Retail Sales in US Exceeded Forecasts in November

BloombergDec. 11 (Bloomberg) — Sales at U.S. retailers rose more than forecast in November, a sign consumer spending is gathering speed heading into 2010.The 1.3 percent increase followed a 1.1 percent gain the prior month that was smaller than previously estimated, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. Purchases excluding autos climbed 1.2 percent, also more than anticipated… Read more

Baucus Reportedly Gave $14000 Raise to Staffer Girlfriend

FOXNewsSen. Max Baucus gave a $14,000 raise last year to the female staffer he was dating and took her on a government-funded trip to Asia and the Middle East, Politico.com reported Friday.The Montana senator and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee acknowledged a week ago that he was in a relationship with Melodee Hanes when he nominated her for U.S. attorney. Hanes withdrew her nomination… Read more

Now guilty, Kilpatrick’s ex-deputy Kandia Milton to help FBI

FreepFormer Detroit Deputy Mayor Kandia Milton, a childhood friend of ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, became the latest symbol of public corruption in the city, pleading guilty Thursday to bribery conspiracy in a $3.5-million city real estate deal.Milton is the first member of Kilpatrick’s inner circle to be convicted in the ongoing federal probe of public corruption.He is also the first person close… Read more

Breaking down the candidates

ESPNThe 2009 Heisman class has it all: a former winner in Tim Tebow; a former candidate in Colt McCoy; the nation’s best defensive player in Ndamukong Suh; a national title contending running back in Mark Ingram; and a running back who put Stanford football back on the map in Toby Gerhart. Each has impressive numbers. Each helped his team win.Only one can walk off with the statue Saturday (ESPN,… Read more

Airbus A400M Needs States’ Help to Continue, CEO Says

BloombergDec. 11 (Bloomberg) — Airbus SAS’s A400M military transport, which performed its maiden flight today in Seville, isn’t viable without a “significant contribution” from government customers, the planemaker’s chief executive said.Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders said his company’s first military plane and thousands of jobs connected with depend on the governments’… Read more

US STOCKS-Futures rise as data on consumer eyed

Forbes* Reports on retail sales, consumer sentiment on tap* Boeing ( BA – news – people ) says 787 Dreamliner test flight may come Dec. 15* Futures up: S&P 5.8 pts, Dow 53 pts, Nasdaq 7.5 pts(Adds details, quote, byline, updates prices)NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures rose Friday as investors awaited data that could provide a look at the health of the consumer, including reports… Read more

Utah Mom’s Disappearance ‘Suspicious,’ Police Say

FOXNewsThe disappearance of a missing Utah stockbroker and mother of two has turned “suspicious,” police say.West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan said Thursday that no one will reveal where 28-year-old Susan Powell is and “she has not contacted us or anyone else we know about.”Powell failed to show up at her job at Wells Fargo Financial on Monday. Her purse, cell phone and car all were… Read more

Mandela saw Freeman as the actor to play him in films

MiamiHeraldLOS ANGELES — There was an actor Nelson Mandela had in mind when asked in 1995 who should play him in a movie of his autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom.” Morgan Freeman was that man.”From then on it was Morgan Freeman was going to play Nelson Mandela somewhere down the line,” Freeman says in an interview about the Clint Eastwood movie “Invictus,” in which he plays Mandela.But,… Read more

Week 14 NFL Matchups

New York TimesChargers (9-3) at Cowboys (8-4)The Cowboys don’t want to hear about their 15-27 record in December over the past decade. They’ve been interrogated in news conferences and on talk radio. They’ve been criticized by everyone from their own stars of yesteryear — some of whom raised off-field distractions to an art form — to citizen bloggers who equate December toughness with… Read more

Mugabe opens Zanu-PF congress

Al Jazeera EnglishRobert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president, has condemned splits within Zanu-PF, saying internal fighting is tearing the party apart and emboldening its rivals.Mugabe opened the party’s congress in the capital, Harare, on Friday, and addressed the party for the first time since it lost absolute grip of power and entered a unity government.”The reason why we lost last year was because… Read more

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