1. U.S. CHARGES SNOWDEN WITH ESPIONAGE
Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked a trove of secret government documents to the Washington Post and the Guardian, has been charged with theft, "unauthorized communication of national defense information," and "willful communication of classified communications intelligence information to an unauthorized person." The latter two charges were brought under the Espionage Act. Each of the three charges carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Snowden is still at large. [Washington Post, New York Times]
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2. BRAZIL'S PRESIDENT PLEDGES TALKS WITH PROTESTERS
Brazil President Dilma Rousseff promised Friday to talk with demonstrators after around 1 million people took to the streets to protest a lack of services, corruption, and massive expenditures on the upcoming World Cup. "We cannot live with this violence that shames Brazil," Rousseff said in a nationally televised address. "All institutions and public security forces should prevent, within the limits of the law, every form of violence and vandalism." [Reuters]
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3. OBAMA CHOOSES FORMER BUSH OFFICIAL TO HEAD FBI
On Friday, President Obama nominated James Comey as the new director of the FBI. If confirmed by the Senate, Comey, who served as a Justice Department official under President George W. Bush, will replace Robert Mueller, who has held the post for 12 years. [NBC]
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4. CONSERVATIVE HOUSE MEMBERS VOTE DOWN FARM BILL
The House voted against the farm bill 234 to 195, with some Republican lawmakers demanding deeper cuts in the food stamps program. The bill, supported by Republican House Speaker John Boehner, was rejected by fiscal conservatives despite the fact that it already cut $20.5 billion in food assistance. [New York Times]
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5. FUND MANAGER SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON
John Mattera, a former mutual fund manager who convinced investors that he was putting their money in Facebook and Groupon before they went public, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Friday. Instead of investing the money, Mattera, 51, spent it on luxury cars, jewelry, and his own personal taxes. [Reuters]
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6. GUNMAN SHOOTS UP WALMART PARKING LOT
A man armed with a shotgun shot three people in a Walmart parking lot in Greenville, N.C., on Friday. The man, who also shot one person outside of a law firm across the street, was eventually shot by police. Everyone involved is expected to survive. [USA Today]
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7. FRANCE SENDS SYRIAN REBELS 17.6 TONS OF MEDICAL AID
The French government sent its largest medical delivery of the Syrian conflict to rebels on Friday, as opposition forces prepared to fight off an attack by Assad's army in Aleppo. The 17.6-ton delivery included antidotes for nerve agents, which the Assad regime has been accused of using. [Reuters]
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8. PATRIOTS PLAYER SUBJECT TO ARREST WARRANT IN MURDER CASE
New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is the subject of a warrant in the murder case of his friend, Odin Lloyd, 27, who was found with a bullet in his head in an industrial park in Attleborough, Mass., on Monday. Police want to question Hernandez about possibly destroying evidence, including security video and his cellphone. [ABC News]
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9. KIM AND KANYE NAME THEIR BABY NORTH WEST
Hip-hop artist Kanye West and reality TV star Kim Kardashian have named their newborn girl North West. Previous rumors said the couple were naming their baby Kaidence Donda West. [Los Angeles Times]
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10. PUTIN OFFERS TO REPLACE 'STOLEN' SUPER BOWL RING
After being accused of pocketing New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's Super Bowl ring, valued at $25,000, Vladimir Putin said in a sarcastic tone that he would replace it with something better while speaking at an economic forum in St. Petersburg. The ring is currently on display in a Kremlin library. [The Guardian]
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