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Today: January 27, 2025
Today: January 27, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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Latest From The Los Angeles Post

World

Man with thousands of bullets and a grenade attacked police, killing officer. What was his plan?

It was a routine collision on a busy Fargo street. But after Mohamad Barakat drove past, armed with 1,800 rounds of ammunition, numerous firearms and a grenade, tragedy ensued. After the shooting ended on July 14, one police officer was dead, and two other officers as well as a woman in the crash were wounded, leaving authorities wondering what further carnage Barakat might have been planning. Officer Zach Robinson, the only officer in the melee who was not wounded, fatally shot Barakat with bystanders crouched nearby. More details are expected at a briefing Friday. Barakat, a

Man with thousands of bullets and a grenade attacked police, killing officer. What was his plan?
World

Alabama GOP proposals for second Black district are unlikely to win court approval, experts warn

Alabama lawmakers say they’re trying to satisfy a landmark Supreme Court order to draw a new district giving a voice to Black voters, but with hours to go before a court-ordered deadline Friday, experts say Republican proposals fall far short of what the law requires. The Republican-controlled state House and Senate will meet Friday and could advance separate plans increasing the share of Black voters in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Legislative leaders say they intend to meet the deadline, meaning the two chambers must compromise on one plan. Both plans preserve the current Black majority of

Alabama GOP proposals for second Black district are unlikely to win court approval, experts warn
World

Propaganda tool? Bargaining chip? What North Korea may have in mind for Travis King

So what will North Korea do about the first U.S. soldier in decades to flee into its territory? Its official media have yet to mention Pvt. Travis King, there’s little precedent for his situation and guesses about the country’s next steps vary widely. Unauthorized crossings across the Koreas’ heavily fortified border are extremely rare. The few Americans who crossed into North Korea in the past were a few soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the world’s most cloistered societies. North Korea has used a varied playbook in its handlings

Propaganda tool? Bargaining chip? What North Korea may have in mind for Travis King
World

Lake Tahoe officials tackle overtourism with focus on management, not marketing; new fees may loom

Lake Tahoe tourism officials were surprised, and a bit miffed, when a respected international travel guide put the iconic alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line on its list of places to stay away from this year because of the harmful ecological effects of overtourism. But with an influx of visitors and new full-time residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic already forcing local leaders to revisit the decades-old conversation about overcrowding, “Fodor’s No List 2023” may have served as a wake-up call that some sort of change is necessary. “I can’t go to my own beaches

Lake Tahoe officials tackle overtourism with focus on management, not marketing; new fees may loom
World

Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed as investors weigh weakness in the tech sector

Shares were mixed Friday in Asia after the latest rally on Wall Street fizzled, with big declines for Tesla, Netflix and other big tech-oriented stocks. Hong Kong, Seoul and Bangkok advanced while Tokyo, Shanghai and Sydney declined. U.S. futures edged higher and oil prices also climbed. Taiwan’s Taiex 0.8% fell after TSMC, the world’s biggest manufacturer of computer chips, said it expects its sales to fall 10% this year as demand wanes. It also said it would not meet a 2024 target for starting production at a factory under construction in Arizona. TSMC’s shares fell 3.1%. Japan

Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed as investors weigh weakness in the tech sector
World

Attention turns to Mega Millions after California store sells winning Powerball ticket

Lottery dreamers are setting their sights on the growing Mega Millions jackpot drawing on Friday after a ticket worth more than $1 billion was sold for the Powerball lottery. Here’s a look at how this drawing compares to other jackpots and why these winnings have become so high. HOW DOES THIS LATEST MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT STACK UP? The new jackpot for the Mega Millions drawing has reached an estimated $720 million, making it the game’s fifth highest. It hasn’t yet broken into the top 10 highest lottery jackpots in U.S. history, though. If someone picks all five numbers, plus the

Attention turns to Mega Millions after California store sells winning Powerball ticket
World

Alabama to carry out first lethal injection after review of execution procedures

Alabama plans to execute an inmate Friday morning for the 2001 beating death of a woman, in what would be the first lethal injection since the state paused executions following a string of problems with inserting the IVs. James Barber, 64, is scheduled to be put to death at a south Alabama prison. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Barber’s request for a stay shortly after midnight and cleared the way for the execution to begin. It is the first execution scheduled in the state since Gov. Kay Ivey paused executions in November to conduct an internal

Alabama to carry out first lethal injection after review of execution procedures
World

After decades of struggle for a place in Israel, dozens of Black Hebrews face threat of deportation

For two years, Toveet Israel and dozens of other residents of the Village of Peace have lived in fear. Dimona, a city on the edge of the nation of Israel’s Negev Desert, has been her home for 24 years. Her eight children were born here and know no other country. Now, she and 44 other undocumented members of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem face deportation. Receiving the order to leave two years ago was a “moment of disbelief” for Israel, 53. “I feel like the government has been merciless to me and my children,” she

After decades of struggle for a place in Israel, dozens of Black Hebrews face threat of deportation
World

Spain conservatives entrust Feijóo, the boring guy who wins every election by a landslide

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the conservative politician who polls suggest is poised to become Spain’s next prime minister, likes to recall that at heart, he is just a mild-mannered “village boy” from the country’s rural northwest. A humble, forthright, even boring guy, as he likes to describe himself. The conservative Popular Party candidate for Sunday’s general election is mostly unknown outside Spain, but he has been the country’s most solid regional leader so far this century and has never lost an election. Feijóo was a political steamroller during the 13 years in which he governed Spain’s northwestern

Spain conservatives entrust Feijóo, the boring guy who wins every election by a landslide
World

U.S. second gentleman Emhoff meets New Zealand's Ardern to discuss online hate as World Cup begins

Doug Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, met with former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Friday to discuss ways to combat online hate and extremism. Emhoff was in Auckland to lead a delegation to the FIFA Women’s World Cup and meet with officials. He told a meeting of the Christchurch Call the world was witnessing a “global epidemic of hate.” Emhoff, who is Jewish, said he was “working against this scourge of anti-Semitism and this epidemic of hate in general. So this work is very, very personal to me.” “But my

U.S. second gentleman Emhoff meets New Zealand's Ardern to discuss online hate as World Cup begins
World

Muslim-majority nations express outrage and plan street protests over Quran desecration in Sweden

Muslim-majority nations expressed outrage Friday at the desecration of a copy of the Quran in Sweden. Some prepared for street demonstrations following midday prayers to show their anger. In Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, protesters planned demonstrations after Swedish police permitted a protest Thursday in which an Iraqi Christian living in Stockholm kicked and stood on a Quran, Islam’s holy book, outside of the Iraqi Embassy. Hours before that, demonstrators in Baghdad broke into the Swedish Embassy and lit a fire to show their anger at his threats to burn the book. Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani has

Muslim-majority nations express outrage and plan street protests over Quran desecration in Sweden
World

'Lioness' on the loose? More experts join police in second-day search for elusive animal

Experts on animal tracks joined the hunt Friday for an elusive and potentially dangerous animal — suspected to be a lioness — spotted on the edge of Berlin as the search stretched into a second day, authorities said. Police used helicopters, drones and infrared cameras to search for the animal, with a vet and hunters also part of the effort. They were first alerted to the animal in Kleinmachnow, just outside Berlin’s city limits, around midnight on Wednesday when people reported what appeared to be a big cat chasing a wild boar. The informants also provided a

'Lioness' on the loose? More experts join police in second-day search for elusive animal
World

2 men killed in New Zealand shooting were co-workers of gunman, who had violent past

The two men who were killed at a New Zealand construction site were in their 40s and had worked alongside the gunman before he went on his rampage, police said Friday. Court records also detailed the gunman’s violent past. New Zealanders were still in shock at Thursday’s shooting, which closed part of downtown hours before the opening game of the Women’s World Cup soccer tournament, which was held under increased security. The gunman stormed the high-rise building in the early morning, opening fire on terrified workers before dying after a police shootout. An officer who

2 men killed in New Zealand shooting were co-workers of gunman, who had violent past
World

Live updates | Rain and wind greet Day 2 of British Open

Goodbye, sun. Hello, traditional British Open weather. Thick clouds, wind and a few rain drops greeted the second round at Royal Liverpool on Friday. The demanding test remains the same. Emiliano Grillo, Tommy Fleetwood and South African amateur Christo Lamprecht shared the lead at 5-under 66. Grillo was the only one playing in the morning. The wind is typical, and so is the rain this year. The test after one day is the bunkers. They must be avoided at all costs. Rory McIlroy also plays in the morning. He

Live updates | Rain and wind greet Day 2 of British Open
World

Thousands march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to protest Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan

Thousands of Israelis joined a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Friday in the latest protest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to push through a controversial overhaul of the judiciary system. Hundreds of protesters became thousands as Israelis joined the 70-kilometer (roughly 45-mile) march throughout the day in a demonstration against one of Israel’s most far-right governments in history. The demonstrators planned to camp overnight at Shoresh, about 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Jerusalem, before making their way to Israel’s parliament on Saturday, the Jewish holy day of Shabbat. The march comes a day after

Thousands march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to protest Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan
World

Russia aims missiles at Ukraine's farm storage after days of hitting port facilities

Russian cruise missiles, flying low and hugging the terrain to dodge Ukrainian air defenses, destroyed farm storage buildings in the Odesa region early Friday, Ukrainian officials said, as the Kremlin’s forces expanded their targets following three days of bombardment of the region’s Black Sea port infrastructure. Two missiles struck the storage facility, starting a fire, and while workers fought to put it out another missile hit, destroying farm and firefighting equipment, the southern Odesa region’s Gov. Oleh Kiper said. The attack injured two people and destroyed 100 metric tons of peas and 20 metric tons of

Russia aims missiles at Ukraine's farm storage after days of hitting port facilities
World

Russia aims missiles at Ukraine's farm storage after days of hitting port facilities

Russian cruise missiles, flying low and hugging the terrain to dodge Ukrainian air defenses, destroyed farm storage buildings in the Odesa region early Friday, Ukrainian officials said, as the Kremlin’s forces expanded their targets following three days of bombardment of the region’s Black Sea port infrastructure. Two missiles struck the storage facility, starting a fire, and while workers fought to put it out another missile hit, destroying farm and firefighting equipment, the southern Odesa region’s Gov. Oleh Kiper said. The attack injured two people and destroyed 100 metric tons of peas and 20 metric tons of

Russia aims missiles at Ukraine's farm storage after days of hitting port facilities
World

Hong Kong court to decide whether to ban broadcast and distribution of protest song

A Hong Kong court will hand down a closely-watched decision over whether to ban the broadcast and distribution of “Glory to Hong Kong,” a protest song after the government asked it to do so in the name of national security. The song was written during the 2019 anti-government protests and its lyrics call for democracy and liberty. But it has been mistakenly played at several international sporting events instead of China’s national anthem, “March of the Volunteers.” The decision is expected next Friday. Critics worry a ban will further shrink the city’s freedom of expression, which

Hong Kong court to decide whether to ban broadcast and distribution of protest song
Political

Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other tech firms agree to AI safeguards set by the White House

Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other companies that are leading the development of artificial intelligence technology have agreed to meet a set of AI safeguards brokered by President Joe Biden’s administration. The White House said Friday that it has secured voluntary commitments from seven U.S. companies meant to ensure their AI products are safe before they release them. Some of the commitments call for third-party oversight of the workings of commercial AI systems, though they don’t detail who will audit the technology or hold the companies accountable. A surge of commercial investment in generative AI tools that

Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other tech firms agree to AI safeguards set by the White House
World

US navy secretary says Australian multination military exercise demonstrates unity to China

U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said Friday that the major multination military training exercise launched in Australia sends a message to China that America’s allies are cooperating to defend their security and democratic values. Talisman Sabre began in 2005 as a biennial joint exercise between the United States and Australia but has expanded this year to 13 nations and more than 30,000 military personnel. Del Toro and his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, welcomed ever-closer closer bilateral military ties as they launched the exercise at a Sydney naval base. Del Toro said land, sea and air

US navy secretary says Australian multination military exercise demonstrates unity to China
World

Rapinoe's farewell begins with the U.S. team's opening Women's World Cup match against Vietnam

Megan Rapinoe’s final run on the global stage begins Saturday when the United States opens its quest to win an unprecedented third consecutive Women’s World Cup title. The 38-year-old American said this month she will retire after the tournament — an announcement timed to help the squad avoid distracting questions about Rapinoe’s future. “I’m just grateful to be able to do it in this way,” Rapinoe said. “I understand that it is incredibly rare for athletes of any stature to be able to go out in their own way, on their own terms, at the

Rapinoe's farewell begins with the U.S. team's opening Women's World Cup match against Vietnam
World

American freestyler Katie Ledecky faces youth as the world championships open in Japan

Katie Ledecky has almost never gone home with anything other than a gold or silver medal in the Olympics or world championships dating from the 2012 London Games. But it might happen again Sunday in the women’s 400-meter freestyle on the opening night in the pool of the World Aquatics Championships. This is perhaps the most anticipated race of the entire eight-day program. One of the greatest freestylers the sport has ever seen, Ledecky is up against two younger stars: 16-year-old Summer McIntosh of Canada, and 22-year-old Ariarne Titmus of Australia. “Of course Summer and, of

American freestyler Katie Ledecky faces youth as the world championships open in Japan
World

Sri Lankan president's visit to India signals growing economic and energy ties

Sri Lanka and India signed a series of energy, development and trade agreements on Friday, signaling growing economic ties between the neighboring countries. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in New Delhi a day earlier for the official visit, his first since taking up the top job last year after an economic meltdown forced his predecessor to flee. On Friday, he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the two leaders unveiled agreements on technology, renewable energy and greater connectivity designed to deepen bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka. “My visit to India

Sri Lankan president's visit to India signals growing economic and energy ties
World

He killed his ailing wife. A Cyprus court ruled it was manslaughter, not murder

A Cyprus court on Friday found a British man who killed his ailing wife in their home guilty of manslaughter, saying that the prosecution didn’t prove beyond reasonable doubt that the 76-year-old man committed premeditated murder. In a unanimous decision, the three-judge bench said that David Hunter’s decision to suffocate his 74-year-old wife Janice as she was sitting in a recliner in December 2021 was a spur-of-the-moment decision: he snapped as he could no longer stand seeing her weeping in pain. The court accepted witness testimony that Janice feared her blood ailment would develop into full-blown

He killed his ailing wife. A Cyprus court ruled it was manslaughter, not murder
World

Amsterdam wants ships to moor less, votes to move terminal out of city in latest hit to tourism

Amsterdam wants to move a cruise liner terminal out of the heart of the historic capital city as the latest step in its ongoing battle against pollution and hordes of tourists clogging its narrow, cobbled streets. The Dutch capital is one of the many picturesque European cities — from Rome to Venice to Paris — grappling with how to manage visitor numbers that are again soaring in the aftermath of shutdowns during the coronavirus pandemic. Aldermen at Amsterdam’s municipality voted Thursday in favor of a motion calling on the city to move the terminal away from its

Amsterdam wants ships to moor less, votes to move terminal out of city in latest hit to tourism

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