NEW YORK

The Federal Reserve on Tuesday pointed to turmoil in Europe as a big risk to the U.S. economy, leaving the door open to a further easing of monetary policy even as it noted some improvement in the U.S. labor market.

This December, Santa may well deliver more than just candy or coal to the entrepreneurs of Silicon Alley startups. If 2011 has been any indication, more money than ever before is being dumped into the coffers of New York-based high tech firms. For example, consider the following deals that have just happened:

Activist investor Daniel Loeb, who already owns 5.2 percent of Yahoo, sent another letter to the company. This time, he demanded to see a list of prospective bidders.

Across the globe, small towns and big cities are celebrating the holiday season with spectacular light displays. Take a look at some of the best public Christmas lights from Rome to Rio.

The woman who wore a cat mask while robbing SoHo boutiques is awaiting a jury deliberation to determine her prison sentence.

The Federal Reserve on Tuesday pointed to turmoil Europe as a big risk to the economy, leaving the door open to a further easing of monetary policy even as it noted some improvement in the labor market.

Carey Mulligan may have been hesitant to go nude in the upcoming Steve McQueen film Shame, but once she bared all, the actress found the naked scene kind of fun. Here, get Mulligan's take on character Sissy, her reaction to the nude scene (and a staged suicide attempt), and even singing for McQueen on the NC-17 set.

The Artist and Hugo lead the way with 11 nominations each.

Archstone, the national multifamily giant in the midst of an ownership struggle, announced on Tuesday it had purchased a Manhattan apartment tower for $131 million.

Know your rights before you get stuck on the tarmac.

Authorities have told the media that Amrani had a criminal record but wasn't a man known to them for violent crime. But who is Nordine Amrani?

The latest in a string of deadly crashes involving children, a school bus taking primary students home slipped off a country road into an irrigation ditch in eastern China, killing 15 children and wounding eight others, officials said.

It's an understatement to say that the Great Recession took its toll on department store chains, but there are survivors, and Nordstrom (JWN) is one.

A retired police officer shot and killed his wife over a financial argument. How and why do such tragedies happen?

More skeletal remains have been found along Oak beach on Tuesday according to Suffolk County authorities. Police officials believe it could be the remains of missing sex worker Shannan Gilbert.

Munich-based Siemens AG in 2008 pled guilty to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in bribing government officials in Argentina to secure a billion-dollar national identification card project contract.

A rumor that Verizon will buy Netflix is flying around, pushing up Netflix shares by 6.2 percent to $75.26 on Monday. The stock continues to rise Tuesday, with Netflix trading up $1.20 to $76.16 in early-afternoon trading.

If you've had the pleasure of sleeping with Derek Jeter, you might have gotten a bonus gift of a signed baseball, according to a hilarious New York Post story.

Longtime news anchor and correspondent Katie Couric has ended a five-year relationship with Brooks Perlin, according to a rep for Couric who spoke to Us Weekly, because of age and conflicting jobs and schedules.

People who knew recent Virginia Tech gunman Ross Ashley have painted polarizing pictures of his personality and attitude, which makes his motive for his killing even that much more mysterious.

There is a new Disney princess in town, but this one is a pint-sized girl instead of a lovestruck teenager.