1. COURT SENTENCES RUSSIAN ARMS DEALER
On Thursday, Viktor Bout, a notorious weapons trafficker, was sentenced to 25 years in prison following his conviction last year on four counts of conspiracy to kill Americans by agreeing to sell weapons to terrorists. Bout, who was the inspiration behind Nicolas Cage's character in the film Lord of War, was spared the life sentence that U.S. federal prosecutors had sought. Russia was strongly opposed when Bout was arrested in 2008 and extradited to the U.S. On Friday, Russia's foreign minister called the verdict against Bout "baseless and biased." [New York Times]
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2. MILITARY MAY DISMISS OBAMA-CRITICIZING MARINE
A military board has recommended that a Marine who criticized the president on his Facebook page be dismissed. Sgt. Gary Stein allegedly superimposed images of Obama's face on a Jackass movie poster. Stein has served for nine years, and his service was to end in four months. The board also said that Stein shouldn't get his veteran's benefits. [Washington Post]
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3. VIOLENCE SURGES IN SYRIA AHEAD OF U.N. DEADLINE
Despite the Syrian government having accepted an April 10 deadline to withdraw its forces, violence in the country continues. For instance, a British-based human rights group says fighting erupted in villages throughout the central Homs province after Assad's forces opened fire on a group of seven women. [Agence France-Presse]
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4. COAST GUARD SINKS JAPANESE GHOST SHIP
On Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard sank a 164-foot Japanese ship off the coast of Alaska. The ship had been adrift since last year's tsunami. [Associated Press]
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5. LAWYERS SAY ZIMMERMAN DIDN'T UTTER RACIAL SLUR
George Zimmerman's lawyers say their client muttered the word "punks," not a racial slur, on a 911 call moments before he killed Trayvon Martin. In a CNN report, a forensic audio expert agrees. [CNN]
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6. ECONOMY LIKELY ADDS 200,000-PLUS JOBS
The U.S. Labor Department releases the March jobs report Friday morning, and economists predict that the economy likely added 203,000 new jobs last month. That would make March the fourth straight month that payrolls have risen by more than 200,000. [Reuters]
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7. FACEBOOK PICKS THE NASDAQ
Facebook reportedly plans to list its shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market, not the New York Stock Exchange. The news further confirms that the Nasdaq is the preferred venue for tech companies. [Washington Post]
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8. SANTORUM SLIPS IN PENNSYLVANIA
Ahead of the Keystone State's April 24 primary, Pennsylvanians look increasingly sour on Rick Santorum. Polls show that Santorum's once-massive lead has all but disappeared in a state he represented for 12 years in the Senate, and that he's branded a must-win for his sputtering presidential campaign. [CBS News]
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9. MATT LAUER TO STAY AT NBC
Quashing rumors that he might leave the Today show, Matt Lauer has signed a new multiyear contract with NBC News to remain in the co-host chair at the morning show. [New York Times]
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10. KARDASHIAN, KANYE SUPPOSEDLY DATING
The gossip world is buzzing over the news that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have reportedly started dating. The two have been spotted on multiple "dates" in New York City this week. [People]
