Supervising News Editor Maggie Leung -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

POL-Fiscal-Cliff (Will update)

An agreement to avert the fiscal cliff of automatic tax increases and spending cuts appeared "within sight," President Barack Obama said Monday, but lawmakers said nothing will pass Congress before a midnight deadline.

North-Carolina-Wilmington-10 (Will update)

Forty years after they were convicted by a jury of firebombing a grocery store in Wilmington, North Carolina, civil rights activists who became known as the "Wilmington 10" were pardoned Monday by the state's outgoing governor.

Venezuela-Chavez-Health (monitoring)

Leaders in Venezuela's capital are asking residents to take a more somber approach than usual to ring in the New Year.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

CNN SHOWCASE

Iraq-One-Year-Later -- By Chelsea J. Carter

A year ago, with the departure of U.S. troops from Iraq, there was cautious optimism in Iraq about its future. That was on "Iraq Day," the celebration of the December 31 deadline for American troops to withdraw from the country -- a moment that marked the official end of the war. One year later, much about a post-war Iraq remains unclear -- for the Iraqis and Americans who lived it and fought it -- as the country struggles to define itself, with its government stumbling from one political crisis to another.

INTERNATIONAL

Iraq-Violence

At least 16 people were killed and dozens were injured in attacks across Iraq Monday amid an apparent uptick in sectarian tensions. Most of the attacks targeted Shiites, including bomb blasts that injured pilgrims traveling to shrines just days before a religious celebration.

Venezuela-Chavez-Health

Leaders in Venezuela's capital are asking residents to take a more somber approach than usual to ring in the New Year.

South-Africa-Mandela

South African President Jacob Zuma urged his countrymen Monday to keep the ailing Nelson Mandela in their prayers.

New-Years-Date-Line-Quirk

Just 101 miles separate Samoa and American Samoa. But one will be the first country in the world to welcome the New Year; the other will have to wait a full day.

Africa-Big-Five

The deadly church and mosque attacks in Nigeria and Kenya, and the deaths of Ghanaian and Ethiopian leaders dominated sub-Saharan Africa headlines in 2012. But lost in the midst were a series of positive stories. For every conflict, there was a milestone. For every violence, there was reconciliation. For every setback, progress. Here are the top 5 positive stories out of the continent, as chosen by those who call it home.

TECH-kruger-latest-sightings-nadav-ossendryver

School boy's wildlife-tracking website helps tourists spot big beasts.