Lax oversight of the U.S. government's workers' compensation insurance program for its contractors and subcontractors in Afghanistan has resulted in the loss of tens of millions of dollars and workers going without the required insurance in often hazardous conditions, an audit released Thursday found.

Hours before a crucial vote, Republican leaders pleaded with their fractious rank and file Thursday to support a House plan to stave off an unprecedented government default. The vote would bring President Barack Obama and congressional leaders a step closer to endgame efforts before Tuesday's deadline.

An unexpected decrease in unemployment claims sent stocks slightly higher Thursday even as a stalemate continued in Washington over how to avoid a U.S. debt default.