Politics

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Protesters dismantle a wall guarding the presidential palace during a demonstration against President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo on Tuesday. Offices of Mr. Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood political party were also targeted. Backers of the president also turned out for demonstrations to show their support. (Associated Press)

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich disputes the media and congressional fear-mongering related to the pending “fiscal cliff.” He says it can broken down into more manageable fiscal “foothills.” (Associated Press)

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A Free Syrian Army fighter points his weapon as he watches a Syrian Army jet, not pictured, in Fafeen village, north of Aleppo province, Syria, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)

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FILE - This Dec. 5, 2012 file photo shows President Barack Obama pauses as he speaks about the fiscal cliff at the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers, in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

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Malian Prime Minister Cheikh Modibo Diarra was arrested at his home on Monday by the soldiers who helped lead a recent coup. He was ordered to resign. (Associated Press)

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House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio leaves his office and walks to the House floor to deliver remarks about negotiations with President Obama on the fiscal cliff, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Exiled leader Khaled Mashaal (center), in his first visit to Gaza, joins Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (right) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the militant group. Once the target of an Israeli assassination attempt, Mr. Mashaal now is confident enough to enter Gaza and walk around in public. (Associated Press)

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Protesters sit during a rally at the George W. Romney State Building, where Gov. Snyder has an office in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. The crowd is protesting right-to-work legislation passed last week. Michigan could become the 24th state with a right-to-work law next week. Rules required a five-day wait before the House and Senate vote on each other's bills; lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene Tuesday and Gov. Snyder has pledged to sign the bills into law. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Mark Boal and Kathryn Bigelow wrote and directed, respectively, the film "Zero Dark Thirty," which portrayed the manhunt for terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. (Columbia Pictures)

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** FILE ** In this June 17, 2011 photo, Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican, speaks in New Orleans. DeMint announced Dec. 6, 2012, that he is resigning to take over at Heritage Foundation. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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A cleric from Al-Azhar, Egypt's most respected Islamic institution, addresses protesters in front of the presidential palace during a demonstration in Cairo on Dec. 11, 2012. Thousands of opponents and supporters of Egypt's Islamist president staged rival rallies in the nation's capital, four days ahead a nationwide referendum on a contentious draft constitution. (Associated Press)