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Today: January 20, 2025
Today: January 20, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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World

US and China hold top-level talks, but their rivalry remains unchecked

The United States and China may be back to talking at a high level, but their battle for global power and influence remains unchecked and mutual suspicion still runs deep. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken set low goals for his visit to Beijing this week, and he met them. About the most the rivals can hope for these days is to stop things getting much worse. Blinken pointed to difficult days ahead, while China’s foreign ministry warned the relationship was in a downward spiral. “It was clear coming in that the relationship was at a point

US and China hold top-level talks, but their rivalry remains unchecked
World

A list of mass killings in the United States since January

The latest mass killing in the United States happened Monday night in Philadelphia where a 40-year-old is accused of killing a man in a house and then gunning down four others on neighborhood streets before surrendering to police. Gun violence flared as the U.S. celebrated the Fourth of July holiday, leaving more than a dozen dead and almost 60 wounded — including children as young as 2 years old — in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Washington, D.C. The Philadelphia shooting is the country’s 29th mass killing of 2023 in which four or more people died, not including the

A list of mass killings in the United States since January
World

9 Egyptians appearing in Greek court over deadly migrant shipwreck

Nine Egyptian men accused of being members of a human smuggling ring involved in one of the worst migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean are appearing in court in southern Greece on Tuesday for questioning over their alleged role in the disaster. The nine, appearing in court in the southern city of Kalamata, face a string of charges including participation in a criminal organization, manslaughter and causing a shipwreck. More than 500 people are believed to be missing from last week’s sinking off the western coast of Greece of the dilapidated fishing trawler, which some estimates say

9 Egyptians appearing in Greek court over deadly migrant shipwreck
World

Andrew Tate is charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania

Divisive social media personality Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, have been charged with rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women, prosecutors in Romania said Tuesday. Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, said prosecutors filed the charges against the brothers, who are both British-U.S. dual citizens, along with two Romanian women. In a statement, the agency said that the four defendants formed a criminal group in 2021 “in order to commit the crime of human trafficking” in Romania as well as the United States and Britain. It alleged that seven female victims were

Andrew Tate is charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania
World

Charitable giving in 2022 drops for only the third time in 40 years: Giving USA report

Charitable giving in the United States declined in 2022 — only the third time in four decades that donations did not increase year over year — according to the Giving USA report released Tuesday. Total giving fell 3.4% in 2022 to $499.3 billion in current dollars, a drop of 10.5% when adjusted for inflation. The decline comes at a time when many nonprofits, especially ones providing services to those in need, report an increase in requests for help. However, Josh Birkholz, chairman of the Giving USA Foundation, which publishes the report and provides data and insights

Charitable giving in 2022 drops for only the third time in 40 years: Giving USA report
Political

As Ukraine takes the fight to Russians, signs of unease in Moscow over war's progress

Facing harder questions at home. Contributor/Getty Images Whether or not the Ukraine counteroffensive that began in early June 2023 succeeds in dislodging Russian troops from occupied territory, there are growing signs that the push has prompted anxiety back in Moscow. Such unease was, I believe, detectable in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting on June 13 with a group of influential military bloggers – people who support the war but have at times been critical of the way it is being fought. The meeting was unusual: In recent months, Putin has avoided public statements about the war and postponed his annual

As Ukraine takes the fight to Russians, signs of unease in Moscow over war's progress
Political

AI could shore up democracy – here's one way

AI could help elected representatives raise up constituent voices. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky It’s become fashionable to think of artificial intelligence as an inherently dehumanizing technology, a ruthless force of automation that has unleashed legions of virtual skilled laborers in faceless form. But what if AI turns out to be the one tool able to identify what makes your ideas special, recognizing your unique perspective and potential on the issues where it matters most? You’d be forgiven if you’re distraught about society’s ability to grapple with this new technology. So far, there’s no lack of prognostications about the democratic doom that

AI could shore up democracy – here's one way
Arts

Graffiti has undergone a massive shift in a few quick decades as street art gains social acceptance

Tagging, once considered vandalism, has gained cachet and economic value in the art world. Ashim D’Silva for Unsplash.com, CC BY-SA Graffiti has become so mainstream in recent years that auction houses, museums and entire art shows cater to street art connoisseurs and collectors around the world. Images in the news of young vandals responsible for marking walls have been replaced by sleek websites belonging to global phenoms such as Banksy and Shepard Fairey. In cities around the world, graffiti is now associated with “street artists” rather than violent street gangs. Today, many cities, from Pittsburgh to Pretoria, invite street artists

Graffiti has undergone a massive shift in a few quick decades as street art gains social acceptance
Environment

Saving lives from extreme heat: Lessons from the deadly 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave

Volunteers pick up water to deliver to homeless people during a 2021 heat wave. AP Photo/Nathan Howard The heat dome that descended upon the Pacific Northwest in late June 2021 met a population radically unprepared for it. Almost two-thirds of households earning US$50,000 or less and 70% of rented houses in Washington’s King, Pierce and Snohomish counties had no air conditioning. In Spokane, nearly one-quarter of survey respondents didn’t have in-home air conditioning, and among those who did, 1 in 5 faced significant, often financial, barriers to using it. Imagine having no way to cool your home as temperatures spiked

Saving lives from extreme heat: Lessons from the deadly 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave
Environment

US national parks are crowded – and so are many national forests, wildlife refuges, battlefields and seashores

Visitors at Sliding Rock, a popular cascade in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest. Cecilio Ricardo, USFS/Flickr Outdoor recreation is on track for another record-setting year. In 2022, U.S. national parks logged more than 300 million visits – and that means a lot more people on roads and trails. While research shows that spending time outside is good for physical and mental health, long lines and gridlocked roads can make the experience a lot less fun. Crowding also makes it harder for park staff to protect wildlife and fragile lands and respond to emergencies. To manage the crowds, some parks are

US national parks are crowded – and so are many national forests, wildlife refuges, battlefields and seashores
Economy

US charitable donations fell to $499 billion in 2022 as stocks slumped and inflation surged

Giving declines when the country tightens its belt. FreeTransform/iStock via Getty Images Plus Charitable giving in the U.S. fell to US$499 billion in 2022, as donors dealt with their losses in the stock market and coped with 40-year high inflation rates. For only the fourth time on record, Americans gave less than they did the previous year without accounting for inflation, according to the newest annual Giving USA report. The research, released by the Giving USA Foundation, in partnership with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, found that total giving fell 10.5% in inflation-adjusted terms, the steepest decline

US charitable donations fell to $499 billion in 2022 as stocks slumped and inflation surged
World

Vatican document highlights need for concrete steps for women, 'radical inclusion' of LGBTQ+

An unprecedented global canvassing of Catholics has called for the church to take concrete steps to promote women to decision-making roles, for a “radical inclusion” of the LGBTQ+ community and for new accountability measures to check how bishops exercise authority. The Vatican on Tuesday released the synthesis of a two-year consultation process, publishing a working document that will form the basis of discussion for a big meeting of bishops and laypeople in October. The synod, as it is known, is a key priority of Pope Francis, reflecting his vision of a church that is more about

Vatican document highlights need for concrete steps for women, 'radical inclusion' of LGBTQ+
World

Build begins on Wyoming-to-California power line amid growing wind power concern

Portrait photographer Anne Brande shoots graduation and wedding engagement photos at scenic spots throughout southeastern Wyoming’s granite mountains and sprawling sagebrush valleys, but she worries what those views will look like in a few years. Wind energy is booming here. “Dandelions in my yard, you know, when there’s four or five, it’s OK,” Brande said. “When my whole yard is dandelions, I’m just not too excited.” In a state where being able to hunt, fish and camp in gorgeous and untrammeled nature is a way of life, worries about spoiled views, killed eagles and disturbed big-game

Build begins on Wyoming-to-California power line amid growing wind power concern
World

How a Mexican spiritual leader preserves the sacred knowledge of the volcano known as El Popo

Moisés Vega has a distinctive job: The 64-year-old Mexican says he can speak the sacred language of volcanoes to ask for good weather and a good crop. Mexico lowered the alert level on the Popocatépetl volcano by early June after its eruptions of gas and ash had drawn the attention of the international community. For Vega, though, the 17,797-foot (5,425-meter) mountain, known as El Popo, is a living being that never fades from his sight. “The Popocatépetl is our father and the Iztaccíhuatl is our mother,” he said, referring to a neighboring volcano. “They are providers

How a Mexican spiritual leader preserves the sacred knowledge of the volcano known as El Popo
World

Finland swears in a new government seen as its most right-wing in modern history

Finland swore in a new coalition government on Tuesday that is seen as the most right-wing in the Nordic country’s modern history. The 19-member Cabinet of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, the leader of the conservative National Coalition Party, was approved by the Eduskunta legislature, after which President Sauli Niinistö appointed it. Following lengthy talks over seven weeks, the NCP, which won the most seats in the April 2 general election, announced a deal last Friday with three other parties to form a governing coalition that includes the far-right euro-skeptic Finns Party, which follows a largely nationalist and

Finland swears in a new government seen as its most right-wing in modern history
Political

Hunter Biden charged with failing to pay federal income tax and illegally having a weapon

President Joe Biden’s son Hunter has been charged with failing to pay federal income tax and illegally possessing a weapon and has reached an agreement with the Justice Department, according to a letter filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware. As part of the agreement, made public Tuesday, Hunter Biden will plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses and is expected to reach an agreement with prosecutors on the felony charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user. It is somewhat unusual to resolve a federal criminal case at the same time the charges are filed

Hunter Biden charged with failing to pay federal income tax and illegally having a weapon
Economy

How to protect yourself from drop account fraud -- tips from our investigative unit

Loot stolen from the U.S. Postal Service is displayed on the dark web. Via Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group The types of crimes that use drop accounts are multiplying rapidly, but there are ways to decrease your chances of becoming a victim. Do not mail checks from anywhere but your local post office. Not even your own mailbox is safe. The best option? Pay bills and send money online. Protect your identity online by following these steps Guard your Social Security number. Never use it on medical forms – if asked, write “available upon request” – for a job interview, when

How to protect yourself from drop account fraud -- tips from our investigative unit
World

Slovakia's first female president won't seek reelection next year

Slovakia’s first female president said Tuesday that she won’t seek reelection in next year’s presidential vote. President Zuzana Čaputová said the announcement was one of the “toughest” she has made. She said that after a serious assessment of her options, she came to the conclusion that she wouldn’t have enough strength left for another five-year term. “We all know that the last four years were linked to crises,” Čaputová said, citing the coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and soaring inflation. She said those were the most difficult years of her life. “I

Slovakia's first female president won't seek reelection next year
Arts

Dr. Dre to receive first Hip-Hop Icon Award from music industry group ASCAP

Dr. Dre will need to make room in his trophy case for another prestigious award. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said on Tuesday that Dr. Dre will receive the first-ever ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award. He’ll be honored at the organization’s Rhythm & Soul Music Awards on Thursday in Los Angeles. “Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking early work laid a foundation for hip-hop as we know it today,” Paul Williams, chairman of the board and president at ASCAP. “As a champion for some of today’s biggest artists and a successful entrepreneur, he changed the culture around

Dr. Dre to receive first Hip-Hop Icon Award from music industry group ASCAP
World

Warren Buffett's firm raises stakes in Japanese trading houses as Nikkei hot streak continues

Billionaire Warren Buffett is upping his bet on Japan, announcing this week that Berkshire Hathaway will increase its ownership stake in five major Japanese trading houses. The first Berkshire Hathaway investment in Itochu Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co. and Sumitomo Corp., a 5% stake, was disclosed in 2020 and earlier this year Buffett said that the stake had been increased to 7.4%. Ownership in the companies, Berkshire said this week, has reached 8.5% excluding shares of treasury stock. The trading houses are some of Japan’s oldest and biggest companies and hold investments in

Warren Buffett's firm raises stakes in Japanese trading houses as Nikkei hot streak continues
Political

Supreme Court turns away veterans who seek disability benefits over 1966 hydrogen bomb accident

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal on behalf of some U.S. veterans who want disability benefits because they were exposed to radiation while responding to a Cold War-era hydrogen bomb accident in Spain. The justices not did comment in turning away an appeal from Victor Skaar, an Air Force veteran in his mid-80s. Skaar, of Nixa, Missouri, filed class-action claims seeking benefits for him and others who say they became ill from exposure to radiation during the recovery and cleanup of the undetonated bombs at the accident site in Palomares, a village in southern Spain,

Supreme Court turns away veterans who seek disability benefits over 1966 hydrogen bomb accident
Arts

Rapper Quando Rondo jailed on drug, gang charges in Georgia

The rapper Quando Rondo has been jailed after being indicted on drug and gang charges in his hometown of Savannah. The 24-year-old rapper, whose given name is Tyquian Terrel Bowman, was behind bars in the Chatham County jail Tuesday. According to court records, he has a bond hearing scheduled Friday. Bowman and 18 others were indicted by a grand jury Wednesday. The indictment charged Bowman with four counts, including being a manager of an illegal street gang known as “Rollin’ 60’s.” Other charges say Bowman conspired with others to distribute marijuana and to buy pills of

Rapper Quando Rondo jailed on drug, gang charges in Georgia
Arts

Actor Jonathan Majors domestic violence trial scheduled for Aug. 3

Actor Jonathan Majors’ domestic violence case will go to trial Aug. 3, a Manhattan judge said Tuesday, casting him in a real-life courtroom drama as his idled Hollywood career hangs in the balance. Judge Rachel Pauley wished Majors’ “best of luck” as she scheduled his trial. “Yes, ma’am,” Majors said, standing with his lawyers in front of Pauley’s bench in Manhattan’s domestic violence court. Majors, 33, is accused of twisting a woman’s arm, striking her head and shoving her into a vehicle in New York City in March. He is charged with several misdemeanors, including assault,

Actor Jonathan Majors domestic violence trial scheduled for Aug. 3
World

MLB to stage Negro Leagues tribute game at Rickwood Field next June honoring Willie Mays

Major League Baseball will stage a Negro Leagues tribute game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on June 20, 2024, between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. The 10,800-seat stadium, opened in 1910, is the oldest professional ballpark in the U.S. and a National Historic Site. The stadium was home to the Birmingham Black Barons from 1924-60. The game will honor Hall of Famer Willie Mays, a Birmingham native who began his professional career with the team in 1948. MLB said Tuesday it is staging the game around the Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates

MLB to stage Negro Leagues tribute game at Rickwood Field next June honoring Willie Mays
Political

US sanctions South Sudanese officials over conflict-related rapes of hundreds of women and girls

The U.S. on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a South Sudanese military officer and governor accused in connection with the rapes of hundreds of women and girls. They are the first U.S. sanctions issued with a dedicated focus on conflict-related sexual violence, the Treasury Department said. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated James Nando, a major general in the South Sudanese army, who is accused of overseeing forces that raped hundreds of women and girls between 2018 and 2021. Treasury said Nando was aware of the abuses and did not prevent or punish fighters responsible for sexual

US sanctions South Sudanese officials over conflict-related rapes of hundreds of women and girls

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