for divorce on Monday, Los Angeles Superior Court spokeswoman Mary Hearn said.

She cited irreconcilable differences.

The couple, who married in 2002, are seeking joint custody of their children Zuma, Kingston and Apollo.

Rossdale is the lead singer of the band Bush.

In a statement the couple said they were committed to raising their children together.

The statement said: "While the two of us have come to the mutual decision that we will no longer be partners in marriage, we remain partners in parenthood and are committed to jointly raising our three sons in a happy and healthy environment.

"To that end, we respectfully request privacy from the media during this time."

Stefani, a successful fashion designer, is a coach on The Voice USA.

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New Girl! Zooey Deschanel Welcomes First Baby

Zooey Deschanel is enjoying a double celebration after giving birth to her first child and reportedly marrying her partner Jacob Pechenik.

The New Girl actress and her producer husband became parents to a baby girl in Austin, Texas, last month, according to Page Six.

The actress' representative said: "I am thrilled to confirm that Zooey Deschanel and her husband Jacob Pechenik are new parents to a beautiful healthy baby girl."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the pair have also secretly tied the knot.

They announced they were expecting a baby in January and became engaged shortly after. 

No details about the wedding ceremony have been given.

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Banderas Tells Chilean Miners' Story In New Film

Antonio Banderas and his co-stars in a film about the ordeal of 33 Chilean miners have met the country's president and held a news conference ahead of its release.

The Spanish actor has brought the story of the men trapped underground for two months to the cinema, five years after the drama of their rescue gripped TV viewers all over the world.

The men were trapped 700m (2,300ft) underground after their gold and copper mine collapsed in Chile's northern Atacama Desert.

They were feared dead until on the 17th day, knocking was heard on a drill head which had reached the depths of the mine.

Rescuers then found a note attached to the drill reading: "The 33 of us in the shelter are well." After 69 days underground, they were lifted out individually to the surface.

At a Santiago news conference, Banderas, who portrays miner Mario Sepulveda in The 33, said: "Chile sees itself differently than it's seen outside the country. In other countries, it was seen as a great achievement by a country; that's the reality."

Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro said it was challenging to tell the complex story in just a few hours and that focusing on a handful of characters was a good choice.

"The movie is based on the story of the miners, the 33. So I think that it must be synthesised, a few characters must be chosen to tell the entire story."

The film also stars French Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche and American actor James Brolin.

Cast and crew met Chile's President Michelle Bachelet before the film's release there on 6 August.

The 33 is scheduled to hit US cinemas in November and a UK release has not yet been confirmed.

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Amy Schumer Campaigns For Gun Control

Comedian Amy Schumer has joined her US senator cousin in calling for increased gun control following the death of two women in a shooting at a screening of her film Trainwreck.

The pair appeared together in New York to say "enough is enough" when it comes to gun violence.

John Houser killed two women and then himself at a Lafayette, Louisiana, cinema on 23 July, using a gun he was able to purchase legally even though a 2008 court order sent him to a mental health facility.

Schumer called for a more thorough background check system as she shared details about the lives of shooting victims Jillian Johnson, 33, and Mayci Breaux, 21.

"My heart goes out to Jillian and Mayci, to the survivors, to the families and everyone who was tied to the tragic, senseless and horrifying actions of this man who shouldn't have been able to put his hands on a gun in the first place," she said during the news conference.

"I'm not sure why this man chose my movie to end these two beautiful lives and injure nine others, but it was very personal for me," she said.

Senator Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he is introducing legislation that will reward states for submitting all necessary records to the background check system and punish those that do not.

The pair also urged Congress to provide full federal funding to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which faces a proposed 4.4% cut of $159m.

They also asked the Department of Justice to publish a report comparing state standards for involuntary commitment.

Schumer's comments followed calls by fans for her to use her celebrity and influence to take a stand against gun violence.

"The time is now for the American people to rally for these changes," she said. "These are my first public comments on the issue of gun violence, but I can promise you they will not be my last."

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