Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about Wednesday:

1. CONGRESS PASSES 'FISCAL CLIFF' BILL

The House approved Senate legislation to avert an economic meltdown late Tuesday and sent it to President Obama.

2. THE TAX HIKE NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT

Ending the Social Security payroll tax cut means that someone earning $50,000 will pay $1,000 more a year in taxes.

3. WHEN PALESTINIANS WILL OUTNUMBER ISRAELI JEWS

Arabs will surpass Jews in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem by the end of the decade, according to a new population estimate.

4. FEAR GRIPS AFRICAN CAPITAL

Rebels advance on Bangui, in the Central African Republic, and the city's 700,000 residents brace for war.

5. WHY THIS SUGAR COULD PROVE LESS-THAN-SWEET

Scientists find more evidence that fructose may play a role in obesity.

6. A TROUBLING NEW YEAR'S EVE TRADITION

Hundreds of parked cars are torched across France, part of an annual spree dating to the 1990s. Continued...