A Contra Costa Superior Court judge ordered Chevron Corp. to close down a $1 billion project aimed at expanding its controversial oil refinery expansion in Richmond.

The Judge Barbara Zuniga sided with California environmental activists and gave Chevron sixty days to shut down its project.

58-year-old Allen Stanford, under investigation in an alleged $8 billion fraud is due to appear in Richmond federal court on Friday in Virginia.

Dick DeGuerin, Sir Allen's lawyer, said that Allen Stanford surrendered to the US authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest on criminal charges.

Circuit City, the US retailer of consumer electronics, appliances and PCs, has completely gone out of business as company closed its doors on March 8, 2009 (Sunday).

It should be noted that the closing comes earlier than expected - the company originally projected March 31 as its last day.

Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group's cost-cutting measures and higher prices of cigarettes brought about a declined fourth-quarter profit, which falls in line with the estimates by Wall Street analysts.

LandAmerica Financial Group Inc, a provider of real estate transaction services, said the company, along with its unit, LandAmerica 1031 Exchange Services Inc, filed for bankruptcy protection in order to facilitate the sale of its two principal title underwriting subsidiaries.

Fidelity National Financial Inc. has finally decided to cancel its plan to acquire troubled rival LandAmerica Financial Group Inc.