National
A bi-partisan supported deal on extending payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits are close to being passed. The deal includes unemployment benefits and Medicare payment rates for doctors. It also includes a finding of $50 billion in cuts to reduce effect on federal deficit.
World
Iran threatens to cut off its sale of oil to six EU countries on Wednesday in response to increased sanctions over its developing nuclear program. Iranian officials have also signaled a willingness to negotiate with western powers over the future of their nuclear program.
World
More than 300 prisoners died in a prison fire in Honduras on Tuesday. It is one of the worse prison fires in the history of Latin America.
