Korva Coleman

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has shut down any possibility of direct negotiation with the U.S. over its nuclear program. In comments on his Facebook page, Khamenei said his country wouldn't accept an offer under pressure.

"Having relationships and negotiating with countries who had no deceit against us is in our national interest....Given the history and current facts, our nation won't negotiate under pressure or (with) those threatening us."

That well-worn excuse — "The dog ate my homework" — lasts well into adulthood, according to a new survey by online job website, Careerbuilder.com. The survey asked hiring officials and workers why employees were tardy, and found a little more than 25% of workers are late to work at least once a month. Most explanations were straightforward, such as heavy traffic, inclement weather or problems with daycare.

Good morning, here is our top story:

'Real Nightmare' Headed For New England; Blizzard On Track For Friday.

And here are more early headlines:

CIA Nominee Brennan To Face Senate Questions On U.S. Drone Policy. (CBS)

Author and teacher Essie Mae Washington-Williams died in Columbia, S.C. according to her family attorney, Frank Wheaton. Washington-Williams, who was African-American, came to attention in 2003, when she publicly disclosed her father's name: the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, (R-S.C.), a one-time devoted segregationist.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Boy Scouts Debate Accepting Gays; Pentagon May Extend Some Benefits.

Reports: Postal Service Will Move To Halt Saturday Mail.

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The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association says that American skier Lindsey Vonn crashed during the women's world Super-G competition in Austria today and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Reports indicate she may have a serious knee injury.

The gold-winning Olympian was trailing the race leader by 0.12 seconds, according to the USSA, when she crashed. She was taken for medical treatment by helicopter, which the organization says is 'standard protocol'.

Here's a turnabout in Mali: ethnic Tuareg rebels once allied with Islamist militants have captured two militant leaders in the northwestern part of the country as they tried to escape into Algeria.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Broader Justification Emerges Of When U.S. Can Kill Americans Who Join Al-Qaida.

Dramatic End To Alabama Hostage Standoff Took Careful Planning.

And here are more early headlines:

Vice President Joe Biden says the United States is ready to hold direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program — provided that the country's top leader is serious about such discussions.

The White House has released proof that President Obama really did shoot skeet — at least once — at the Maryland presidential retreat, last summer.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency says an extremely strong earthquake rattled the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on Saturday. The magnitude was 6.4. The U.S. Geological Survey's report puts the tremor at a higher magnitude of 6.9; the epicenter was very deep, about 65 miles below ground, near the city of Obihiro. That's about 120 miles east of Hokkaido's largest city, Sapporo.

The security situation in Northern Mali has improved with the arrival of the French military last month, so French president Francois Hollande traveled there Saturday for a one-day visit. He didn't stay in the southern capital, Bamako, which has remained under Malian government control, but instead flew north to the ancient city of Timbuktu to meet residents and thank French troops for their work in ousting Islamist rebels from the historic city.

"If Zimbabwe was a private company it would have closed down," Zimbabwean finance minister Tendai Biti told reporters this week. At a meeting in Harare, the capital, Biti told a group of reporters his country had just $217 in the treasury, according to the Guardian.

Fireworks inside a truck exploded on a major roadway in the central Chinese province of Henan today, as the driver was taking the devices to a Chinese Lunar New Year's event. The blast caused a highway overpass to crumble, and several vehicles plunged as much as 100 feet to the ground, says the Associated Press.

Good morning, here are our top stories:

Developing: Explosion Outside U.S. Embassy In Turkey.

Ed Koch, Flamboyant Former New York City Mayor, Dies.

Russell Wasendorf, Sr., the former head of Peregrine Financial Group, Inc., who confessed to stealing millions of dollars from customers just as he tried to dramatically commit suicide, will learn his fate today.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Iran, Israel, Defense Cuts To Be Key Topics At Hagel Hearing.

Hack Attack On 'New York Times' Looks Like Part Of Chinese Campaign.

And here are more early headlines:

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has tapped a former aide to succeed Sen. John Kerry, who's been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the next U.S. Secretary of State. Patrick's office says he's chosen William 'Mo' Cowan to serve as the state's interim senator until a special election is held June 25 to vote on a candidate to fill out the rest of Kerry's term.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

NRA's LaPierre, Giffords And Husband Kelly To Lay Out Different Views On Gun Laws.

Report: Your Salary Data May be For Sale.

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The pollution in China's capital has intensified again, and some residents are turning to gas masks to breathe. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing is tracking the current air quality, and it's most recent reading finds that even late at night, the air is hazardous: "Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors; people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low."

Egyptian protesters remain in the streets of Port Said and Suez, defying President Mohammed Morsi's declaration Sunday night of states of emergency and night-time curfews. Egyptian army troops are out on the streets but they did not interfere as thousands of people jeered Morsi's call.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Obama To Praise And Parse Senators' Immigration Plan As He Lays Out His Own.

Obama Says He Enjoys Skeet Shooting; Doubtful Lawmaker Challenges Him.

And here are more early headlines:

The Obama Administration is losing another top official. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says he'll leave at the end of February.

It was probably a first for Norway when a truck trailer full of sweet goat cheese caught fire near the town of Narvik late last week, blocking a road tunnel. it took four days for firefighters to put out the flames. No one was hurt. Norwegian Broadcasting says the tunnel was so badly damaged that geologists are checking it for safety, and any lingering toxic gases.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Secretary Clinton Set To Testify On Benghazi Attacks.

How Cold Is It? It's So Cold ...

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Toyota has agreed to settle lawsuits with the relatives of two people killed in one of their vehicles, allegedly after the engine suddenly accelerated. Paul Van Alfen and Charlene Jones Lloyd died near Wendover, Utah in 2010 when their Toyota Camry crashed into a wall.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Deadly Hostage Crisis Continues In Algeria.

Livestrong 'Disappointed' By Lance Armstrong, But Still Grateful To Him.

And here are more early headlines:

A pod of killer whales trapped in shifting ice near a remote northern Canadian village appears to be free.

A 'family' of orcas was stuck underneath ice in northern Quebec yesterday, with only a small opening for them to surface and breathe. There were about a dozen whales in the pod; each took turns to bob up in the Arctic water to snatch air and duck down again, notes ABC. They weren't able to swim far enough underneath the ice to reach open water.

Good morning, here are our early stories:

Three Kurdish Activists Found Dead In Paris; 'Without Doubt An Execution'.

Crazy Or Canny? Talk Grows About $1 Trillion Platinum Coin.

And here are more early headlines:

A day ahead of the glamorous Oscar nominations for the best in U.S. and international film, comes the Golden Raspberry Awards with its 2012 "Dis-Honors for Worst Achievements In Film".

You will absolutely not be surprised to learn the film with the most nominations, including Worst Picture, is the fifth installment of the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn 2, with 11. The critics write: