Fascinating News 🇺🇸

GOP lawmaker behind Congress’ Epstein push says Commerce Secretary Lutnick should resign over links Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a co-author of the law that compelled the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign over his links to the late sex offender.

GOP lawmaker behind Congress’ Epstein push says Commerce Secretary Lutnick should resign over links

https://fascinating.news/r/ImY3ZWG8

Israel tightens grip on West Bank ahead of Netanyahu’s visit to US Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, DC, this week, Israel has taken a series of sweeping steps to tighten its grip on the occupied West Bank.

Israel tightens grip on West Bank ahead of Netanyahu’s visit to US

https://fascinating.news/r/OEechIjf

Yes, you can pick out a good Valentine’s Day gift for your partner Before you give up and buy your love a gift card at the last minute, consider what experts have to say about how to pick out a wonderful present.

Yes, you can pick out a good Valentine’s Day gift for your partner

https://fascinating.news/r/HQXpqdya

‘We must get through the next few days’: Ukrainians face bitter cold without power Hundreds of thousands of civilians in Ukraine face several days of extreme cold with very little heat and light, after sustained Russian drone and missile attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

‘We must get through the next few days’: Ukrainians face bitter cold without power

https://fascinating.news/r/5FnD8LPZ

UK PM’s chief of staff resigns over Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador despite Epstein links The chief of staff to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on Sunday over the scandal around Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US, despite his links to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

UK PM’s chief of staff resigns over Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador despite Epstein links

https://fascinating.news/r/Ob3o4eU3

Congress isn’t waiting on Trump to tackle high housing costs President Donald Trump has vowed to tackle America’s housing affordability crisis, but the White House has so far offered few details on how. Now, a bipartisan group in Congress is moving forward with its own solution.

Congress isn’t waiting on Trump to tackle high housing costs

https://fascinating.news/r/FOLF46tg

NFL launches challenge to improve facemasks and reduce concussions The NFL is challenging innovators to improve the facemask on football helmets to reduce concussions in the game.

NFL launches challenge to improve facemasks and reduce concussions

https://fascinating.news/r/VMTFdXru

The last time she spoke to her son was in a FaceTime cooking lesson. The next day she was the victim of a deadly scam Lo-Letha Toland-Hall was driving for Uber in Ohio when she was fatally shot in a tragic misunderstanding involving a financial scam. Her son had just FaceTimed with her the night before.

The last time she spoke to her son was in a FaceTime cooking lesson. The next day she was the victim of a deadly scam

https://fascinating.news/r/BAn161m1

GOP leaders fret as Trump sits out the party’s nastiest primary battles — with Senate control on the line Top Senate Republicans are ratcheting up pressure on President Donald Trump to pick a side in the party’s nastiest primary battles before it’s too late, with anxiety spiking as the midterm cycle threatens to turn sour for the GOP.

GOP leaders fret as Trump sits out the party’s nastiest primary battles — with Senate control on the line

https://fascinating.news/r/pjGK1Db3

Falcons rookie Pearce arrested after what police said was a domestic dispute with WNBA player Atlanta Falcons rookie star James Pearce Jr. was arrested near Miami on Saturday night after fleeing officers and then crashing his car following what police said was a domestic dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson.

Falcons rookie Pearce arrested after what police said was a domestic dispute with WNBA player

https://fascinating.news/r/mIRYS3mA

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi’s party projected to secure large majority in snap election Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party could secure a large majority of more than 300 seats in Japan’s lower house in a snap election Sunday, public broadcaster NHK projected based on exit polls.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi’s party projected to secure large majority in snap election

https://fascinating.news/r/dqW6UvvR

Russian investigators claim Ukraine behind assassination attempt on top general Russia’s Investigative Committee has accused Ukrainian intelligence of being behind the assassination attempt on a Russian general in Moscow on Friday – and says the alleged perpetrator was arrested in Dubai after fleeing Moscow.

Russian investigators claim Ukraine behind assassination attempt on top general

https://fascinating.news/r/MTkSgxZv

A teen allegedly killed 4 people at his Georgia high school. Now his father is going on trial for murder The father of the teenager who allegedly killed four people at his Georgia high school in 2024 is set to stand trial on murder and manslaughter charges in the latest case testing the limits of who is responsible for a school shooting.

A teen allegedly killed 4 people at his Georgia high school. Now his father is going on trial for murder

https://fascinating.news/r/NscHlXep

Families in hiding and defiant observers: This is Minneapolis in the wake of the so-called ICE ‘drawdown’ Even with the so-called “drawdown,” many Minneapolis area activists say little has changed since hundreds of agents left and they’re preparing for prolonged resistance. The anxiety remains palpable after two fatal shootings of US Citizens by federal agents in January.

Families in hiding and defiant observers: This is Minneapolis in the wake of the so-called ICE ‘drawdown’

https://fascinating.news/r/C2Lib26N

Israel’s president to mourn antisemitic massacre in Australia, where fury over Gaza still divides Israeli President Isaac Herzog will receive two very different receptions when he arrives in Australia on Monday – a warm welcome by a government determined to show solidarity with its grieving Jewish minority, and mass protests by activists who consider him a war criminal.

Israel’s president to mourn antisemitic massacre in Australia, where fury over Gaza still divides

https://fascinating.news/r/mG51RgO8

Duke’s Scheyer says staff members ‘got punched in the face’ during court-storming; UNC AD apologizes Duke coach Jon Scheyer said he had staff members “that got punched in the face” as North Carolina fans stormed the court to celebrate a late winning shot in the famed rivalry Saturday night, prompting UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham to publicly apologize.

Duke’s Scheyer says staff members ‘got punched in the face’ during court-storming; UNC AD apologizes

https://fascinating.news/r/pj58WSYr

ICE chief counsel in Minnesota retires amid growing number of immigration cases The top lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota has left the agency, the same week an ICE attorney was removed after telling a district judge that “this job sucks” and that the Trump administration is “overwhelmed” with immigration cases.

ICE chief counsel in Minnesota retires amid growing number of immigration cases

https://fascinating.news/r/VWFbSbiO

Is India about to make Ozempic-like weight-loss drugs a whole lot cheaper? On any given morning in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, power-walkers circle the running track, fitness watches buzzing with every step. Minutes later, some drift toward nearby food stalls, where oil sizzles and hot samosas and syrupy jalebis land on paper plates. It’s a snapshot of India’s uneasy relationship with health and indulgence – and the backdrop to a fast-growing medical and commercial frenzy.

Is India about to make Ozempic-like weight-loss drugs a whole lot cheaper?

https://fascinating.news/r/zbAOhb26

Ohio man charged with Vance death threat amid rising US political violence A federal grand jury indicted a 33-year-old Ohio man on Friday with threatening to kill Vice President JD Vance with an automatic weapon, the Justice Department said in a news release, as the US grapples with rising political violence and threats.

Ohio man charged with Vance death threat amid rising US political violence

https://fascinating.news/r/cBUZARUg

Girls flag football is booming at the high school level. It’s a little more complicated for the boys When Austin Sheepo first told his girlfriend that he plays on his high school flag football team, she was a little confused.

Girls flag football is booming at the high school level. It’s a little more complicated for the boys

https://fascinating.news/r/mRWggq2U

Brad Arnold, lead singer of Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, dies at 47 Brad Arnold, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, died Saturday, months after he announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. He was 47.

Brad Arnold, lead singer of Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, dies at 47

https://fascinating.news/r/ZIWTEn8a

Washington Post publisher Will Lewis steps down days after massive layoffs gut the newspaper The Washington Post’s publisher Will Lewis has stepped down, just days after the newspaper laid off one-third of its newsroom.

Washington Post publisher Will Lewis steps down days after massive layoffs gut the newspaper

https://fascinating.news/r/qfI4tI5j

Nancy Pelosi to endorse Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, for US House seat Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to endorse Jack Schlossberg in his run for a hotly contested US House seat, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Nancy Pelosi to endorse Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, for US House seat

https://fascinating.news/r/4RKZJluM

Former French minister Lang resigns from Arab World Institute after Epstein correspondence revealed Jack Lang, a former French culture minister, has resigned as president of the Arab World Institute, the French Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Saturday, after revelations of his past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and the launch of a financial investigation.

Former French minister Lang resigns from Arab World Institute after Epstein correspondence revealed

https://fascinating.news/r/Kr6ndRgk

Anti-Olympics protest in Milan turns violent as Italy investigates suspected railway sabotage Anti-Olympic protesters marched peacefully through Milan on Saturday afternoon, holding signs, marching arm-in-arm, singing and dancing. But when night fell, the demonstration turned violent as some protesters targeted police and their vans, and officials responded with tear gas and water cannon. This comes as authorities separately investigate a series of incidents on rail lines in northern Italy that officials fear could be coordinated sabotage.

Anti-Olympics protest in Milan turns violent as Italy investigates suspected railway sabotage

https://fascinating.news/r/eSN9D3xR

Trump administration planning ‘Board of Peace’ meeting in DC on February 19 The Trump administration is planning a meeting of the “Board of Peace” on February 19 in Washington, DC, per a US official and a diplomat from a country that was invited.

Trump administration planning ‘Board of Peace’ meeting in DC on February 19

https://fascinating.news/r/rAWq5tGZ

Kushner, Witkoff visited USS Abraham Lincoln carrier amid tension with Iran President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son in law Jared Kushner, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Saturday morning after completing talks with Iran on Friday, according to a senior US official and two regional sources familiar with the matter.

Kushner, Witkoff visited USS Abraham Lincoln carrier amid tension with Iran

https://fascinating.news/r/CgLwkHxX

Confusion at reopening of Rafah crossing leaves Palestinians stranded The first week of the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt was marked by confusion, and logistical hurdles, according to Palestinians attempting to cross and multiple sources who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity.

Confusion at reopening of Rafah crossing leaves Palestinians stranded

https://fascinating.news/r/UL887gM1

Judge grants continuance in the asylum case of Liam Conejo Ramos and his family Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his family will have more time to make their case for asylum.

Judge grants continuance in the asylum case of Liam Conejo Ramos and his family

https://fascinating.news/r/DLL2afeW

This is the world’s most expensive rice. But what does it taste like? In travel news this week: the world’s most expensive rice, trouble at Rome’s Trevi Fountain, plus how the hotel bathroom door situation has gotten out of hand.

This is the world’s most expensive rice. But what does it taste like?

https://fascinating.news/r/S0xR2m4B