Striking Los Angeles teachers rally near City Hall as talks resume

Tens of thousands of striking Los Angeles teachers were joined by parents and students in a rally near City Hall on Friday, as contract talks mediated by the mayor resumed behind closed doors after a marathon negotiating session the day before.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2ASMdVn

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Mueller's office disputes Buzzfeed story on Michael Cohen

U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office issued a statement late on Friday taking issue with a report in Buzzfeed that President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen said Trump told him to lie to Congress.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2RFujj9

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House Speaker Pelosi accuses Trump of endangering U.S. troops, lawmakers

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday accused President Donald Trump of putting American troops and civilians working in Afghanistan in danger by publicizing a planned congressional trip to the war-torn country, as tensions between the leaders spiked on the 28th day of a partial government shutdown.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2FBHsn5

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Trump says will make 'major' announcement Saturday on shutdown

President Donald Trump said on Friday he will make a "major" announcement on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT) on "the humanitarian crisis on our southern border" and the partial government shutdown, now in its 28th day.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2RE5Ydy

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Supreme Court silent on 'Dreamers' appeal, other big cases

It is looking increasingly likely that the U.S. Supreme Court will not hear Trump administration appeals involving the "Dreamers" immigrants, transgender troops and gay rights during its current term, meaning rulings in these major cases may not come until next year.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2MpAFxv

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Trump tells anti-abortion marchers he will support them

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke in a prerecorded video to thousands of anti-abortion activists in Washington on Friday for the 46th March for Life, vowing to veto any legislation that "weakens the protection of human life."

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2HhQvva

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Bell Helicopter Textron wins $440 million U.S. defense contract - Pentagon

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc, a unit of Textron Inc, has been awarded a $440 million U.S. defense contract for the production 16 AH-1Z helicopters and 25 stores control units, the Pentagon said on Friday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2U2eXCi

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Gladys Knight defends decision to sing U.S. anthem at Super Bowl

Singer Gladys Knight has defended her decision to perform the U.S. national anthem after receiving criticism from supporters of former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who used the pre-game tradition to protest racial injustice.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2DlBaWt

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Winter storm disturbs travel as it rolls toward U.S. Midwest, Northeast

A major winter storm was expected to clobber a large swath of the northern United States with heavy snow, gusty winds and frigid temperatures making travel difficult and dangerous starting on Friday and through the weekend, forecasters said.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2AUmI5S

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Obama donor imprisoned for $292 million bank fraud seeks early release

An Iranian-American businessman who gave money to Democrats including former President Barack Obama should be released early from his 12-year prison term for a $292 million bank fraud and moved to home confinement, his lawyers said on Friday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2HmB9W0

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Supreme Court scraps arguments on Trump census appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday canceled arguments that had been scheduled for next month in an appeal by President Donald Trump's administration relating to its contentious move to add a citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. census.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2AUxLMC

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Lilly cancer drug fails key trial, will no longer be prescribed

Eli Lilly and Co said on Friday that its cancer treatment Lartruvo, which had won conditional approval, failed to improve patient survival in a long-term confirmatory study and will no longer be prescribed, driving the drugmaker's shares down nearly 3 percent.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2R28q8M

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U.S. names three killed in Syria blast claimed by Islamic State

A U.S. Navy servicewoman and a former Navy SEAL are among the four Americans killed in a suicide bombing this week in northern Syria that the United States believes was likely carried out by Islamic State, U.S. officials said on Friday.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2W0WM1r

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