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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

Average long-term US mortgage rate falls to 6.67%, third straight drop since climbing to 2023 high

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell for the third time in as many weeks, a welcome boost for homebuyers facing a housing market that’s been held back this year by a tight inventory of homes for sale. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan fell to 6.67% from 6.69% last week. A year ago, the rate averaged 5.81%. The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with those refinancing their homes, also fell this week, slipping to 6.03% from 6.10% last week. A year ago, it

Average long-term US mortgage rate falls to 6.67%, third straight drop since climbing to 2023 high
Political

US safety agency to require automatic emergency braking on heavy trucks and buses

The government will require heavy trucks and buses to include automatic emergency braking equipment within five years, the federal traffic safety agency said Thursday, estimating it will prevent nearly 20,000 crashes save at least 155 lives a year. The announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration follows a similar move last month for all new passenger cars and light trucks. The actions represent the traffic safety agency’s latest efforts to regulate electronic systems that take on certain tasks that drivers themselves have normally handled. NHTSA has been reluctant in the past to impose such regulations, saying

US safety agency to require automatic emergency braking on heavy trucks and buses
Political

Rep. George Santos' aunt and dad signed his bail bond to keep him out of jail while awaiting trial

The two people who bailed Rep. George Santos out of federal custody have been revealed to be his father and his aunt, a detail the Republican fought to keep secret as he faces criminal charges and swirling questions about his finances. Gercino dos Santos Jr. and Elma Preven were named in a court filing on Thursday as the co-signers of Santos’ $500,000 bond, which enabled his release as he awaits trial on federal charges of fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds. Santos, R-N.Y., had fought to keep their names secret. They were revealed after

Rep. George Santos' aunt and dad signed his bail bond to keep him out of jail while awaiting trial
Political

FDA warns stores to stop selling Elf Bar, the top disposable e-cigarette in the US

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it has sent warning letters to dozens of retailers selling fruit- and candy-flavored disposable e-cigarettes, including the current best-selling brand, Elf Bar. It’s the latest attempt by regulators to crack down on illegal disposable vapes that have poured into U.S. stores in recent years. Last month, the FDA issued orders allowing customs officials to seize shipments of Elf Bar, Esco Bar and two other brands at U.S. ports. None of the products have received FDA authorization and they come in flavors like cotton candy, which regulators say can appeal

FDA warns stores to stop selling Elf Bar, the top disposable e-cigarette in the US
Health

Transgender sports ban heads to North Carolina governor's desk

Transgender girls in North Carolina would no longer be allowed to play on the school sports teams that align with their gender identity under a proposal that received final legislative approval on Thursday. The GOP-controlled state House voted 62-43 to send the bill to the desk of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has little power to block it now that Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. House Republicans were joined by one Democrat — Rep. Michael Wray of Northampton County — in voting for the measure. Initial votes in the House

Transgender sports ban heads to North Carolina governor's desk
Science

Did initial delays in communication hamper tourist sub search?

Eight hours. And within them, many unanswered questions. About an hour and a half after it dipped below the North Atlantic, a submersible on an expedition to view the wreckage of the Titanic lost communication with the surface. It would take another nearly eight hours before the Canadian research icebreaker Polar Prince, supporting the Titan submersible, reported it missing to the Coast Guard — a report that triggered the international rescue effort that was ongoing Thursday. The time lag has yet to be explained by the company that owns the submersible, OceanGate Expeditions. Sean Leet, head of

Did initial delays in communication hamper tourist sub search?
Arts

Sam Elliott on '1883' and achieving his best at 78: 'There's not going to be a better one'

In Taylor Sheridan’s interconnected “Yellowstone” TV shows, Sam Elliott is proud to be No. 1. His prequel “1883” was the first “Yellowstone” spinoff. “I’m glad I was there at the beginning and not three or four or five shows down the line,” said Elliott, who played Shea Brennan, a guide tasked with helping Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Isabel May’s characters migrate west to settle land. The role earned him a Screen Actors Guild award earlier this year. “1883,” which debuted in 2021 exclusively on the Paramount+ streaming service, tells the beginning of the “Yellowstone” saga about Kevin Costner’s John

Sam Elliott on '1883' and achieving his best at 78: 'There's not going to be a better one'
Political

Senate votes to keep Biden rule toughening requirements on stabilizing braces for firearms

New rules that require owners to register stabilizing braces for firearms will stay in place after the Senate rejected a Republican effort on Thursday to overturn them. President Joe Biden had promised to veto the resolution overturning the rules if it had passed. In January, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives finalized the new regulations on pistols with stabilizing braces, also called pistol braces, that require owners to register them and pay a fee or remove the braces. The agency found the accessories can make pistols as dangerously powerful and easy to conceal as short-barreled

Senate votes to keep Biden rule toughening requirements on stabilizing braces for firearms
World

Debt-plagued Zambia reaches deal with China, other nations to rework $6.3B in loans, French say

Zambia and its government creditors, including China, have reached a deal to restructure $6.3 billion in loans, the French government announced Thursday on the sidelines of a global finance summit in Paris. The agreement covers loans from countries including France, the UK, South Africa, Israel and India as well as China — Zambia’s biggest creditor at $4.1 billion of the total. The deal, announced by officials who spoke anonymously in accordance with the French government’s customary practices, may provide a roadmap for how lenient China may be with other nations in debt distress. The International Monetary Fund

Debt-plagued Zambia reaches deal with China, other nations to rework $6.3B in loans, French say
Political

India's Modi meets the press at the White House — and takes rare questions

Narendra Modi did something very unusual on Thursday at the White House — he took questions from journalists. It’s a rare occurrence for the Indian prime minister who avoids unscripted moments and has presided over a steady decline in press freedom in his country. The news conference was more limited than the kind that U.S. presidents usually hold with foreign leaders, but even that wasn’t easy to arrange with Modi. Indian officials agreed to the event only the day before, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations. Administration

India's Modi meets the press at the White House — and takes rare questions
Arts

Pop star Kesha and producer Dr. Luke settle longstanding legal battle over rape, defamation claims

Pop star Kesha and producer Dr. Luke have settled nearly a decade of suits and countersuits over her accusation that he drugged and raped her and his claim that she made it up and defamed him, they announced Thursday, with the singer saying that “only God knows what happened that night.” Dr. Luke, meanwhile, said he was “absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged or assaulted her.” Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, as both she and he revealed on Instagram that they had agreed to “a resolution” of the case and to

Pop star Kesha and producer Dr. Luke settle longstanding legal battle over rape, defamation claims
Health

In 'Every Body,' a galvanizing moment — and celebration — for the intersex community

Like some 260,000 Americans, Sean Saifa Wall was born with significant intersex traits. The sex on the birth certificate was checked “ambiguous” and then crossed out. Wall was instead labeled female on the document and, at the age of 13, after his mother was inaccurately warned of a cancerous threat, his testes were removed. Doctors told his parents to raise him as a girl, though Wall later developed masculine features and now identifies as a man. “They literally stopped my development — I was starting to develop as male. And they stopped it right there and

In 'Every Body,' a galvanizing moment — and celebration — for the intersex community
Health

First gene therapy for deadly form of muscular dystrophy gets FDA approval for young kids

The first gene therapy for a deadly form of muscular dystrophy received preliminary U.S. approval on Thursday despite concerns from some government scientists about the treatment’s ability to help boys with the inherited disease. The Food and Drug Administration approval provides a new option for some patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare muscle-wasting disease that causes weakness, loss of mobility and early death. It almost always affects males. The FDA granted approval for children ages 4 and 5, based on study results showing the therapy helped produce a protein needed for muscle growth, which is missing

First gene therapy for deadly form of muscular dystrophy gets FDA approval for young kids
Arts

Rapper Kodak Black faces arrest after warrant says he missed a drug test

Rapper Kodak Black is facing another arrest in South Florida after a warrant claims he missed a drug test that was a condition of bail in a drug case. According to a warrant issued last week by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Kodak Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, didn’t show up for a June 9 drug test. Kapri was arrested last July on charges of trafficking in oxycodone and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He was freed on a $75,000 bond, and regular drug testing was a condition of his release.

Rapper Kodak Black faces arrest after warrant says he missed a drug test
World

Canadian police release names of 16 seniors who died in bus crash

Canadian police released the names of 16 people who died in a crash between a minibus and a semitrailer a week ago at a highway intersection in a rural part of the Canadian province of Manitoba. One by one, officers and family members placed giant photos of the victims, who ranged in age from 68 to 88, at the front of a news conference on Thursday. The bus had been taking the group from Dauphin, Manitoba, and the surrounding area on a trip to a casino on June 15, when it crashed with the truck near

Canadian police release names of 16 seniors who died in bus crash
Political

Human rights in the air, millet and mushrooms on the plates at the White House dinner for India

Concerns about human rights and freedom in India were in the air for Thursday’s White House state dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while a plant-based menu of millet, mushrooms and strawberry shortcake was on the menu for the vegetarian premier and hundreds of guests. Despite deep differences over human rights and India’s stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine, President Joe Biden extended to Modi the administration’s third invitation for a state visit. It included the state dinner, a high diplomatic honor that the U.S. reserves for its closest allies. Biden hopes all the pomp and attention

Human rights in the air, millet and mushrooms on the plates at the White House dinner for India
World

TikTok COO to step down from the company after nearly 5 years in the role

TikTok’s Chief Operating Officer, V Pappas, is leaving the popular social media platform after nearly five years at the company. In a note sent to employees Thursday morning and later shared on Twitter, Pappas, who uses plural pronouns, said now that the company has achieved a lot of success, she felt it was the right time to move on and focus on “entrepreneurial passions.” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a note sent to employees that Pappas, one of the company’s most public faces, will continue to serve as a strategic adviser. “I want to

TikTok COO to step down from the company after nearly 5 years in the role
World

TikTok COO to step down from the company after nearly 5 years in the role

TikTok’s Chief Operating Officer, V Pappas, is leaving the popular social media platform after nearly five years at the company. In a note sent to employees Thursday morning and later shared on Twitter, Pappas, who uses plural pronouns, said now that the company has achieved a lot of success, she felt it was the right time to move on and focus on “entrepreneurial passions.” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a note sent to employees that Pappas, one of the company’s most public faces, will continue to serve as a strategic adviser. “I want to

TikTok COO to step down from the company after nearly 5 years in the role
World

Qatar sovereign wealth fund buys stake in Washington's NBA, NHL and WNBA teams, AP source says

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is buying a roughly 5% stake in the parent company of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals and WNBA’s Washington Mystics as part of a $4.05 billion deal, a person with knowledge of the sale said Thursday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement between the Qatar Investment Authority and Monumental Sports & Entertainment had not been announced. It is believed to be the first time the government of Qatar is investing in U.S. professional sports. Sportico first reported the transaction, saying it is the first time any

Qatar sovereign wealth fund buys stake in Washington's NBA, NHL and WNBA teams, AP source says
World

Qatar sovereign wealth fund buys stake in Washington's NBA, NHL and WNBA teams, AP source says

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is buying a roughly 5% stake in the parent company of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals and WNBA’s Washington Mystics as part of a $4.05 billion deal, a person with knowledge of the sale said Thursday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement between the Qatar Investment Authority and Monumental Sports & Entertainment had not been announced. It is believed to be the first time the government of Qatar is investing in U.S. professional sports. Sportico first reported the transaction, saying it is the first time any

Qatar sovereign wealth fund buys stake in Washington's NBA, NHL and WNBA teams, AP source says
World

UN puts Russian forces on blacklist for killing children and attacking schools in Ukraine

The United Nations put Russian forces on its annual blacklist of countries that violate children’s rights in conflict for killing boys and girls and attacking schools and hospitals in Ukraine, according to a new report seen Thursday by The Associated Press. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the report to the Security Council that he is “appalled” by the high number of “grave violations” against children in Ukraine in 2022, “shocked” at the number of attacks on schools and hospitals, “concerned” by the detention of children, and “troubled” that some Ukrainian children have been transferred to Russia.

UN puts Russian forces on blacklist for killing children and attacking schools in Ukraine
World

2.5M Genworth policyholders and 769K retired California workers and beneficiaries affected by hack

The country’s largest public pension fund says the personal information of about 769,000 retired California employees and other beneficiaries — including Social Security numbers — was among data stolen by Russian cybercriminals in the breach of a popular file-transfer application. It blamed the breach on a third-party vendor that verifies deaths. The same vendor, PBI Research Services/Berwyn Group, also lost the personal data of at least 2.5 million Genworth Financial policyholders, including Social Security numbers, to the same criminal gang, according to the Fortune 500 insurer. The California Public Employees Retirement system said they were offering

2.5M Genworth policyholders and 769K retired California workers and beneficiaries affected by hack
World

Senegal opposition leader Sonko's lawyer files a lawsuit in France and calls for an ICC inquiry

A lawyer for embattled Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko filed a criminal complaint in a French court on Thursday and also called for the International Criminal Court to investigate the Senegalese government’s recent deadly crackdown on protesters. The 168-page document accuses President Macky Sall and others of “crimes against humanity.” It comes in the wake of deadly protests earlier this month, sparked by criminal charges against Sonko that critics believe were politically motivated. The court filing, which was presented at a news conference on Thursday in Paris, details 50 deaths since March 2021. It names Senegal’s

Senegal opposition leader Sonko's lawyer files a lawsuit in France and calls for an ICC inquiry
World

A Titanic expert, an adventurer, a CEO, and a father and son were killed in Titan's implosion

A renowned Titanic expert, a world record-holding adventurer, two members of one of Pakistan’s wealthiest families and the CEO of the company leading an expedition to the world’s most famous shipwreck were killed aboard the Titan submersible when it imploded in the Atlantic Ocean sometime this week. The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday said there were no survivors after the catastrophic implosion deep in the North Atlantic. The search for the submersible and its occupants — as well as any clues to explain what happened underwater — were ongoing Thursday after a deep-sea robot found debris near

A Titanic expert, an adventurer, a CEO, and a father and son were killed in Titan's implosion
World

Chris Paul traded to Warriors, Jordan Poole sent to Wizards, source tells AP

Chris Paul’s pursuit of an NBA championship is taking him to the Golden State Warriors, after they agreed to the framework of a trade on Thursday that will send Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The trade also includes a package of draft capital, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been finalized and approved by the NBA. ESPN first reported the agreement was struck by the teams. The Wizards agreed to acquire Paul from Phoenix last week, in the

Chris Paul traded to Warriors, Jordan Poole sent to Wizards, source tells AP

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