Bethenny Frankel and husband of 2 years separating

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bethenny Frankel and husband Jason Hoppy are separating.The 42-year-old TV personality, chef, author and entrepreneur told The Associated Press Sunday that the split brings her “great sadness.”“This was an extremely difficult decision that as a woman and a mother, I have to accept as the best choice for our family,” Frankel said. “We have love and respect for one another and will...

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Virgin Money Wins Customer Experience of the Year Award

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM–(Marketwire – Dec 24, 2012) – Virgin Money has won the 2012 Customer Experience of the Year Award for Banking in the UK Customer Experience Awards.The UK Customer Experience Awards recognise companies who deliver an outstanding customer experience in their field. Virgin Money beat off competition from short listed companies including Metro Bank, Nationwide, Lloyds TSB,...

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Stock futures decline as "cliff" talks stall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures declined on Monday, indicating the S&P 500 would extend losses after suffering its worst drop since mid-November on continued worry legislators will be unable to reach a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff." The benchmark S&P index <.spx> declined 0.9 percent on Friday, its biggest percentage drop since November 14, as a Republican plan...

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Seahawks roll past 49ers in noisy Seattle 42-13

SEATTLE (AP) — Red Bryant remembers the early years of his career, when the Seattle Seahawks struggled to win only four and five games in his first two seasons.Getting a 10th win on Sunday night and a trip to the postseason was special to the Seahawks' big defensive end."Who has been playing better than us the last few weeks?" Bryant questioned. "This is the National Football League and you don't...

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Senators slam movie's torture scenes

In the new film "Zero Dark Thirty," Jessica Chastain plays a CIA analyst who is part of the team hunting Osama bin Laden. STORY HIGHLIGHTSSens. Feinstein, McCain, Levin send letter calling new film "grossly inaccurate"Letter adds to controversy over depiction of torture as a key to finding bin Laden, Bergen saysSenate committee has approved 6,000-page classified report on CIA interrogations programBergen...

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“Twilight Zone” reboot in the works from Bryan Singer, CBS Television Studios

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Bryan Singer is about to enter “The Twilight Zone.”The “X-Men” director is working on a reboot of Rod Serling‘s television series with CBS Television Studios, a spokeswoman for CBS Television Studios told TheWrap. Singer will develop and executive-produce the project, and could direct.The project is currently in the very early stages.The original “Twilight Zone” ran on...

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Signs suggest better economy if ‘cliff’ is averted

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fresh signs of a strengthening U.S. economy on Friday suggested that if Congress and the White House can avert the “fiscal cliff,” the economic recovery might finally accelerate in 2013.Consumers spent and earned more in November. And for a second straight month, U.S. companies increased their orders for a category of manufactured goods that reflects investment plans.In light of...

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What’s on Your Year-End Financial To-Do List?

Ah, the last week of the year: Time to celebrate with family and friends, catch a high-quality movie or two, and sneak the periodic treat from the cookie and candy pileup in the kitchen. But year-end is also a good time to tackle financial tasks, including making last-minute retirement-plan contributions, donating to charity, and rebalancing a portfolio.In the Personal Finance forum of Morningstar.com’s...

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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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Falcons top Lions 31-18 for home-field advantage

DETROIT (AP) — Matt Ryan got what he wanted.Calvin Johnson was forced to settle for what he could get.Ryan matched a career high with four touchdown passes, two to Roddy White, to help the Atlanta Falcons beat the Detroit Lions 31-18 Saturday night and earn home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs."It's great," Ryan said. "Our confidence is high and our experience — good and bad — has helped...

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