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Today: January 21, 2025
Today: January 21, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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World

South African president cleared of wrongdoing in scandal over $580,000 in cash stolen from his farm

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was cleared of wrongdoing Friday by a public watchdog over a scandal involving the theft of more than half a million dollars in U.S. currency that had been stashed in a sofa at his game farm. Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, whose office holds politicans to account, said Ramaphosa did not violate the ethics code for members of South Africa’s executive over the incident, which happened in 2020 but was only revealed publicly last year. The scandal was seen as the biggest callenge to Ramaphosa’s reputation and his leadership of Africa’s most

South African president cleared of wrongdoing in scandal over $580,000 in cash stolen from his farm
World

Vatican reports income boost in charitable fund, even as donations dip following financial scandals

The Vatican on Friday reported that a key charitable fund, Peter’s Pence, doubled its income in 2022 to 107 million euros, or more than $166 million, even as donations from the faithful dipped slightly following years of scandal over financial mismanagement at the Holy See. Overall, the Peter’s Pence fund, which finances the Vatican bureaucracy and the pope’s charitable projects around the world, ended 2022 with 11.5 million euros in surplus compared to an 18.4 million-euro deficit in 2021. That year, it only brought in 46.9 million euros in income, according to the financial statement. It’s the second year that

Vatican reports income boost in charitable fund, even as donations dip following financial scandals
Arts

Hollywood's actors may join its writers on strike. Here's why

Hollywood actors may be on the verge of joining screenwriters in what would be the first two-union strike in the industry in more than six decades, with huge consequences for film and television production. Here is a look at how it could play out, and why it’s happening. WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH ACTORS’ NEGOTIATIONS? The contract between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists and the studios, streaming services and production companies that employ them expires Friday night at midnight Pacific time. Unionized actors have voted overwhelmingly to authorize their leaders to call a

Hollywood's actors may join its writers on strike. Here's why
World

The key players in last weekend's armed rebellion in Russia

The key players in last weekend’s armed rebellion by Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin: YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN Prigozhin, 62, owed his position and his fortune to links with President Vladimir Putin. The former convict who became a St. Petersburg restaurateur was dubbed “Putin’s chef” for lucrative Kremlin catering contracts. He expanded into other areas and founded the Wagner Group — a private military contractor that was active in Syria and several African countries. The Kremlin relied on Wagner to help shore up its forces in Ukraine after the regular military suffered humiliating setbacks there. Wagner spearheaded attacks on the eastern Ukrainian

The key players in last weekend's armed rebellion in Russia
Health

Parents of transgender youth are suing to block Georgia's gender-affirming care ban

Parents of four transgender children have filed a lawsuit challenging a Georgia law set to take effect Saturday that bans most gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender people under 18, their lawyers said. The lawsuit, which the lawyers said was filed Thursday night, asks a judge to immediately prevent enforcement of the law while the legal challenge plays out. The law passed along party lines this year by the Republican-majority General Assembly and signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp was hotly contested, with Democrats, parents and medical providers making impassioned arguments against it. Georgia is

Parents of transgender youth are suing to block Georgia's gender-affirming care ban
Political

The Supreme Court rules for a designer who doesn't want to make wedding websites for gay couples

In a defeat for gay rights, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled Friday that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. Smith had argued that the law violates her free speech rights. Smith’s opponents warned that a win for her would allow a range of businesses to discriminate, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants. But

The Supreme Court rules for a designer who doesn't want to make wedding websites for gay couples
Arts

Alan Arkin, Oscar-winning 'Little Miss Sunshine' actor, dies at 89

Alan Arkin, the wry character actor who demonstrated his versatility in comedy and drama as he received four Academy Award nominations and won an Oscar in 2007 for “Little Miss Sunshine,” has died. He was 89. His sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony confirmed their father’s death through the actor’s publicist on Friday. “Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and a man,” they said in a statement. A member of Chicago’s famed Second City comedy troupe, Arkin was an immediate success in movies with the Cold War spoof “The Russians

Alan Arkin, Oscar-winning 'Little Miss Sunshine' actor, dies at 89
Political

The Supreme Court rejects Biden's plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loans

A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loans for millions of Americans. The 6-3 decision, with conservative justices in the majority, effectively killed the $400 billion plan, announced by President Joe Biden last year, and left borrowers on the hook for repayments that are expected to resume by late summer. The court held that the administration needs Congress’ endorsement before undertaking so costly a program. The majority rejected arguments that a bipartisan 2003 law dealing with student loans provided the authority Biden claimed.

The Supreme Court rejects Biden's plan to wipe away $400 billion in student loans
Political

How the Supreme Court student loan decision affects you

The Supreme Court has ruled the Biden administration overstepped its authority in trying to cancel or reduce student loan debt, effectively killing the $400 billion plan, which would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million people. Of those, 20 million would have had their remaining student debt erased completely. The court’s decision means, barring an act of Congress, those Americans are on the hook for payments starting in October. Still, borrowers who are worried about their budgets do have options. For instance, the government has other loan forgiveness programs that are

How the Supreme Court student loan decision affects you
World

Indiana Supreme Court upholds abortion ban, says state constitution gives only limited protections

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled Friday that the state’s abortion ban doesn’t violate the state constitution, removing a major hurdle to enforcing the ban Republicans approved last summer. The court’s decision overturns a county judge’s ruling that the ban likely violates the state constitution’s privacy protections, which she said are stronger than those found in the U.S. Constitution. That judge’s order has allowed abortions to continue in Indiana since September, despite the ban. An opinion from three of the court’s five justices said that while Indiana’s constitution provides some protection of abortion rights, the “General Assembly otherwise

Indiana Supreme Court upholds abortion ban, says state constitution gives only limited protections
Arts

Fox ushers out Geraldo Rivera with tribute as he says he was fired from 'The Five'

Fox News ushered Geraldo Rivera off the air with cake and balloons on Friday, while he left with a timely reminder that his journalism career was a product of affirmative action. Rivera said that Fox fired him from his regular perch on “The Five,” and that he decided to leave the network as a result. With his last two appearances on the afternoon political talk show apparently canceled, Rivera received a going-away party on the morning show “Fox & Friends,” where he generally delivered commentary once a week. “I feel very emotional and deeply moved,” Rivera

Fox ushers out Geraldo Rivera with tribute as he says he was fired from 'The Five'
World

As Mexican town mourns slain anti-gang leader, brother warns community would take up arms again

As people mourned the slain leader of an armed civilian defense movement, his younger brother warned Friday that he and others who fought with Hipólito Mora would take up arms again if the government does not provide swift justice. Mora, a beloved lime grower-turned-vigilante leader, inspires loyalty in the rural west of Michoacan state. And much as they did when he led an uprising a decade ago, residents feel abandoned by the government to the whims of multiple criminal organizations battling over the territory. “If the governor does nothing to get us justice in the

As Mexican town mourns slain anti-gang leader, brother warns community would take up arms again
World

Haze, heat and storms are affecting summer festivities in many parts of the U.S.

The nation’s midsection is heading into the July Fourth weekend and instead of enjoying the start of summer people are facing smoky haze, high temperatures and powerful derecho winds that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents. Utility crews were scrambling Friday to restore electricity after a storm front moved across Illinois and Indiana on Thursday packing winds more than 70 miles (112 kilometers) an hour at times. The storm caused widespread damage to trees and buildings in the central parts of both states from the Mississippi River to the Indianapolis area. Utility companies faced

Haze, heat and storms are affecting summer festivities in many parts of the U.S.
Arts

Jermaine Dupri commemorates 50 years of hip-hop at Essence Festival of Culture

Known as a rapper, super producer and music mogul, Jermaine Dupri is astonished that 30 years have passed since he founded his label, So So Def. That milestone comes as Dupri leads a celebration of 50 years of hip-hop on Saturday at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans. Missy Elliott, the first woman in hip-hop to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will headline the night inside the Superdome, but Dupri is curating a center stage segment that lets everyone know “The South Got Something To Say.” “Atlanta’s dominance in

Jermaine Dupri commemorates 50 years of hip-hop at Essence Festival of Culture
World

Brazil court votes to bar Bolsonaro from elections until 2030

A panel of judges voted Friday to render far-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office again after concluding that he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system. The decision, once all judges have voted, will forbid Bolsonaro from running until 2030, upending the 68-year-old’s political future and likely erasing any chance for him to regain power. Four of the seven judges on the nation’s highest electoral court agreed that Bolsonaro abused his authority by using government communication channels to promote his campaign and sowing doubts about

Brazil court votes to bar Bolsonaro from elections until 2030
Political

The Supreme Court will decide if some judges have gone too far in striking down gun restrictions

A year after its sweeping gun rights ruling, the Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide whether judges are going too far in striking down restrictions on firearms. The justices will hear the Biden administration’s appeal of one such ruling that struck down as unconstitutional a federal law meant to keep guns away from people who have domestic violence restraining orders against them. Arguments will take place in the fall in the first case in which the court could define the limits on new standards for evaluating gun laws that its conservative majority set out last June. That

The Supreme Court will decide if some judges have gone too far in striking down gun restrictions
Political

The UN's scientific and education organization votes to readmit the United States

The United Nations’ scientific, educational and cultural organization has agreed to readmit the United States as a member. UNESCO’s governing board voted 132-10 on Friday to accept the U.S. proposal to rejoin the Paris-based agency. America’s membership will become official once Secretary of State Antony Blinken or a designee formally accepts the invitation, according to Biden administration officials. Russian, Palestinian and North Korean representatives had held up consideration of the U.S. proposal on Thursday with hours of procedural delays. That session was adjourned due to fatigue on the part of UNESCO interpreters. In addition to Russia, North

The UN's scientific and education organization votes to readmit the United States
Arts

50 shades of ballet? Melanie Hamrick on her steamy novel that makes 'Black Swan' seem tame

Melanie Hamrick, who knows her way around a quick pirouette, had to move fast when her 6-year-old son Deveraux recently picked up a copy of her new novel, “First Position,” as she was signing books. “I didn’t realize how well he was reading,” the former ballerina and first-time author says of her first-grader, whom she shares with partner Mick Jagger. “He opened it and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, give me that book!’” She suggested an alternative: “The Cat in the Hat.” Wise move. “First Position” (get the pun?) is what they call a romance

50 shades of ballet? Melanie Hamrick on her steamy novel that makes 'Black Swan' seem tame
World

Nashville Predators buy out Matt Duchene as NHL teams prepare for the start of free agency

A handful of NHL teams spent Friday clearing out salary cap space with some big-money buyouts on the eve of free agency. The Nashville Predators led the way by buying out Matt Duchene’s contract. The 32-year-old center had three years left on his deal at an annual cap hit of $8 million. Duchene is the latest veteran player to leave Nashville since former coach Barry Trotz took over as general manager, replacing longtime executive David Poile. The Predators also traded Ryan Johansen to Colorado, continuing the path of a rebuild started when Poile dealt away a handful of players before

Nashville Predators buy out Matt Duchene as NHL teams prepare for the start of free agency
Arts

Prince Harry seeks $406,000 in phone hacking lawsuit against British tabloid publisher

Prince Harry’s lawyer put a price tag Friday on the prince’s lawsuit accusing the publisher of the Daily Mirror of hacking his phone and using other unlawful means to dig up dirt on the early years of his royal life: 320,000 pounds ($406,000). The Duke of Sussex’s lawyer submitted the proposed legal award at the conclusion of courtroom proceedings in the first of Harry’s cases against the British tabloid press to go to trial. Attorney David Sherborne said in closing arguments this week that there was “hard evidence” Mirror Group Newspapers employed journalists who eavesdropped on voicemails

Prince Harry seeks $406,000 in phone hacking lawsuit against British tabloid publisher
World

Catcher interference on the rise as big league backstops squeeze in for pitch framing

Trying to make the most of his powerful swing, White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. lets the ball run deep into the strike zone sometimes. That’s when it happens. “When I do that, the catchers, they might think that I am not swinging (for) the ball and they try to reach the ball while I am swinging,” Robert said through a translator. “I think that’s the reason why in my case.” The end result is often interference, putting Robert on first base and handing an error to the catcher. It has happened to Robert five times already

Catcher interference on the rise as big league backstops squeeze in for pitch framing
Arts

French Montana chronicles mom's sacrifice after emigrating from Morocco in doc film 'For Khadija'

If French Montana’s father never abandoned him as a teenager, the rapper believes he would not have grown into a popular figure who has earned three Grammy nominations. Montana and his family left Morocco more than two decades ago in hopes of a better life in the U.S., but when times got tough, his father returned to their native country. Montana turned to New York City’s street life in the South Bronx for manly guidance while his mother served as the faithful backbone. It was his mother’s sacrifice to raise her sons as a single parent

French Montana chronicles mom's sacrifice after emigrating from Morocco in doc film 'For Khadija'
World

What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated 'Superman,' 'Biosphere' and 'Wham!'

Taylor Swift’s rerecording of her “Speak Now” and survivalist Bear Grylls taking Bradley Cooper and Rita Ora into the wild are among the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you. Among the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are the sci-fi comedy ”Biosphere” starring Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass, and a new spin-off series starring Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan from “The Real Housewives of New York City.” NEW MOVIES TO STREAM — Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass are the last two men on Earth in

What to stream this week: Taylor Swift, a new animated 'Superman,' 'Biosphere' and 'Wham!'
Political

Biden blames GOP for student loan ruling as 2024 political consequences loom

President Joe Biden insisted Friday that “this fight is not over” after the Supreme Court struck down his $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan. Biden blamed Republicans’ opposition, aiming to direct the ire of millions of borrowers toward them rather than his own party in next year’s elections. The president planned an afternoon address to lay out a series of actions to provide continued relief to 43 million student loan borrowers, and in the meantime tried to stay on the political offensive against the GOP. “The hypocrisy of Republican elected officials is stunning,” Biden said in a

Biden blames GOP for student loan ruling as 2024 political consequences loom
World

Judge allows nearly all of North Carolina's revised 12-week abortion law to take effect

A federal judge ruled on Friday that nearly all of North Carolina’s revised 12-week abortion law scheduled to begin this weekend can take effect, while temporarily blocking one rule that doctors feared could expose them to criminal penalties. The decision by U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles sets aside that rule but allows the law’s remaining provisions to begin on Saturday while litigation continues. Abortion providers had last week requested a blanket order halting all of the July 1 restrictions pending their court challenge. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and a physician said several sections in the newly

Judge allows nearly all of North Carolina's revised 12-week abortion law to take effect

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