| Supreme Court won't stop same-sex marriages in Alabama Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:55 PM PST  SCOTUS has refused a request by Alabama's attorney general to put gay marriages on hold.
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| More bad news for Brian Williams Posted: 09 Feb 2015 04:58 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — A vigorous debate over Brian Williams' future is brewing as "NBC Nightly News" aired Monday without the decade-long anchor.
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| Netanyahu considering changes to Congress speech after criticism Posted: 09 Feb 2015 04:20 PM PST  By Luke Baker JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli officials are considering amending the format of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned address to the U.S. Congress next month to try to calm some of the partisan furor the Iran-focused speech has provoked. Netanyahu is due to address a joint session of Congress about Iran's nuclear program on March 3, just two weeks before Israeli elections, following an invitation from John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the house. Boehner's invitation has caused consternation in both Israel and the United States, largely because it is seen as Netanyahu, a hawk on Iran, working with the Republicans to thumb their noses at President Barack Obama's policy on Iran.
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| Boston-area transit, schools to shut Tuesday after record snowfall Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:20 PM PST  By Scott Malone and Elizabeth Barber BOSTON (Reuters) - A record-setting run of snowstorms that has pounded the U.S. Northeast over the past two weeks has taken a heavy toll on Massachusetts, prompting officials to shut Boston's mass-transit service through Tuesday to allow time to clear the rails. Following a day that saw 48 commuters stuck on a snowbound train during the morning rush hour, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said all train service would shut down at 7 p.m. EST (2400 GMT) on Monday due to the snow and remain shut on Tuesday. The closure of Boston's transit system, as well as its schools, came after officials said 73.9 inches (1.9 meters) of snow had fallen on the city so far this season, making it the 10th snowiest winter on record. At least four buildings collapsed around Boston under the snow's weight, the National Weather Service said, though no injuries had been reported as a result of those incidents.
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| Same-sex marriage begins in parts of Alabama, thwarted in others Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:55 PM PST By Sherrel Wheeler Stewart BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Reuters) - Same-sex couples began marrying in parts of Alabama on Monday, acting on the strongest signal yet from the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of gay marriage ahead of an expected ruling, but numerous state judges avoided granting marriage licenses to gay couples in apparent defiance of the high court. The Supreme Court earlier in the day cleared the way for Alabama to become the 37th state where gay marriage is legal by refusing a request by the state's Republican attorney general to keep them on hold until it decides later this year whether laws banning gay matrimony violate the U.S. Constitution. |
| Pro-gay marriage signals seen in U.S. Supreme Court action Posted: 09 Feb 2015 01:19 PM PST  By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court's move on Monday to allow gay marriage to proceed in Alabama is the strongest signal yet that the justices are likely to rule in June that no state can restrict marriage to only heterosexual couples. Of the nine justices, only two - conservatives Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia - dissented from the court's refusal to block gay weddings from starting in Alabama. Gay marriage is now legal in 37 states. Thomas acknowledged in a dissenting opinion that the court's move to allow gay marriages to go ahead "may well be seen as a signal of the court's intended resolution" as it considers cases from four other states on whether same-sex marriage bans are permitted under the U.S. Constitution.
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| EU delays sanctions to support Ukraine peace talks Posted: 09 Feb 2015 09:54 AM PST  The EU's delay is meant to give a Franco-German peace plan time to work.
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| Netflix launches in Cuba Posted: 09 Feb 2015 09:34 AM PST  (Reuters) - Netflix Inc launched its movie and TV streaming service in Cuba on Monday, joining the list of U.S. companies looking to take advantage of thawing diplomatic relations between the United States and the communist-ruled island country. The United States announced new rules on Jan. 15 that will significantly ease sanctions on Cuba, opening up the island to expanded U.S. travel, trade and financial activities. Netflix said the service, starting at $7.99 per month, would be available to customers with international payment cards. Cuba, with a population of about 11 million, has one of the lowest internet penetration rates in the world - barely 5 percent.
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| Jindal slams GOP changes to primary system Posted: 09 Feb 2015 08:19 AM PST  Jindal made clear he has no plans – if he runs – to abide by the RNC's attempt to keep candidates from participating in debates that are not sanctioned by the party committee.
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| In Iowa, a tale of two Rand Pauls Posted: 08 Feb 2015 10:29 AM PST  Bored by establishment politics, the senator lights up in a room of college students.
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| Brian Williams cancels Letterman appearance Posted: 08 Feb 2015 04:00 PM PST  The embattled anchor will not appear on 'Late Show' this week.
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