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Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today (times in EST):

WHY OBAMA IS IN A BIND

He has to stand his ground against the GOP, and risk falling off the “fiscal cliff,” or reach a compromise — and risk angering liberal Democrats. He’ll make his case to the public at 1:05 p.m.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR SANDY VICTIMS

A new gasoline rationing plan that lets motorists fill up every other day goes into effect in New York after the nor’easter.

TEHRAN FACING “COMPLETE SANCTIONS REGIME”

AP’s Bradley Klapper says lawmakers are working on a new set of Iran sanctions that could prevent it from doing business with most of the world until it agrees to international constraints on its nuclear program.

ASSAD CALLS CIVIL WAR CLAIM DUBIOUS

Rather, the Syrian president says the new kind of battle in his country is “terrorism through proxies.”

AFGHANS TO MAKE CASE AGAINST BALES

Alleged victims and relatives are scheduled to testify by video conference from Afghanistan against Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, accused of being the gunman who devastated their remote villages during a nighttime massacre last March.

GIFFORDS FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE MAN WHO TRIED TO KILL HER

The former congresswoman looks closely at the convicted gunman for several minutes at his sentencing hearing but says nothing.

NAVY SEALS SPILLED SECRETS

Special ops warriors disciplined after divulging classified information to the maker of a video game, officials say.

NEW ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY IS NAMED

Justin Welby, who shifted midcareer from the oil industry to the clergy, is named leader of the world’s Anglicans.

GIVING NEW MEANING TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

Hit the slopes — and then a bong? Colorado’s newly passed recreational marijuana measure opens the door to a new world of pot tourism.

COLTS FEELING LUCKY

Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck runs for two touchdowns and Indianapolis improves to 6-3 with a 27-10 win over Jacksonville.

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