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House and Senate negotiators said late Thursday that they reached a budget deal. The agreement would restore some of the automatic spending cuts known as sequestration, and includes some relatively small deficit reduction over the next two years. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., hammered out the deal, which they characterized as a step in the right direction that would avoid another government shutdown in mid-January if both the House and Senate approve the budget.

The bipartisan plan would head off any more budget battles for two years. But it also doesn't cut spending as much as some Republicans want or restore some of the funding that Democrats favor. Both sides being disappointed may be the key to the plan's success, though.

Mary Barra has broken through the glass ceiling of the auto industry to become the first female CEO of General Motors. She'll take the helm of GM in January. But Barra is actually a return to tradition in other ways: GM will be led by an insider, and an engineer, for the first time in many years.

The new pope has pulled the papacy "out of the palace and into the streets," Time says. The 2013 runner-up is NSA leaker Edward Snowden. Was Francis the right choice?

As a man stood next to President Obama and other world leaders at Tuesday's memorial service for Nelson Mandela he only pretended to do sign language, many in the deaf community say.

As of Nov. 30, more than 137,000 people had obtained health insurance through the federal website. Another 227,000 got coverage through the state exchanges. Users have until Dec. 23 to sign up if they want the health insurance coverage to start Jan. 1.

When it comes time to fertilizing a cornfield, most farmers use huge machines that weigh at least 10 tons. But three brothers in Minnesota have created a tiny robot they say can do the same job much more efficiently.

Governments at all levels are trying to save money by scaling back retirement benefits. Public employees may still end up with more generous plans than their private sector counterparts, but the days of feeling totally secure about their pension income may be numbered.

Photographers and a cake baker who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds are challenging rulings that compel them to provide wedding services to gay couples. Lawyers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in.

The U.S. is suspending non-lethal aid because of infighting among the various factions opposed to President Bashar Assad. The rebel Free Syrian Army, which has lost ground in recent days to an Islamist group, criticized the decision. the U.K. also has reportedly decided to halt aid.