US News
Senior Republicans Back Obama's Russia Sanctions
Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan has backed the Obama administration's program of retaliatory sanctions against Russia for election meddling. "Russia does not share America's interests," said Ryan. In a joint statement, Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham called the measures "long overdue," and said they would try to impose even stronger sanctions in the new Congress. – The Hill / CNBC
School Board Demands Paladino Resign for Racism
The Buffalo Board of Education has voted to demand Carl Paladino, the New York co-chair for Donald Trump's campaign, resign from the board for racist remarks about Michelle Obama. The board will petition the state commissioner for his removal if he refuses. Paladino had said he hoped the First Lady would "return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe." – The Washington Post
US Coast Guard Searches for Missing Plane
The US Coast Guard is searching for a small commuter plane that disappeared from radar over Lake Eerie shortly after leaving Cleveland, Ohio. The Cessna Citation 525, believed to be carrying six passengers, left shortly before 11 PM Thursday. A Coast Guard official said controllers fear the plane may have crashed into the lake. – CBS News
Adults in Correctional System Falls to 13-Year Low
The number of US adults under correctional supervision has fallen to its lowest level since 2002, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. An estimated 6.7 million people were in prison, on parole or probation in 2015, down 1.7 percent on the previous year. The bulk of the decrease was due to a drop in the number of people on probation. – VICE News
International News
Putin Refuses Diplomatic Retaliation Against US
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declined an opportunity to expel 35 US diplomats. The country's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had asked Putin for permission to expel the Americans as a response to the sanctions and expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats announced by President Obama on Thursday. But Putin said Russia would not "stoop" to the Obama administration's "irresponsible" actions. – BBC News
Ceasefire Holding in Syria Despite Skirmishes
A ceasefire between government forces and rebel groups has held across Syria on Friday morning, despite some clashes in the Hama province shortly after the deal came into effect at midnight. A spokesman said the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a coalition of several rebel groups, said they would continue to uphold the ceasefire deal. - Reuters
Finnish Anti-Drugs Chief Found Guilty of Drug-Smuggling
The former head of the anti-drugs police force in Finland's capital Helsinki has been sentenced to ten years in prison for smuggling drugs. Jari Aarnio, 59, was found guilty of helping import and sell almost 1800 pounds of hashish. – BBC News
Everything Else
Run DMC Sues Wal-Mart, Amazon for $50 Million
Run DMC has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Wal-Mart, Amazon, and other major retailers, accusing them of trademark infringement by profiting from "Run DMC styled products." The lawsuit states the group has made $100 million from its registered trademark. - Billboard
Chance the Rapper Wants to Move to New Zealand
Chance the Rapper says he wants to move to New Zealand "in the next 15 years," after playing the country's Rhythm and Vines festival. He insisted on Twitter he was "very serious" about it. "Black people, we are moving to New Zealand." – Waikato Times
Ryan Gosling to Play Neil Armstrong
A new biopic about Neil Armstrong called First Man will see Ryan Gosling star as the pioneering US astronaut. It will be directed by La La Land director Damien Chazelle, and is based on James Hansen's biography. – The Hollywood Reporter
First Lady Wants More Help for Homeless Veterans
Michelle Obama has said the US needs to do more to help veterans struggling with homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse. The First Lady told VICE the Joining Forces program she launched in 2011 was "a strong start," but said it was "utterly unconscionable" that any veteran "would ever have to sleep on the streets." - VICE
Future Drops Two New Videos
Future, the hardest working man in hip-hop, has released videos for Drippin (How U Luv That), from the Purple Reign mixtape, and That's a Check featuring Rick Ross. Thursday night's release follows a video for Buy Love he dropped on Wednesday. - Noisey
Chelsea Manning Urges Transgender Community to Fight
In a letter to Broadly, imprisoned whistleblower Chelsea Manning has urged the transgender community to "continue to fight" for greater rights. She wrote of a tendency "to wait and see what happens, and hope for the best. We absolutely cannot afford to do that." – Broadly
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