1.AZUZ: From Japan, we move to the African nation Ivory Coast, a country that\'s seeing violence and political chaos. It\'s been going on since a disputed election back in November. The international community has recognized Alassane Ouattara as the winner. But the man who has been president, Laurent Gbabgo, refuses to step down. The fighting between the two sides has been deadly. Hundreds of people have been killed. One million people fled the capital, Abidjan, that\'s been the focus of some intense fighting recently. There are about 9,000 United Nations peacekeeping forces in Ivory Coast. The International Crisis Group says the situation there is as "urgent as any facing the international community right now."

2.AZUZ: One of the ways that the Labor Department keeps track of how workers are doing is by measuring the country\'s unemployment rate.

3.MEGAN CLOHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.: Could the federal government really close its doors? Congress is negotiating a budget, but so far, House Speaker John Boehner says they are far from a compromise.

HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER, (R) OHIO: There is no number, there is no agreement on a number. We\'re going to fight for the largest spending cuts that we can get. I\'m hopeful that we\'ll get it as soon as possible.