The prime minister of Australia joined the debate whether, or not the world will end on December 21 under the Mayan calendar in a spoof video about Korean pop and flesh-eating zombies.

Her a one-minute video address recorded for a youth radio station, the sombre-looking Gillard says the pending apocalypse is at hand despite there being no proof.

Julia Gillard says there is a bright side to armageddon, which she noted had not come as a result of the much-hyped Y2K millennium computer bug in the year 2000 or due to Australia's corporate pollution tax.

FISCAL CLIFF COUNTDOWN. Finding Common Ground.
Both sides now concede that more tax revenues and cuts in entitlement spending are going to be necessary elements of a deal.

MORE PROTESTS IN EGYPT. Morsi Mess.
Anger in cities signals a prolonged standoff between the president and the opposition.

FIGHTING IN SYRIA. Violence Increases.
The Syrian capital of Damascus could be a new major battlefield in the conflict.

WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON. Dead At 116.
Ms. Bessie Cooper passed away peacefully at a Georgia nursing home in Georgia after having her hair set.

More than 5 weeks have passed with an estimated 75 lives lost, 50 billion dollars worth of damages, Suprestorm Sandy may be long gone, but will never be forgotten.

The storm left widespread damages along the Eastern Seaboard, including homes and neighborhoods by wind, flooding and fire.

Habitat for Humanity is currently assessing the impact on affordable housing across the affected areas and will response as need and available resources become clearer. Your gift today to the Disaster Response Fund can help people affected by Superstorm Sandy and disasters like it.

The Center for Disease Control has announced that more cases of flu are being reported than normal documented amounts in several states. US officials say that such upticks usually don't occur until after Christmas.

Please, cover your mouth when you cough, sneeze into your shoulder. If you have to sneeze again, then sneeze into your opposite shoulder. If you’re one of those people who always sneezes three times in a row, you should have had time to take out a handkerchief and cover your nose and mouth.

SYRIA'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS. Receiving Extra Scrutiny.
US warns Assad that the world is watching and points to serious consequences, if Syria dares to use its stockpile of chemical weapons.

FISCAL CLIFF BALL GAME. Going Back and Forth.
Whitehorse rejects latest GOP $2.2 trillion counteroffer House Republicans made calling for raising the eligibility age for Medicare, without raising taxes.

EGYPT ON ALERT. Large Scale Planned Strike.
Massive march and general strike are raising new fears of increasing unrest.

ISRAEL'S NEW CONSTRUCTION. Alone In Danger Zone.

NYC Parks will be re-opening Orchard Beach to the public on Wednesday, December 5.

The facility was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy with more than 60 large mature trees uprooted and toppled, and lots of hanging tree limbs to contend with. The beach and promenade needed to be cleaned and cleared of debris.

The massive parking lot has been serving as a storm response site for government agencies, and as a collection site for large woody debris from throughout The Bronx.

Although work will continue as tree debris is hauled off-site, there will be an area set aside for public parking.

AVOIDING THE FISCAL CLIFF. Washington Deadlock Wars.
28 days left and our politicians play chicken, while Pelosi says she'll try to force a House vote on a Senate-passed bill favored by Democrats to break this deadlock.

EGYPT'S JUDGES ABANDON THE BENCH. Egypt's Supreme Court.
Supreme Constitutional Court has declared an open-ended strike while responding to Morsi's power grab.

SYRIA CONFLICT IS FLARING. Violence Continues.
Assad's warplanes and artillery hit Damascus and its suburbs as rebels try to reach his power base.

FOOTBALL MURDER-SUICIDE. Questions and Pain For KC Chiefs.

This Week in History, Dec 2 - Dec 8

Dec 02, 2001