Character actor, World War Two hero Charles Durning dies at 89

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Charles Durning, a World War Two hero who became one of Hollywood’s top character actors in films like “The Sting,” “Tootsie” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” has died, a New York City funeral home said on Tuesday. He was 89.Durning, who was nominated for nine Emmys for his television work as well as two Academy Awards, died of natural causes at his New York City home...

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Forecasts For 2013 From Around the World

Central Bankers“We face a broader challenge—to defend the market economy amongst so many who suffered during the financial crisis. This was expressed memorably by William McChesney Martin when he spoke to the Economic Club of New York in 1957. He said, ‘Men begin to question whether the merriment was worth the misery, especially when the misery was worse among the millions who had never got in on...

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Stores last hope: last minute shoppers

A weekend wedged in right before Christmas seemed like the perfect gift for procrastinators who wait until the 23rd hour for holiday shopping, or shoppers who wait for one last big sale.Estimates for the final shopping weekend aren’t out yet, but there’s evidence that more shoppers were coming into stores as the holidays drew near.At North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Georgia, the parking lots were at...

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Start of "Santa rally" dampened by "cliff" worries

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks edged lower on Monday as caution over the potential for volatility driven by worries about the U.S. "fiscal cliff" dampened enthusiasm at the start of a seasonally strong period for equities. The S&P 500 index <.spx> declined 0.9 percent on Friday, its biggest drop in more than a month, as a Republican plan to avoid the cliff - $600 billion in tax...

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Colts recovering coach returns to team facility

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Chuck Pagano was back at work Monday morning.Three months after taking an indefinite leave to battle leukemia, the Colts' coach was scheduled to meet with players, coaches and reporters as he retook the reins from interim coach Bruce Arians.When Pagano arrived at the team headquarters, he drove past an inflatable Colts player to the side of the driveway with a simple message across...

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Shootings: Suicide risk gives clues

A sign near a cemetery of a victim in the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.STORY HIGHLIGHTSDaniel Flannery: Studies show there is no distinct profile of school shooters Flannery: We can take lessons from what we know about risk for suicideHe says we can do better to assess a person's risk for violent action toward others Flannery: Communities and schools should pay more attention to kids' mental...

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Quentin Tarantino unchains America’s tormented past in “Django”

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Twenty years after Quentin Tarantino unveiled his first film “Reservoir Dogs,” the director has turned his eye to America’s slavery history, spinning a blood-filled retribution tale in his trademark style for “Django Unchained.”Tarantino, 49, has become synonymous with violence and dark humor, taking on the Nazis in “Inglourious Basterds” and mobsters in “Pulp Fiction.”In “Django...

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Alcohol fraud rising, say traders

22 December 2012 Last updated at 20:25 ETBy Emma Forde 5 live InvestigatesUK tax authorities are not doing enough to tackle alcohol duty fraud, claims a leading off-licence chain.Bargain Booze told the BBC that the number of stores telling HM Revenue and Customs that they face illegal competition is rising.Last year HMRC received over 600 reports to its tax hotline relating to alcohol fraud.The Revenue...

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France checks ministers’ taxes after Swiss bank report

PARIS (Reuters) – French tax authorities said they were carrying out a “routine” examination of government members’ personal finances and denied a report that Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac was being singled out for a specific probe.The statement was issued through Cahuzac’s ministry amid weekend media reports that President Francois Hollande could be considering a government reshuffle, seven months...

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Wall Street Week Ahead: A lump of coal for "Fiscal Cliff-mas"

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street traders are going to have to pack their tablets and work computers in their holiday luggage after all. A traditionally quiet week could become hellish for traders as politicians in Washington are likely to fall short of an agreement to deal with $600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts due to kick in early next year. Many economists forecast that this...

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