A payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans, set to expire at the end of this month, would be extended through December under a bipartisan deal announced early on today by US congressional leaders.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on North Korea to end a "vicious circle" in which it raises and reduces tensions to win diplomatic rewards and buy time to build up its nuclear arms programme.
A bill to cut the deficit faced a nail-bitingly close vote in Congress today as the top Republican lawmaker sought to quell an internal revolt and push his plan to avoid a ruinous default.
Top Republicans in Congress criticized today President Barack Obama's proposal to pay for a job creation plan by eliminating $467 billion in tax breaks for wealthier Americans and corporations.
Jobs figures released show the US economy is growing and healing, President Barack Obama said, calling on Congress to pass a payroll tax extension and avoid sabotaging the recovery.