Biden Lands In Iraq To Mark End Of War

By Andrea Salazar

Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Baghdad Tuesday in a surprise visit to mark the end of the war.

During his visit, Biden will meet with Iraqi officials to discuss the future of U.S.-Iraq relations. The Vice President will also speak at an event commemorating the sacrifices and accomplishments of U.S. and Iraqi troops.

As President Obama announced in October, all U.S. combat troops will leave Iraq by Dec. 31. 

This is Biden’s eighth trip to Iraq as Vice President.

Obama's Approval Rating Hovers At 43 Percent

President Barack Obama’s approval rating continues to hover at 43 percent, according to a new Gallup poll.

The approval rating matches where he has stayed throughout the end of October, when it rose from 41 percent.

The poll was conducted between November 21st and 27th among 2,978 adults.

Report: Another Woman Accuses Cain Of Sexual Misconduct

A Georgia businesswoman has accused GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain of inappropriate sexual behavior, according to a Fox TV affiliate in Atlanta.

The woman, named Ginger White, told Fox 5 that she and Cain were involved in an affair that lasted 13 years.

“It wasn’t complicated,” she said during an interview that will air in full this evening. “I was aware that he was married. And I was also aware I was involved in a very inappropriate situation, relationship.”

White becomes the fifth female to voice allegations against Cain in the past month.

In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer this afternoon, Cain attempted to downplay the new accusation. He called White “an acquaintance, that I thought was a friend.”

“I know that the court of public opinion is gonna formulate its own opinion,” he said. “I can’t control people who are gonna make a decisions based upon accusations…but I just want to give you a heads-up, and your audience a head-up: Here we go again.”

Today's Business Roundup

US Markets

Stocks climbed as the holiday shopping season got off to a good start. The markets responded well to the possibility that IMF may assist Italy with its debt crisis. The Dow rallied 300 points from last week’s sharp declines. Market analyst say that last week was the worst Thanksgiving trading week since the Great Depression. The S&P and the Nasdaq also finished higher, reversing seven days of straight declines. All 10 S&P sectors ended in the green, led by techs and energy.

Big Black Friday

Retailers won big on Black Friday and were hoping some of that momentum will carry over to Cyber Monday. ShopperTrak, a Chicago-based company that tracks mall traffic, estimates $11.4 billion in retail purchases from Black Friday.

Citigroup Troubles

Citigroup troubles are far from over. A federal judge rejected a $285 million settlement with Citigroup Inc. over a mortgage-bond deal. U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff scolded the SEC and said it was “uninterested in what Citigroup did wrong.”

Kerry Calls For Swift Transition In Egypt

By Mike Hothi

On the cusp of parliamentary elections in Egypt, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair John Kerry (D-Mass.) called on the Egyptian military to allow for a “prompt transition” to civilian rule.

“The Egyptian people have summoned grit, determination, and commitment casting their ballots even in the face of turmoil,” said Kerry. “Now the military must make way for a prompt transition to a civilian government with real authority.”

Kerry’s comments come as protestors have occupied Tahrir Square, demanding an immediate end to military rule. Tahrir Square is the same location protestors gathered during the revolt that led to the ouster of longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak earlier this year.

Kerry continued, “I hope that today’s elections mark the beginning of a new political order for Egypt. The work that began in Tahrir Square mustn’t end there.”