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

The Los Angeles Post

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Arts

Nina Simone's lost set at the 1966 Newport Jazz Festival released as an album

Nina Simone fans have a reason for feeling good.: A previously unreleased recording of the legendary artist’s set at the Newport Jazz Festival in July 1966 is being released. Verve Records and UMe on Friday are issuing “You’ve Got to Learn,” a six-song set that includes a different take on Simone’s celebrated protest song “Mississippi Goddam.” The songs also include “You’ve Got to Learn, ”‘I Loves You, Porgy,” “Blues For Mama,” “Be My Husband” and ”Music for Lovers.” Simone, who also plays piano, is joined by guitar, bass and drums. There are sound issues throughout —

Nina Simone's lost set at the 1966 Newport Jazz Festival released as an album
World

American Express profit rises, but it sets aside more money for possible defaults

American Express saw its profit and revenue climb in the second quarter and credit card use is climbing, but the company’s stock slipped before the market open as it set aside more money for possible defaults on payments. American Express earned $2.17 billion, or $2.89 per share, topping Wall Street expectations for $2.80, according to analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research. A year earlier the company earned $1.96 billion, or $2.57 per share. Total provisions for credit losses were $1.2 billion. In the prior-year period it was $410 million, theNew York company said, citing higher net write-offs and a net

American Express profit rises, but it sets aside more money for possible defaults
Political

Some critics see Trump's behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a hero

For eight years, Donald Trump has managed to secure the support of many evangelical and conservative Christians despite behavior that often seemed at odds with teachings espoused by Christ in the Gospels. If some observers initially viewed this as an unsustainable alliance, it’s different now. Certain achievements during Trump’s presidency – notably appointments that shifted the Supreme Court to the right – have solidified that support. He’s now the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, even after he recently was found liable for sexually abusing a New York woman in 1996 and was indicted in a criminal case

Some critics see Trump's behavior as un-Christian. His conservative Christian backers see a hero
Arts

Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, dies at 96

Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday. He was 96, just two weeks short of his birthday. Publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed Bennett’s death to The Associated Press, saying he died in his hometown of New York. There was no specific cause, but Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016. The last of the great saloon singers of

Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, dies at 96
Health

WHO expert cancer group states that the sweetener aspartame is a possible carcinogen, but evidence is limited – 6 questions answered

Research on possible links between aspartame consumption and cancer is ongoing and far from conclusive. celsopupo/iStock via Getty Images Plus The World Health Organization declared on July 14, 2023, that the widely used synthetic sweetener aspartame could be a “possible” carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent, on the basis of “limited evidence for cancer in humans.” But the agency also concluded that the currently available data does not warrant a change of the acceptable daily intake of aspartame at this time. The Conversation asked chronic disease epidemiologist Paul D. Terry, public health scholar Jiangang Chen and nutrition expert Ling Zhao, all from

WHO expert cancer group states that the sweetener aspartame is a possible carcinogen, but evidence is limited – 6 questions answered
Political

In Kyiv, signs of the ongoing war are evident – but daily life continues uninterrupted as well

People walk the streets in Kyiv, Ukraine in July 2023. Jose Colon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images I went to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in June 2023 to visit an old friend and to better understand how the ongoing war with Russia is altering Ukrainians’ daily lives. I spent time talking with a wide range of people – including soldiers, civilians and priests. People in Kyiv live in a near-constant state of alert, with regular air raid sirens, but life in other ways goes on. As a scholar of Eastern Europe, I think it is important for people in other

In Kyiv, signs of the ongoing war are evident – but daily life continues uninterrupted as well
Technology

The Power of AI is Redefining the Modern Political Campaign. How its taking deception to the next level.

There are real fears that AI will make politics more deceptive than it already is. Westend61/Getty Images Political campaign ads and donor solicitations have long been deceptive. In 2004, for example, U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry, a Democrat, aired an ad stating that Republican opponent George W. Bush “says sending jobs overseas ‘makes sense’ for America.” Bush never said such a thing. The next day Bush responded by releasing an ad saying Kerry “supported higher taxes over 350 times.” This too was a false claim. These days, the internet has gone wild with deceptive political ads. Ads often pose as

The Power of AI is Redefining the Modern Political Campaign. How its taking deception to the next level.
Education

Bluey teaches children and parents alike about how play supports creativity – and other life lessons

The playful Heeler family has amassed fans of all ages. Ian Kitt/BBC Studios Adults and kids love Bluey. This Australian animated show – hugely popular in the U.S. as well – focuses on a family of blue heeler dogs living in Brisbane. The seven-minute episodes feature 6-year-old Bluey; her 4-year-old sister, Bingo; her mom, Chilli; and her dad, Bandit. They depict the beauty of childhood and portray the realities of being a parent in our current age. As developmental scientists who study children and how they interact with the world, we sort of adore Bluey too. The show exemplifies what

Bluey teaches children and parents alike about how play supports creativity – and other life lessons
Education

How after-school clubs became a new battleground in the Satanic Temple's push to preserve separation of church and state

Lucien Greaves, spokesman for the Satanic Temple, which has pushed to establish after-school clubs. Josh Reynolds for The Washington Post via Getty Images As the start of the school year rapidly approaches, controversy can’t be far behind. But not all hot-button topics in education are about what goes on in class. Over the past few years, conflict has trailed attempts to establish After School Satan Clubs sponsored by the Satanic Temple, which the U.S. government recognizes as a religious group. Organizers have tried to form clubs in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Organizers in Broome County,

How after-school clubs became a new battleground in the Satanic Temple's push to preserve separation of church and state
Environment

Rip currents are dangerous for swimmers but also ecologically important – here's how scientists are working to understand these 'rivers of the sea'

The gap between breaking waves in North Carolina indicates a rip current flowing away from shore. National Weather Service If you’ve ever waded into the ocean for a swim and suddenly realized that the shore is getting farther away, not closer, you may have encountered a rip current. Common at beaches worldwide, these powerful currents flow from the shore toward the sea at speeds up to several feet per second. It’s important to know what rip currents are and how to look for them, because they are a leading cause of drownings in the surf zone near shore. According to

Rip currents are dangerous for swimmers but also ecologically important – here's how scientists are working to understand these 'rivers of the sea'
World

Russian authorities detain a hard-liner who accused Putin of weakness in Ukraine

A prominent Russian hard-liner who accused President Vladimir Putin of weakness and indecision in Ukraine was detained Friday on charges of extremism, a signal the Kremlin has toughened its approach with hawkish critics after last month’s abortive rebellion by the Wagner mercenary company. Igor Strelkov, a retired security officer who led Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and also was implicated by the Netherlands in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet that year, has argued that a total mobilization is needed for Russia to achieve victory. He recently criticized Putin as a “nonentity.” The

Russian authorities detain a hard-liner who accused Putin of weakness in Ukraine
Arts

From Barbie to millennial pink, the cultural phenomenon behind the color that sells

“Think pink! think pink! when you shop for summer clothes. Think pink! think pink! if you want that quelque chose.” That advice, sung as an epiphany in the 1957 musical film “Funny Face,” has definitely been heeded — just take a look around at fashion and media. The fascination around pink — each shade and hue with its own connotation — has shaped those cultural engines for generations, revving into full force as we reach peak “Barbie” season. The color has been a crucial detail for films and television — from that scene in “Funny Face,” to Elle Woods sporting

From Barbie to millennial pink, the cultural phenomenon behind the color that sells
Political

Judge sets a trial date for next May in Trump's classified documents case in Florida

A federal judge in Florida has set a trial date for next May for former President Donald Trump in a case charging him with illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents. The May 20, 2024, trial date is a compromise between a request from prosecutors to set the trial for this December and a request from defense lawyers to schedule it after the 2024 presidential election.

Judge sets a trial date for next May in Trump's classified documents case in Florida
Political

Here's how China is responding to US sanctions – with blocking laws and other countermeasures

U.S. sanctions have further strained relations between the two superpowers. narvikk/iStock/Getty Images Plus After a recent meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and officials in Beijing, China released a statement demanding “practical action” over the issue of sanctions. The implication was that the punitive measures – imposed by the U.S. government on hundreds of Chinese individuals and entities over the past few years – impede any alleviation of the strained relations between the two economic giants. The statement followed a testy encounter in May 2023 in which Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu refused to meet his American counterpart because

Here's how China is responding to US sanctions – with blocking laws and other countermeasures
Arts

Friends and admirers of Tony Bennett react to the news of his death

Reaction to the death of Tony Bennett at age 96: “RIP Tony Bennett. The best of the best. The last of the legends. A man whose heart was as big as his voice. The world’s foremost practitioner of the ‘Art of Excellence.’ Deepest love and condolences to my friend Danny and the family.” — Stevie Van Zandt, via Twitter. “Sending my prayers for and condolences to the family of #TonyBennett whose legendary career spanned seven decades. He marched with us in 1964. He was dedicated to civil and human rights and to the arts. He will lives as long as

Friends and admirers of Tony Bennett react to the news of his death
World

'Help me' sign leads to rescue of kidnapped Texas girl in Southern California

A 13-year-old girl kidnapped in Texas was rescued in Southern California when passersby saw her hold up a “help me” sign in a parked car, police said. The rescue occurred July 9 in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, when officers responded to a trouble call and found the “visibly emotional and distressed girl,” police said in a press release Thursday. “Through their investigation, officers learned the Good Samaritans were in a parking lot when they saw the victim in a parked vehicle holding up a piece of paper with ‘help me’ written on it.

'Help me' sign leads to rescue of kidnapped Texas girl in Southern California
World

Lionel Messi set to make his Inter Miami debut in Leagues Cup opener against Cruz Azul

Lionel Messi’s debut gameday with Inter Miami has arrived. Messi was expected to play Friday night when Inter Miami hosted Cruz Azul in a Leagues Cup match at his new home stadium. Team officials said all tickets — about 21,000, in a newly expanded stadium — had been sold, though plenty were available for resale in the hours leading up to the match. Messi arrived with the team about two hours before game time, dressed in the team colors — pink T-shirt, black shorts. He stopped for a few photos and handshakes as he entered

Lionel Messi set to make his Inter Miami debut in Leagues Cup opener against Cruz Azul
World

A sex offender freed in Zimbabwe's amnesty gains social media fame. His victim's family is dismayed

When Zimbabwe released more than 4,000 prisoners in May in a nationwide amnesty, one man with a white beard and without front teeth stood out among those vigorously celebrating as they walked out of a jail. He grinned and waved his hands in the air, and shouted the praises of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who ordered the amnesty for some offenders to ease congestion in prisons. “Mnangagwa is honey, my friend. Mnangagwa is sweet,” the man yelled as he attracted the attention of television news cameras at Harare Central Prison in the capital city. But what

A sex offender freed in Zimbabwe's amnesty gains social media fame. His victim's family is dismayed
World

Texas A&M University president resigns after Black journalist’s hiring at campus unravels

Texas A&M University on Friday announced the resignation of its president in the fallout over a Black journalist who said her celebrated hiring at one of the nation’s largest campuses quickly unraveled over pushback to her past work promoting diversity. President Katherine Banks said in a resignation letter that she was retiring immediately because “negative press has become a distraction” at the nearly 70,000-student campus in College Station. Her departure after two years as president followed weeks of turmoil at Texas A&M, which only last month had welcomed professor Kathleen McElroy with great fanfare to revive

Texas A&M University president resigns after Black journalist’s hiring at campus unravels
World

Top swimmers missing world championships as they deal with mental, physical issues

Caeleb Dressel failed to qualify for the biggest swim meet of the year. Simone Manuel didn’t even try. Adam Peaty is taking an extended break to deal with mental health issues. Kristóf Milák decided he was in no shape — mentally or physically — to compete this summer. Some of the world’s greatest swimmers are missing the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, as they deal with burnout and the enormous toll the sport takes on their bodies and minds. “It’s hard to see when people go down with mental health and are not happy with themselves,” English swimmer James Guy

Top swimmers missing world championships as they deal with mental, physical issues
World

New report points to homicide rate declines in U.S. cities after pandemic-era spike

Homicides are declining in a cross-section of American cities, though their numbers remain higher than before the coronavirus pandemic took hold, according to a new report analyzing data from 30 U.S. cities. Homicides on average dropped 9.4% during the first half of 2023 as compared to the same period last year, the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice found in a report released this week. The numbers remained about 24% higher than they were in 2019, and motor vehicle thefts were up sharply in the analyzed cities. “We’re seeing a continuing decline in homicides, but most cities are

New report points to homicide rate declines in U.S. cities after pandemic-era spike
World

UN expert decries the practice of taking boys from their mothers at detention camps in Syria

A U.N.-backed human rights advocate says hundreds of boys — some as young as 11 — held in detention camps run by U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led forces in northeastern Syria have been wrongly separated from their mothers on the “unproven” belief that they pose a security risk. Fionnuala Ni Aolain, an independent U.N. rapporteur on the protection of rights while countering terrorism, aired concerns Friday about lingering “mass arbitrary detention” in the infamous al-Hol camp and others like it that she saw during her trip to the region this week — billed as the first visit of its kind

UN expert decries the practice of taking boys from their mothers at detention camps in Syria
World

Ex-network investigative journalist pleads guilty to child pornography charges

A former investigative journalist for ABC News pleaded guilty Friday to federal child pornography charges. James Gordon Meek, 53, of Arlington, Virginia, admitted in U.S. District Court in Alexandria that he illegally possessed and transported child pornography. He covered national security issues for the network until he resigned last year. Court papers indicate the investigation began when the FBI received a tip from Dropbox about videos showing the sexual abuse of children in an account associated with Meek. As part of a plea agreement, Meek admitted he used an iPhone to exchange child pornography, including a

Ex-network investigative journalist pleads guilty to child pornography charges
Political

The Trump Organization and former fixer Michael Cohen settle his lawsuit over unpaid legal bills

Donald Trump’s company and his former longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen have settled a lawsuit over Cohen’s claims that he was unfairly stuck with big legal bills after getting entangled in investigations into the former president. Lawyers for the two sides told the judge they had reached a settlement during a video conference Friday in Manhattan, just as Cohen’s 2019 lawsuit was slated to go to trial Monday in a state court. Details of the agreement were not made public. Cohen said Friday the matter “has been resolved in a manner satisfactory to all parties.”

The Trump Organization and former fixer Michael Cohen settle his lawsuit over unpaid legal bills
Political

Harris targets Florida rules on Black history pushed by DeSantis

Vice President Kamala Harris is making a last-minute trip to Florida on Friday to tackle changes to the state’s education standards that critics say play down the horror of slavery. It’s the latest example of how Harris has been the White House point person for addressing cultural issues such as race, schooling and abortion that are championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate. The Florida Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a revised Black history curriculum that matches legislation that DeSantis said is necessary to prevent liberal indoctrination. The new curriculum includes instruction on

Harris targets Florida rules on Black history pushed by DeSantis

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