The Brooklyn Nets star released a statement following the league's decision to fine him $25,000 for failure to comply with the league's media requirements. NBA reporters and others are reacting to Irving's response, and his decision to not speak to the media this season.

On Thursday, the Trump administration executed Brandon Bernard, marking the first federal execution during a presidential lame-duck period in 130 years. The Trump administration plans to carry out several more executions in the coming months, including one on Friday. His administration will be responsible for more federal executions since July than the past several decades combined.

The Senate voted 84-13 on Friday to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The House and Senate passed the bill with a veto-proof two-thirds majority. President Trump threatened to veto the NDAA because it includes a provision to rename Defense Department facilities named after Confederate military leaders and it does not include a provision that repeals section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Because apparently, sending pictures of your family as a holiday card is an American thing.

Here's a peek at the books behind Chris Rock, Jeff Bezos, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and more.

The mass is now moving straight toward a remote south Atlantic island populated by penguins and seals. Scientists say a collision could cause an environmental catastrophe.

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit backed by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory. In its ruling, the court said, "The State of Texas’s motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution." Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court rejected a request to prevent Pennsylvania from certifying its presidential election results in favor of Biden.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, clearing the way for the distribution of the drug across the country.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday that restaurants and bars will be limited to takeout starting Monday as hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to rise. Mayor Bill de Blasio said he supports the measures.

On Thursday, President Trump announced that the US would recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed region of Western Sahara as part of a deal to normalize relations between Morocco and Israel. The decision puts the US at odds with the United Nations and many other countries, who believe that the status of the former Spanish colony should be resolved according to UN resolutions.

Cudi is back with the third installment of the Man on the Moon trilogy, which features HAIM, Phoebe Bridgers, Skepta, Pop Smoke and Trippie Redd. Fans, many of whom have waited over a decade for Cudi to complete the trilogy, do not seem disappointed.

President-elect Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he has selected Ambassador Susan Rice to lead the White House Domestic Policy Council, and that he will nominate fellow Obama administration alum Denis McDonough to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. Biden’s presidential transition team also confirmed the nominations of Tom Vilsack, Rep. Marcia Fudge and Katherine Tai to his Cabinet on Thursday.

The Russian branch of British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca announced they will test combining the Oxford vaccine with Russia's Sputnik V. The purpose of this trial is to see whether taking one dose from each vaccine would lead to a better immune response in participants.

Star Wars fans are having a big day after Disney announced that 10 new series are in the works, as well as a feature film from Taika Waititi, and revealed that Hayden Christensen will return as Darth Vader. Numerous other projects were announced at the Disney Investor Day, including new additions to the Indiana Jones, Sister Act and Mighty Ducks franchises as well as sequels to Enchanted and Hocus Pocus.

The US Senate passed a stopgap measure on Friday that will allow lawmakers to continue negotiations over COVID-19 relief and a $1.4 trillion spending package. Senators Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley said that they are prepared to allow government funding to expire next week if Congress fails to provide direct COVID-19 financial relief to Americans.