Trump proposes new voting limits, rails against "monster" voting rights bill

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday laid out a variety of election proposals, such as limiting absentee voting and days when Americans can vote, in his first public speech after his stinging Nov. 3 election loss. Democrats' nationwide push to register new voters, including Black voters and young people, and Trump's refusal to urge his Republican supporters to vote by absentee ballot are believed to have been factors in his 7 million vote loss to Joe Biden. At a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, Trump said Election Day should be only one day, not a number of days leading up to the actual voting day.

Lady Gaga poised to hand over $500,000 reward to mystery woman after safe return of Bulldogs

Lady Gaga is poised to hand over a $500,000 reward to a mystery woman who returned her beloved French bulldogs kidnapped in a violent street robbery near her home in Hollywood. Koji and Gustav, thought to be worth up to $10,000 dollars each, were given in at a downtown LAPD Police Station by an unnamed woman late on Friday night. Authorities believe the woman who handed the dogs in was "uninvolved and unassociated" with the attack - but she is still eligible for the "unconditional" $500,000 and is said to be in contact with Gaga's representatives.

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  Lady Gaga's French Bulldogs Have Been Found "Safe" After Singer Offered a $500,000 Reward

  Harper's Bazaar
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  Lady Gaga's Dogs Were Found 'Safe' After Being Stolen in an Armed Robbery

  Elle

Two Jordanian ministers fired for partying in breach of their own rules

Jordan's interior and justice ministers were fired on Sunday for attending a dinner party at a restaurant that violated the coronavirus restrictions that their own ministries are supposed to enforce. Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh accepted the resignation of Interior Minister Samir Mobeideen and Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni, days after the announcement of new rules intended to stem a month-old surge of infections driven by a more contagious variant of the virus. Their appearance in a public banqueting room, disregarding social distancing rules, added to widespread outrage at the hefty fines slapped on ordinary people while officials go unpunished for attending functions with far more than the 20 guests allowed.

Teenage sledder partly paralyzed in accident on same hill that took girl's life

Two teenage girls were injured, one fatally, in separate sledding accidents on the same Ohio hill, both families said Saturday. Natalie Wilson, 17, has been hospitalized since last weekend after she crashed at Hinckley Reservation in Medina County, said her father, Jim Wilson. Wilson said in a phone interview that his daughter and a friend "were taking one last trip down the hill before going home" when their sled veered off course toward a tree line.

Report: US wasted billions on cars, buildings in Afghanistan

The United States wasted billions of dollars in war-torn Afghanistan on buildings and vehicles that were either abandoned or destroyed, according to a report released Monday by a U.S. government watchdog. The agency said it reviewed $7.8 billion spent since 2008 on buildings and vehicles. Only $343.2 million worth of buildings and vehicles “were maintained in good condition,” said the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, which oversees American taxpayer money spent on the protracted conflict.

France and Germany to require COVID-19 test for some border crossings

France and Germany have agreed that people crossing the border between the French region of Moselle and Germany will have to have proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen test in the previous 48 hours, French Europe Minister Clement Beaune said on Sunday. The French government was eager to keep travel restrictions limited at the border, which 16,000 French workers from Moselle cross each day. "We have negotiated with the Germans so that crossing the border remains allowed, so that these tests are faster and easier antigenic tests," Beaune said on BFM TV.

Far-right Proud Boys leader condemns Capitol rioters but says he 'won't cry' about politicians

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio has condemned the rioters who besieged the US Capitol, but will not “cry” about lawmakers who came under attack on the day. Mr Tarrio, who was arrested two days before some members of the Proud Boys – and other Trump supporters – rioted at the US Capitol, told CNN that lawmakers did not need sympathy after the attack. The remarks come despite concerns among members of Congress that they were targets of those who broke into the complex on 6 January, citing baseless claims the 2020 election was “stolen”.

Inside the attack that almost sent the U.S. to war with Iran

The U.S. airstrike against Iranian-backed militias Thursday night was the latest chapter in the poisonous relationship with Iran President Biden inherited from the Trump administration. It began with an American drone strike which killed Iran's most powerful general and ended with an Iranian ballistic missile attack against U.S. troops in Iraq. A few hours after Army Major Alan Johnson recorded that message to his son, Iranian ballistic missiles began raining down on Al Asad Airbase in Iraq where 2000 U.S. troops were based.

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  The inside story of the Iranian attack on Al Asad Airbase

  CBS News
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  Biden warns Iran to "be careful" after airstrikes in Syria

  CBS News Videos

Minneapolis approved funding to hire social media influencers to spread information about ex cop Derek Chauvin's trial

Minneapolis city council approved funding to hire social media influencers for Derek Chauvin's trial, WCCO-TV reported. The influencers will be paid to provide the local community with information about the trial. Chauvin was charged in Floyd's death, and his trial is set to begin on March 8.

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  Minneapolis To Hire “Social Media Influencers” To Report During Upcoming George Floyd Death Trial

  Deadline
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  Minneapolis Will Pay 6 Local 'Influencers' to Send Out City-Backed Messages During Derek Chauvin Trial

  Complex

Senior Democrats ditch their backdoor proposal for a $15 minimum wage, throwing pay hike in doubt in $1.9 trillion stimulus package

Senior Democrats tossed out a backdoor plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, per a person familiar with the decision. The proposal was ditched as Democrats appeared reluctant to finalize a complex plan that could delay stimulus passage. Experts said the backup plan risked being inefficient at raising hourly wages.

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  House Passes Biden's $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package

  Motley Fool
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  The Next Stimulus Hurdle: Raising the Minimum Wage to $15

  GOBankingRates

Fauci Fires Back at Kristi Noem Saying He’s ‘Wrong’: ‘The Numbers Don’t Lie’

Biden's chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci hit back at South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's harsh criticism of him on Sunday, saying her comments about him at this weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) were “not very helpful” and “unfortunate.” Noem, who has received praise from conservatives for largely ignoring coronavirus restrictions and guidelines, got a standing ovation from the CPAC crowd when she boasted about ignoring the medical advice of experts and called out Fauci for supposedly being “wrong.” Appearing on CBS News' Face the Nation, Fauci was asked if that sentiment was an impediment to the nation's recovery.

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  Dr. Fauci Slaps Down Gov. Kristi Noem's CPAC Dig: Numbers 'Don't Lie'

  HuffPost
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  Fauci on CPAC speech: ‘I’m sure that you can get a standing ovation by saying I’m wrong’

  Politico

American Airlines flight diverted after 'disturbing and unacceptable' passenger fight over racial slur

An American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Los Angeles was diverted to Phoenix after an in-flight passenger altercation, the company confirmed. Two passengers got into a fight with another passenger who asked them to stop using a racial slur, Phoenix police told Yahoo. "Upon arrival, the flight was met by local law enforcement who removed and arrested two individuals for verbally and physically assaulting other customers and flight crew members," an American Airlines statement read.

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  American Airlines Forced to Divert Flight After Women Use Racial Slurs and Spit on Passenger

  Complex
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  American Airlines flight diverted to Phoenix after passengers fight over racial slur

  Business Insider

"We are American, too": Hundreds in New York rally against anti-Asian hate

More than 300 people joined some of New York's top elected officials and community leaders on Saturday afternoon to speak out against the increase in anti-Asian violence in the city and nationwide. The Rise Up Against Asian Hate rally, organized by the Asian American Federation (AAF), took place at Foley Square in downtown Manhattan, two blocks from where a 36-year-old Asian man was stabbed on Thursday night. Among the speakers was a recent victim: 61-year-old Filipino-American Noel Quintana, whose face was slashed on the subway earlier this month.

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  New Yorkers rally in support of Asian-Americans

  Associated Press Videos
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  An Asian American man was stabbed in NYC amid a rise in racialized violence

  INSIDER

The Bidens, in a rare gesture, immediately greeted the White House residence staff upon entering the building on Inauguration Day, staffer says

The Bidens immediately greeted the White House staff upon entering the building on Inauguration Day. "Usually we meet them in the first days or first weeks, but never in the first minutes," a staffer said. Biden has publicly expressed some reservations about being waited on by residence staff.

The California surgeon who dialed into a virtual court trial mid-operation is facing investigation

Dr. Scott Green is facing investigation after dialing into a virtual court trial while in the operating room. In a video of the trial posted to YouTube, Green can be seen in scrubs and a face mask — and at times bowing his head to tend to the patient. After the video went viral, a medical and licensing agency in California said it would investigate.

GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy said he'd bet his 'personal house' that Republicans will 'get the majority back' in 2022

Rep. Kevin McCarthy on Saturday said he'd bet his home on the odds that the GOP secures a majority in 2022. Democrats have a slim majority in the House. Republicans will need to flip five seats to regain control.

Customers are boycotting Trader Joe's after the chain fired an employee who asked the CEO to enhance COVID-19 protections

People are calling for a boycott on Trader Joe's after one of its employees was fired. A New York man said he was fired from his job after asking the company to do more to protect its workers from COVID-19. Ben Bonnema shared his termination letter on Twitter.

A rooster stabbed a man to death with a knife during a cockfight

An Indian man died after being stabbed by a rooster he was training for cockfighting. The rooster had been outfitted with a three-inch knife on its leg. A rooster fitted with a knife around its foot stabbed its owner to death during practice for an illegal cockfight in India.

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  Rooster kills Indian man during banned cockfight

  Associated Press
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  Indian man killed by his own bird during cockfight

  BBC

An 8th grader wouldn't take off his hat. Instead of sending him home, the principal helped fix his haircut.

INDIANAPOLIS – Like at many schools across the county, students at Stonybrook Intermediate and Middle School on the east side of Indianapolis can't wear hats in the classroom. So when an 8th grade student was sent to principal Jason Smith's office last week for refusing to take off his hat, Smith asked the natural question: Why not? He just let me know his parents got him a haircut recently, but he didn't like how it came out," Smith said.

Biden is reportedly discussing an infrastructure spending plan in the wake of devastating winter storms

President Joe Biden and members of his administration have begun talking with congressional lawmakers about his plans to invest in the nation's infrastructure, according to The Associated Press. Billions of dollars would go to transportation and infrastructure projects as part of the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill passed by House lawmakers on Friday. But Biden's plans for rebuilding the nation's roads, highways, and bridges could have a much bigger price tag.

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  Biden team readies wider economic package after virus relief

  Associated Press
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  Republicans take aim at billions set aside in stimulus bill for infrastructure and transport projects, including Amtrak, BART, and a bridge to Canada

  Business Insider

Prince Harry: Split from royal life 'unbelievably tough'

Prince Harry says the process of separating from royal life has been very difficult for him and his wife, Meghan. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry invoked the memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, who had to find her way alone after she and Prince Charles divorced. I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side, because I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for her going through this process by herself all those years ago,” Harry said, adding, “because it's been unbelievably tough for the two of us.

Cuomo reverses course, asks New York Attorney General and top judge to appoint independent investigator over sexual harassment claims

New York Attorney General Letitia James asked Gov. Cuomo to allow her office to investigate claims against him. Two former staffers have accused Cuomo of sexual harassment. Numerous lawmakers, including Biden, have called for an independent investigation into the claims.

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  Cuomo asks state attorney general, top judge to launch harassment probe

  Yahoo News Video
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  Gillibrand, Schumer Call For New York AG To Investigate Cuomo Harassment Claims

  HuffPost

A Louisiana trooper who kicked and dragged a Black man while he was handcuffed has been suspended without pay for 50 hours

The Associated Press obtained internal State police records which stated that body camera footage showed Master Trooper Kory York dragging Ronald Greene "on his stomach by the leg shackles." The footage was only released to the family and their lawyer and has not been made publicly available. His family watched body camera footage of Greene's arrest earlier this week, saying it contradicts initial police statements, which said Greene died in a car crash following a chase.