More details emerged Monday on the blood clot that caused Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital Sunday evening. The clot is reportedly located “in the vein that is situated in the space between the brain and the skull.” Despite the unsettling location of the clot, doctors assured the nation that Clinton will make a “full recovery” and that she is “making excellent progress.” The blood clot is related to a concussion she suffered earlier this month, sparking rumors that she had feigned the fall to avoid congressional hearings on the attacks in Benghazi, Libya. 

House Republicans better hold off on the champagne, as they’ll be ringing in the new year at the Capitol Building. House Speaker John Boehner held a closed-door meeting with members this afternoon to brief them on the McConnell-Biden fiscal cliff deal and told them not to go far from Capitol grounds for the rest of the night. The House GOP is waiting on the Senate to finalize an agreement and has been told to “stick around and stay sober—semi-sober, anyhow,” said Texas Representative John Carter. As for the details of this potential deal, Representatives were given very few specifics.

And no one thought a deal could be reached before the new year. The Senate voted before dawn on Tuesday—yes, on New Year's Day—to pass a deal that would avert the fiscal cliff. Even rarer than the New Year's Eve vote? The 89–8 final vote tally. The deal prevents automatic tax increases on much of the country, but will put tax hikes in place for the richest Americans—a major concession for Republicans. The House is likely to vote on Tuesday, to avoid any market effects of the breach of the so-called fiscal cliff from happening on Wednesday. The reported dealmaker, Vice President Biden, will reportedly meet with House Democrats Tuesday afternoon to sell the deal.

Will a “global outpouring of love” heal Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez? That’s what his recently-designated political successor called for as the country’s leader suffers “new complications” following his fourth cancer operation. In the meantime, Venezuela has canceled its New Year's celebration out of respect for its ailing leader. Vice President Nicolas Madura said Chávez was fighting a respiratory infection in the wake of surgery, adding that his condition is “delicate” and his current treatment is “not without risks.” Chávez’s allies have reportedly discussed the possibility that death or illness may prevent him from swearing in for his third six-year term on Jan. 10.

Survivors of the Oregon bus crash that killed nine people Sunday on an interstate in rural eastern Oregon are speaking out to describe the horrific scene. Passengers say they watched some of their fellow travelers fly out through broken windows as the bus smashed through a guardrail and plummeted 100 feet down an embankment. Some of those ejected from the vehicle—like Berlyn Sanderson, 22—survived the fall. “It’s kind of like one of those dreams you have of the world ending,” Sanderson told the Associated Press. Forty-six people were aboard the bus, which was on its way back to Canada from Las Vegas.

The Israeli military announced Monday that shipments of building materials will be allowed daily into the Gaza Strip—if the relative quiet along the border holds. It is the first real easing of the Israeli blockade that has been in place since Hamas took over the territory five years ago. It is also the first key concession of the ceasefire deal that ended eight days of fighting between Israel and Hamas last month. A military spokesman said that Israel began allowing shipments of gravel to Gaza’s private sector Sunday.

Looks like somebody will be celebrating without alcohol this New Year's. Kim Kardashian is pregnant with boyfriend Kanye West’s baby, she confirmed Monday after he had announced it at a show. The Internet exploded with Kardashian confirmations, with sister Khloé tweeting, “Keeping secrets is hard with so many family members! Especially when you are so freaking excited!!!!!” Big sis Kourtney added, “Been wanting to shout from the rooftops with joy and now I can!” Kimye—surely the name of their baby too?—have been dating since April.

The New York Times takes a New Year’s Eve look back at 2012’s memorable sports moments and the year to come. Perhaps most interesting is the potential mascot lockout that could take place as the collective-bargaining agreement that currently exists between the four major American sports organizations and the Mascots and Oversized-animals Organization (yes, it’s a real thing and the acronym is M.O.O.) will expire at 11:59 p.m.on Jan. 21. The date may seem obscure but it’s actually a tribute to longtime mascot supporter George Orwell—who died on that day in 1950. If early talks—in which Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner had a tantrum over Mr. Met’s “perpetually snide” smile and the Phoenix Suns’ Gorilla did a double-flip on the conference table before throwing his agenda in the garbage and leaving the room—are any indication of how the coming contract negotiations will go, a dramatic mascot lockout may not be too far off.

Psy galloped onto the scene this year, “riding the pony” and singing “Gangnam Style” to international success. But it seems he’s had enough of the record-breaking song. The pop star announced that he will be “ending” the song after his performance Monday night at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. “Being in Times Square on New Year’s Eve is already special—it’s the biggest stage in the universe—plus it’s my birthday, so, with all that, it may be the ending of ‘Gangnam Style.’” But fans should not give up all hope, because Psy still has invitations to perform around the world and a new single is in the works. “I need a new single because ‘Gangnam Style’ got too popular, so I’ve got to write a new single,” he said.

Cue the champagne. Stella McCartney—legendary English fashion designer and daughter of former Beatle Paul McCartney—has been named to Queen Elizabeth’s New Year Honors List for 2013. McCartney has had quite a year, from designing the uniforms for team GB at the 2012 Olympics to receiving the award for Designer of the Year in the U.K. But the Queen’s list is an even bigger deal, recognizing the service and achievements of extraordinary people in the United Kingdom. A Happy New Year, indeed.

At least 23 people were killed in a series of explosions in Iraq on Monday. There were a total of 15 shootings and bombings in 13 towns throughout the country. Blasts near a home in the town of Mussayeb killed seven members of the same family. In the northern city of Hilla, a bomb was exploded near the convoy of the governor of Babil province, missing the governor, but killing one other person. Meanwhile, explosions in Iraq’s disputed territories killed at least three more people. Violence in Iraq has declined in the last few years, but attacks still occur nearly every day.

Did those 14 years together mean nothing to the Philadelphia Eagles? Apparently not enough. The football team’s head coach, Andy Reid—the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL—has been kicked to the curb. On Monday morning, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie held a press conference to discuss the team’s decision to get rid of the coach, who led them to a record-breaking 140 victories, five NFC championship games, and a Super Bowl appearance, among other accolades, and called Reid “someone I respect greatly.” Reid wasn’t the only NFL casualty Monday. The New York Jets’ general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, got the ax, as did longtime Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith.

There is technically one day left in the sales year, but Ford evidently feels comfortable making this call. Ford declared Monday that its Focus compact car is the bestselling car in the world for the 2012 sales year. There were 737,856 Focuses registered worldwide through September. And Ford has more reason to celebrate, because another of the company’s compacts, the Fiesta, was the second-bestselling car this year, with 560,061 cars sold. A Ford spokesman credited the company’s “EcoBoost engines” for the huge sales numbers.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital Sunday after doctors found a blood clot related to a concussion she suffered earlier this month, the State Department confirmed in a statement. She will be treated with anti-coagulants and monitored for the next 48 hours as doctors “continue to assess her condition” and “determine if any further action is required,” her spokesman said. Clinton was sick with a stomach virus when she fainted and banged her head in mid-December, causing a concussion. She was set to return to work next week after a three-week hiatus.

Deal or no deal? While the rest of Congress went to bed last night, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden were reportedly negotiating the impending fiscal cliff into the wee hours of the morning—and allegedly made significant progress. The deal in question would involve Senate Republicans agreeing to extend tax cuts for families who earn more than $450,000 and individuals who make more than $400,000—a significant concession for a party that has staunchly opposed hiking taxes at all. If they don’t pull through on this one, every income group will be hit with a tax hike starting Tuesday. 

A 74-year-old Maine man faces charges in the alleged shooting deaths of two of his tenants, Derrick Thompson and Thompson’s girlfriend, Alivia Welch. James Pak was arrested Saturday night at his home in Biddleford, Maine, after a three-hour standoff. Police had been called to the home earlier in the day during a dispute between Pak and his tenants over cars being parked in the driveway during a snowstorm. Minutes after officers left the house, they received a call from Thompson’s mother reporting the shootings. Neighbors said Pak is known for his short temper.

Blood clot or not, Hillary Clinton will testify on the Benghazi attacks. Sen. Joe Lieberman confirmed on Monday that the secretary of state will uphold her commitment to speak on the September terror attacks as soon as she feels healthy. The independent senator from Connecticut also insisted that Clinton bears no evident responsibility for denied requests for increased security at the U.S. facility in Benghazi.

A family spokesman confirmed Monday that Newtown, Conn., shooter Adam Lanza’s father, Peter Lanza, claimed his son’s body. The spokesman did not say when this occurred or mention any plans for a funeral service. Earlier this month a private funeral was held in New Hampshire for Adam Lanza’s mother, Nancy, whom Lanza, 20, killed Dec. 14 before he went to Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 20 children and six adults.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is offering a bounty for anyone who kills the U.S. ambassador to Yemen or slays any American soldier in the country, according to an audio file they released Monday. Al Qaeda is allegedly offering three kilograms of gold to anyone who kills Gerald Feierstein, the U.S. ambassador in Sana. The group is also offering a separate bounty of $23,350 to anyone who kills an American soldier. Yemen, while a U.S. ally, has struggled with extremist groups—especially since the ouster of former leader Ali Abdullah Saleh earlier this year. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is the same branch of the terrorist group that ordered Muslims to step up protests and kill U.S. diplomats for the film Innocence of Muslims—which resulted in the killing of the U.S. ambassador in Libya and three other Americans.

If you were getting sick of hearing the term “fiscal cliff,” you aren’t alone. The phrase topped the 38th annual List of Words to Be Banished From the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse, and General Uselessness. The list, which is released by Lake Superior State University in Michigan, is made from submissions sent via mail, fax, or Facebook. One submitter said of the term, “You can’t turn on the news without hearing this. I’m equally worried about the ‘River of Debt and Mountain of Despair.’” This year’s list also included terms like “spoiler alert,” “superfood,” “job creators,” and “YOLO.” Unfortunately the list is powerless to eradicate any words from the English language.

Happy New Year, everyone—Washington is closer to a fiscal-cliff deal. Just before 3 p.m., following a promising speech by President Obama, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that Congress is "very, very close" to reaching a deal. "I can report that we've reached an agreement on all the tax issues," he said. Obama said he is hopeful that Congress would approve an agreement that will increase taxes on the wealthiest
2 percent of Americans, but prevent a tax hike for the rest of the country. 

Speculation swirled Monday that reaching a deal on the fiscal cliff debate by midnight was an impossible task. It looks like the critics may have been right. According to several sources close to the talks, Congress will not be meeting the Monday midnight deadline to avert the fiscal cliff. The two key players in the debates, Sens. Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell have yet to come forward and confirm the allegation. If it is true, things will only get worse from here. Short story: America will be subject to automatic tax hikes and spending cuts, set to take effect tomorrow, January 1, that could send the nation into a severe recession.