From NPR news in Washington, I am Lakshimi Singh.

 

　　Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is staunchly defending the administration’s handling of the Benghazi terror attack, in what may be her final congressional testimony on the matter before she steps down. A few hours after addressing the Senate, she is now filled in questions in the US House.

 

　　"As I have said many times since September 11, I take responsibility and nobody is more committed to getting this right. I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger, and more secure. But republicans in both chambers accuse State Department of ignoring consular requests for additional security ahead of last September’s attack that killed 4 Americans including the US ambassador."

 

　　The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a measure permitting the government to borrow enough funds to avoid a first-time default for at least 4 months. The measure passed by a vote of 285 to 144 as majority Republicans backed away from previous demands at any increase in the government’s borrowing cap be combined with an equivalent amount of spending cuts.

 

　　It has been nearly 3 months since super storm Sandy devastated the northeast. Most people assume that Manhattan is completely back to normal. But NPR’s Margot Adler says not so.

 

　　"Last week Con Edison which supplies the city’s electricity said 22 large buildings are still without power or have only partial power. Nine small buildings also have issues. Verizon is still working on phone lines. Some businesses in Lower Manhattan particularly near the South Street Seaport still have spotty service. Most of the copper wires were destroyed in the storm. Verizon is upgrading to fiber optics but that may take until spring. The Downtown Alliance which manages the business improvement district for lower Manhattan says 87% of businesses are back. But there are still a few blocks where all shops are boarded up. And for the few stores are open on those streets, there is no foot traffic. Margot Adler, NPR news, New York."

 

　　Scientists say they are ending a voluntary moratorium among controversial bird flu experiments. Details from NPR’s Nell Greenfieldboyce.

 

　　"The research has been on hold for just over a year. Scientists had genetically altered the bird flu virus H5N1. And critics said the man-made viruses were dangerous. Flu experts argued that their work was essential to understand how viruses in nature may mutate and started a pandemic. Now in the journal Science and Nature, researchers say it’s time to continue. Ron Fouchier is at Erasmus medical center in the Netherland."

 

　　"It is our opinion that in those countries where the research can be done safely. The research should restart because the research is clearly of importance to public out."

 

　　"He plans to resume his experiment soon. But scientists working with funds from the US government still need to wait for officials here to decide what experiments can go forward and under what lab conditions. Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR news."

 

　　Dow was up 77 points. This is NPR news.

 

　　The White House says it’s going ahead with General John Allen's nomination to NATO commander. Now that he has been cleared of professional misconduct charges, or rather allegations. Allen came under Pentagon scrutiny as he became swept up in a sex scandal that forced retired General David Petraeus to resign as CIA director.

 

　　A suicide bomber has struck in northern Iraq and an Iraqi military commander tells reporters a man detonated his explosive belt as mourners were gathered for a funeral at a mosque in the disputed city of Tuz Khormato. He says dozens of people were wounded.

 

　　In New Jersey, voters overwhelmingly approve a Republican governor Christopher J. Christie’s criticism of House GOP leaders holding up federal aid for victims of hurricane Sandy. That is according to new Quinnipiac University poll. NPR’s S.V. Date has details.

 

　　"79% of voters support Christie’s fierce attacks on his own party’s congressional leadership, including 70% of New Jersey Republicans. Christie was urged by many Republicans to run for president last year but ultimately did not get in the race. He is seeking re-election to a second term as governor this November. The Quinnipiac poll finds that 68% of voters believe he deserves another term and that he leads potential Democratic challengers by 2 to 1 margins. The survey sampled more than 1,600 voters with a 2.4% margin of error. S.V. Date, NPR news."

 

　　US stock is trading high with the Dow gaining 80 at 13,792; NADAQ up 15 points at 3158; S&P 500 up 3 at 1496.

 

　　I am Lakshimi Singh news.