U.S. Senate approves bill to avert 'fiscal cliff'
January 01, 2013 at 01:56 AM EST
WASHINGTON, Jan 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday, two hours after a Dec. 31 deadline had lapsed, approved legislation aimed at averting the "fiscal cliff" by stopping most tax hikes and across-the-board spending cuts that were due to begin with the new year.
