UPDATE 1-U.S. Senate approves bill to avert 'fiscal cliff'
January 01, 2013 at 02:24 AM EST
WASHINGTON, Jan 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation to avert the "fiscal cliff" on Tuesday - two hours after a midnight deadline - by stopping most of the tax hikes and across-the-board spending cuts that were due to begin with the new year.
