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Today: April 02, 2025
Today: April 02, 2025
Nahal Garakani

Nahal Garakani

Staff Writer

Nahal is a Digital Content Editor with experience in digital strategy and social media. She began her career with internships at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and later worked as a digital and social media planner for Wizard World Comic Con. Currently, she serves as a Digital Content Editor at the L.A. Post, overseeing digital narratives and strategies. Nahal holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Cal State Northridge and enjoys staying active through dance and fitness.

Latest From Nahal Garakani

Local|Sports|WrittenByLAPost

LAFC Deal Fuels American Investors' European Soccer Shopping Bonanza

Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is reportedly in negotiations to acquire Grasshopper Club Zurich, adding to a wave of American ownership stakes in European professional soccer teams and leagues. LAFC, co-owned by entrepreneur Peter Guber and actor Will Ferrell, would obtain the Swiss Super League club from its current Chinese ownership group led by Jenny Wang. Wang first placed Grasshopper Club Zurich up for sale back in April. If finalized, the deal would make LAFC the latest Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to invest in soccer across the Atlantic. The trend comes as interest and investment in European soccer rapidly

LAFC Deal Fuels American Investors' European Soccer Shopping Bonanza
Health|WrittenByLAPost

How Lunchables Found Their Way Onto School Lunch Trays

The pre-packaged Lunchables, critiqued as promoting highly processed junk food to kids, have become a staple for many students during school lunch. Their journey onto cafeteria trays stems from savvy marketing, industry lobbying, and financial pressures facing school districts. Synonymous with pre-made convenience foods, Lunchables exploded in popularity after launching in 1988 as a way for Oscar Mayer to market sliced meat and cheese. They gained devotees for letting children assemble their own mini meals. But nutrition advocates decried Lunchables’ lack of whole ingredients. A typical lunch kit pairs cracker sandwiches, cheese slices, deli meat, and candy – adding up

How Lunchables Found Their Way Onto School Lunch Trays
Health|WrittenByLAPost

FDA Recalls Eye Drops Over Infection Risk Fears

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised consumers Friday to immediately stop using certain over-the-counter eye drop products due to potential bacterial contamination posing an infection risk that could lead to vision loss. The agency called for manufacturers to recall all lots of 26 different eye care products sold under brand names including CVS Health, Target’s Up&Up, Rite Aid, Leader, Rugby and Velocity Pharma. The FDA alert came after its investigators discovered unsanitary conditions at the manufacturing facility of Global Pharma Healthcare in India. Sampling identified bacterial contamination in critical production areas. There have been no confirmed illnesses linked to

FDA Recalls Eye Drops Over Infection Risk Fears
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Hairdressers Are Burning Out From Listening to Clients' Problems All Day

A new study in the hairdressing business has found that many hairdressers are experiencing a significant psychological burden from listening to clients discuss their personal concerns during appointments. The study by L’Oreal Professionnel found that 65% of the 1,750 hair professionals surveyed have experienced anxiety, burnout or depression during their careers, in large part due to spending hours each day serving as impromptu therapists for clients. Typically, hairstylists dedicate around 2,000 hours year to listening to customers discuss a wide range of topics, including difficult relationship endings and health challenges. This amounts to approximately 9 therapy sessions per workday. Yet

Hairdressers Are Burning Out From Listening to Clients' Problems All Day
Sports|WrittenByLAPost

Can MLB Leverage Postseason Spotlight into Long-Term Momentum

After a turbulent five-year period, Major League Baseball in 2023 enjoyed a comeback season highlighted by renewed fan engagement, attendance growth, faster games, and an influx of young talent upending the sport’s typical financial dynamics. With metrics pointing to an unqualified success, MLB now aims to extend that momentum into the playoffs and use the 2022 postseason as a capstone.  “Our game has been blessed with an influx of young talent over the last five years unlike anything we have ever seen, and people are winning with young talent,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on ESPN’s “First Take.” All signs

Can MLB Leverage Postseason Spotlight into Long-Term Momentum
Health|WrittenByLAPost

New research shows that post-meal mini-walks have big impacts

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But could a simple post-dinner stroll offer similar perks? Exercise is undoubtedly healthy, yet guidance differs on ideal durations and timing. Emerging research now spotlights unique upsides to brief walking sessions soon after eating. Just 15 brisk minutes can energize digestion, mental clarity, blood sugar control, and diabetes prevention. “The benefits start accumulating with even minor additions of movement,” explains Dr. Kershaw Patel. “Every small step counts.” Unlike prolonged workout regimes, these mini walking breaks spur biohacks that integrate seamlessly into daily routines. And through incremental change, they summon surprising transformational impacts.

New research shows that post-meal mini-walks have big impacts
Science|WrittenByLAPost

Underground Water Loss Causing Noticeable Wobble in Earth's Axis

A recent study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters suggests that the extraction of water from underground reservoirs by humans is occurring at a significant rate, leading to a change in the Earth’s axis. From 1993 to 2010, the Earth’s tilt changed by about 31.5 inches. Based on prior research, humans pumped an estimated 2,150 gigatons of water from natural underground reservoirs called aquifers during those years. That volume is equal to about 860 million Olympic-sized pools and equates to a global sea level rise of around one-quarter inch. Much of the extracted groundwater is used for irrigation and

Underground Water Loss Causing Noticeable Wobble in Earth's Axis
Environment|WrittenByLAPost

Dog parks: Are they helping or harming your pet?

Dog parks have become a wildly popular fixture in many communities across the United States. However experts say these off-leash play spaces come with several risks that dog owners should consider before frequenting them. While surveys show that around 90% of Americans view dog parks as beneficial amenities, canine behavior specialists caution that they are not always ideal environments for dogs. Concerns around socialization, injuries, disease transmission and misreading dog body language are frequently cited by professionals. Still, dog parks remain enticing to many urban and suburban owners looking for spaces where their pets can exercise and interact with other

Dog parks: Are they helping or harming your pet?
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Hackers Ready to Unlock $235 Million Bitcoin Fortune, If Owner Cooperates

A team of hackers says they have developed a method to decrypt a long lost Bitcoin wallet containing 7,002 bitcoins worth about $235 million. But the wallet’s owner remains reluctant to let them try, despite potentially losing access forever. The Bitcoin are stored on an encrypted USB drive known as an IronKey built by the company Kingston. Its owner, San Francisco crypto entrepreneur Stefan Thomas, lost the password years ago after too many failed password attempts. Now hackers at a startup called Unciphered believe they can crack Thomas’ decade-old IronKey model. After reverse engineering the hardware, they found flaws that

Hackers Ready to Unlock $235 Million Bitcoin Fortune, If Owner Cooperates
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Realtor Association Employees Call for CEO Goldberg's Resignation

The National Association of Realtors continues to confront demands for sweeping changes following sexual harassment and discrimination allegations reported in The New York Times. Internal critics say meaningful reform is still lacking. This week, NAR informed members it was bringing in a third-party HR reporting system and law firm to investigate complaints. Te moves align with proposals from the NAR Accountability Project, a group seeking reforms. “It has been an amazing week,” said group founder Jason Haber. He noted NAR adopted two of their four recommendations, including outside investigations and reporting channels. But NAR still faces skepticism that leadership changes

Realtor Association Employees Call for CEO Goldberg's Resignation
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Airbnb Sues New York City Over New Law That Restricts Short-Term Rental Listings

New York City implemented one of the most stringent rules on temporary rentals in the nation this week, effectively prohibiting Airbnb and similar platforms from functioning as they previously did. Local Law 18, which became effective on Tuesday, mandates that all hosts of short-term rentals must register with the city. Only those residing in the unit they rent, and present during a guest’s stay, can qualify. Listings are also limited to having a maximum of two guests. The new rules spell the end of the sleek downtown apartments, two- and three-bedroom homes near museums, and weekend rentals that fueled Airbnb’s

Airbnb Sues New York City Over New Law That Restricts Short-Term Rental Listings
Entertainment|WrittenByLAPost

TikTok 'Girl Dinner' Trend Flips the Script on Gender Norms Around Cooking and Indulgence

A new social media trend called “girl dinner” has emerged on TikTok, garnering over 30 million views. Girl dinner refers to individually portioned snack plates that women make for themselves to enjoy alone.  The trend appears to have started when Olivia Maher, a 28-year-old assistant living in Los Angeles, posted a TikTok video in May showing her spread of bread, cheese, grapes, pickles and wine. “I call this girl dinner,” Maher says in the clip, which has since amassed over one million views. In an interview, Maher said the idea for girl dinner stemmed from a conversation with a female

TikTok 'Girl Dinner' Trend Flips the Script on Gender Norms Around Cooking and Indulgence
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

The End of 5%? Landmark Case Could Reshape Real Estate Commissions

A federal jury in Missouri delivered a $1.8 billion verdict against the National Association of Realtors and three major real estate brokerages on Tuesday, finding them guilty of illegally inflating commissions by conspiring to require home sellers to pay the buyer’s agent. This landmark antitrust case could reshape how homes are bought and sold in America by potentially changing the traditional compensation structure, where seller’s agents split a 5-6% commission with the buyer’s agent. For decades, it has been standard practice for home sellers to pay their listing agent a commission, typically around 3% of the sale price, which is

The End of 5%? Landmark Case Could Reshape Real Estate Commissions
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Smiling on the Outside, Struggling on the Inside: The Hidden Truth About My Anxiety

Outwardly, people with high-functioning anxiety appear fine. They go to work, raise families, and contribute to society. But inwardly, they wage a constant battle against crippling anxiety that threatens to derail their lives. Approximately 40 million persons in the United States are impacted by anxiety disorders annually.  Symptoms like excessive worry, muscle tension, panic attacks, and compulsions can interfere with daily activities. But many hide their struggles to function normally. Those with high-functioning anxiety have developed coping strategies to present a capable face to the world. However, they still endure the same relentless fears and distress as anyone with an

Smiling on the Outside, Struggling on the Inside: The Hidden Truth About My Anxiety
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Still in Love But Know It's Over? How to Healthily Move Forward

Ending a meaningful relationship can be intensely painful, even when you know it’s the right decision. Turning off deep feelings of love is often easier said than done. Processing the loss, identifying your needs in a partner, and accepting the importance of what you’ve lost are key steps in the complex journey of moving on. While you can’t control who you fall for, in some cases staying in love keeps you stuck. Perhaps your affection is one-sided. Or maybe you and your partner love each other but can’t overcome irreconcilable differences. However difficult, acknowledging when a romance has run its

Still in Love But Know It's Over? How to Healthily Move Forward
Education|WrittenByLAPost

Overwhelmed Teachers, Frustrated Parents: Rebuilding Strained School Relationships

Horror stories teachers swap about nightmare parents are legendary. But in the decade since I started teaching at a public school outside Boston, tense interactions have become the norm. Expectations around communication have changed, burnout is worsening, and this strained dynamic could have serious implications for the future of the profession. More parental involvement broadly benefits students. Research confirms kids do better academically and socially when parents stay engaged. But the current environment often pits parents and teachers against each other instead of bringing them together for the students’ sake. I hear constantly from some parents while unable to reach

Overwhelmed Teachers, Frustrated Parents: Rebuilding Strained School Relationships
Environment|WrittenByLAPost

Woman Survives Alligator Attack While Snorkeling in Florida. Watch the Video.

A Florida woman was viciously attacked by a 9-foot alligator while snorkeling at a recreation area over the weekend, suffering bite wounds to her forehead. Marissa Carr was swimming at Alexander Springs near Ocala on Sunday when the massive reptile emerged and bit her head before retreating, she recounted to local media. Incredibly, a photographer happened to capture graphic photos of the immediate aftermath showing blood streaming down her face as she exited the water. The terrifying encounter demonstrates the random danger alligators pose to humans even in designated swimming areas within their habitat. Carr said she was snorkeling with

Woman Survives Alligator Attack While Snorkeling in Florida. Watch the Video.
Technology|WrittenByLAPost

Pet cloning: Can science replace a cherished pet?

The concept of pet cloning moved from the realm of science fiction to reality in the early 21st century. The first cloned mammal, Dolly the Sheep, made headlines in 1996. Dog and cat cloning became available to the public in 2015, facilitated by the Texas-based company ViaGen. Since then, the company has cloned nearly a thousand pets. Pet cloning involves a series of intricate procedures. It begins with a tissue sample from the pet to be cloned. This sample is cultured to produce millions of cells. An egg donor’s nucleus is then removed and replaced with a cell from the

Pet cloning: Can science replace a cherished pet?
Health|WrittenByLAPost

New Studies Confirm Strength Training Boosts Longevity as Much as Cardio

A growing consensus among health experts underscores the importance of strength training, along with cardiovascular exercise, for longevity and quality of life. Research increasingly shows that regularly lifting weights provides major benefits that help extend lifespans and preserve independence into old age. Based on a recent study in The British Journal of Sports Medicine, adults who engaged in one to two sessions of strength training per week had a 40% reduced risk of mortality compared to individuals who did not exercise. This was on top of the reduced death risk gained from moderate aerobic activity. The analysis underscores the significant

New Studies Confirm Strength Training Boosts Longevity as Much as Cardio
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Luxury Brands Develop Digital IDs to Combat Booming Counterfeit Market

High-end fashion houses are turning to new technologies like digital IDs, AI detection, and blockchain tracking to help combat the explosion of counterfeit goods sold online and normalized by social media. But human expertise remains essential as “superfake” knockoffs become harder to distinguish from originals. Powerful AI-driven apps like Entrupy and Ordre’s Authentique system can purportedly spot fake bags and shoes by analyzing a few images. Ordre’s technology creates a unique digital “fingerprint” for each item based on minute manufacturing details. The fingerprint is then registered via blockchain, making it secure yet traceable across an item’s lifecycle. The Aura Blockchain

Luxury Brands Develop Digital IDs to Combat Booming Counterfeit Market
Economy|WrittenByLAPost

Flight Takes Off With Two Missing Windows at London Airport

A commercial plane departed London’s Stansted Airport and climbed past 10,000 feet before anyone realized two window assemblies were missing, according to a special bulletin from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The October 4 incident involved an Airbus A321 charter flight heading to Orlando, Florida carrying 21 people. Shortly after takeoff, passengers noticed the cabin seemed colder and noisier than normal, said the AAIB report. The plane continued climbing to 10,000 feet altitude before the seatbelt sign was switched off. At that point, the loadmaster at the rear noticed a loud noise that could “damage your hearing.” He

Flight Takes Off With Two Missing Windows at London Airport
Business|World|WrittenByLAPost

Microsoft Japan Says 4-Day Weeks Boosted Productivity 40%

Microsoft Japan recently tested a radical perk for its workers: a four-day workweek with pay for five days of work. Employees took off entire Fridays in August while receiving their normal salaries. Microsoft says this compressed schedule boosted productivity by 40% compared to August 2018. The company also cut meeting times from 60 to 30 minutes, capping attendance at five people per session. Microsoft urged using chat instead of wasteful emails and meetings. The news excited workers in Japan and globally, with many hoping for four-day weeks at their own jobs. Microsoft isn’t alone in experimenting with abbreviated schedules. In

Microsoft Japan Says 4-Day Weeks Boosted Productivity 40%
Business|Entertainment|WrittenByLAPost

Reality Performers Demand $5K Per Episode Minimum

In the world of glitter and glamour, reality TV stars are now pushing for more concrete recognition, seeking union protections. The reality TV industry, which has long been the stepchild of the entertainment world, is witnessing an uprising led by well-known figures like Bethenny Frankel, former star of the “Real Housewives of New York City”. The call for unionization comes at a critical time when Hollywood’s labor movement is already experiencing dual strikes by writers and actors guilds. Frankel, who catapulted to fame with her reality TV stints and later sold her Skinnygirl cocktail business for an estimated $120 million,

Reality Performers Demand $5K Per Episode Minimum
Health|WrittenByLAPost

Artificial Sweeteners: The Bitter Truth Behind Sugar-Free Claims

Artificial sweeteners have been marketed for years as a healthy sugar replacement that will allow consumers to continue enjoying sugary tastes while reducing their exposure to obesity and diabetes dangers. New study raises worrisome issues about the possible dangers of artificial sweeteners, yet the debate over their safety continues to go on. Evidence relating non-sugar sweeteners to health issues including cardiovascular disease has led to the World Health Organization advising against their use for weight reduction or blood sugar management.  The WHO’s cancer research arm also classified the popular sweetener aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” While the food industry

Artificial Sweeteners: The Bitter Truth Behind Sugar-Free Claims
Entertainment|Business|WrittenByLAPost

Streaming Services Now at a Crossroads. Can Innovation Survive?

A Golden Age of television led by streaming services like Netflix and Hulu has given way to an uncertain future, as economic challenges, industry strikes, and shifting viewer habits shake up the landscape. Behind the scenes, a high-stakes battle is unfolding that will shape the next era of TV. For years, streaming allowed consumers unprecedented choice in entertainment options and fueled a content boom. But today, with profits waning and debt mounting, streamers are cutting back on shows amid a period of turmoil. What does the path ahead look like? This TV season has seen major delays and cancellations as

Streaming Services Now at a Crossroads. Can Innovation Survive?

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