UN Security Council extends South Sudan peacekeepers

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council renewed a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan for second year on Thursday as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned the future of the year-old state was tied to developing good relations with former civil war foe Sudan.

S. Sudan says repulses Sudan army attack on Heglig

KHARTOUM/JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan said on Saturday it had repulsed an attempt by the Sudanese army to retake a disputed oil-producing border area, extending a stand-off that has edged the two countries closer to a full-blown war.

Supercommittee likely to admit defeat on debt deal

The congressional committee tasked with reducing the federal deficit is poised to admit defeat as soon as Monday, and its unfinished business will set up a year-end battle over emergency jobless benefits and an expiring payroll tax holiday.