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5 things you need to know Friday

Editors
USA TODAY
Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey in Season 3 of Netflix's "House of Cards."

Cancel your weekend plans: 'House of Cards' returns

Stop whatever you're doing — Frank Underwood is back. House of Cards returns to Netflix Friday with its 13-episode season three. It's been more than a year since fans rabidly binge-watched the last season, during which Frank and wife Claire ascended to new reaches of power. This season brings a whole new set of challenges — hopefully excluding (another) train accident. Spoiler alerts abound in our recap here.

The countdown for Department of Homeland Security's funding begins

Will funding expire or won't it? That's what everyone's been asking for the last few days and, as of Thursday, approval of a homeland security spending bill looked likely. Friday brings the last day Congress can approve the legislation before funding expires at midnight. A handful of conservative senators who object to the bill said they do not intend to use procedural moves to delay the Senate vote past the funding deadline.

Cuba/U.S. relations take another step forward

The United States and Cuba on Friday will hold the second round of negotiations to re-establish diplomatic relations after a 50-year freeze. The day-long meeting will be held at the State Department in Washington and focus on challenges that remain before each country. Cuban diplomats will come with their own set of demands, chief among them their continued inclusion on the U.S. State Department's State Sponsor of Terrorism list. This follows up talks that began last month.

Obama to host Liberian president, talk Ebola

Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's Friday visit with President Obama will include a discussion on eradicating Ebola from West Africa. The virus has killed more than 3,800 people in Liberia and thousands more in Guinea and Sierra Leone. The United States is withdrawing nearly all of the 3,000 troops dispatched last year to assist with eradication. The White House said the world leaders will also discuss the West African region's economic recovery plans and other issues.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf stands for the national anthem before delivering her State of the Nation address to a joint session of the Liberian legislature on Jan. 26, 2015.

Derrick Rose to have knee surgery

The Chicago Bulls point guard will undergo surgery Friday to fix the torn meniscus in his right knee, and his surgeon will have a couple different options on what to do: either remove the entire meniscus — which serves as a shock absorber — or remove the part that is torn. The recovery time for either procedure is about six weeks, which means Rose could return to the court this season. Still, his injury has left the Bulls feeling dejected and could lead to Coach Tom Thibodeau's departure.

And, the essentials:

Weather: Most of the eastern U.S. will get a break from the wintry weather as the action shifts to the western and central U.S.

Stocks: Market futures were slightly down ahead of Friday's opening.

TV Tonight: Can't decide what to watch this weekend? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at House of Cards and The Good Wife.

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