Today: October 07, 2024
Today: October 07, 2024

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Political

Once wrongly imprisoned for notorious rape, member of 'Central Park Five' is running for office

Outside a Harlem subway station, Yusef Salaam, a candidate for New York City Council, hurriedly greeted voters streaming out along Malcolm X Boulevard. For some, no introductions were necessary. They knew his face, his name and his life story. But to the unfamiliar, Salaam needed only to introduce himself as one of the Central Park Five — one of the Black or Brown teenagers, ages 14 to 16, wrongly accused, convicted and imprisoned for the rape and beating of a white woman jogging in Central Park on April 19, 1989. Now 49, Salaam is hoping to

Once wrongly imprisoned for notorious rape, member of 'Central Park Five' is running for office
Political

Pride and pain for president as son Hunter has navigated years of investigation, reaches plea deal

President Joe Biden had just six words to offer after his 53-year-old son Hunter pleaded guilty to federal tax offenses in a deal that is also likely to spare him time behind bars on a weapons charge. “I’m very proud of my son,” he said. That pride has been accompanied by pain, and for the president’s family, both have been on public display. Republicans have worked to use Hunter Biden’s actions — and his acknowledged struggle with addiction — as an anchor to try to drag down his father. As a parent, Joe Biden has tried to

Pride and pain for president as son Hunter has navigated years of investigation, reaches plea deal
Political

Democrats downplay Hunter Biden's plea deal, while Republicans see opportunity to deflect from Trump

Democrats, already anxious about President Joe Biden’s reelection prospects, are seeking to downplay — or ignore altogether — revelations that the president’s son has entered into a plea deal with federal prosecutors over tax offenses and a gun charge. And as Democrats dodge, former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies seized on the extraordinary legal development to tighten his grip on the GOP and deflect from his own legal shortcomings. But in a nation deeply divided and with voters from both parties firmly entrenched in their political outlook, there were few signs immediately after Hunter

Democrats downplay Hunter Biden's plea deal, while Republicans see opportunity to deflect from Trump
Political

Modi to start US visit with yoga on the UN lawn, a savvy and symbolic choice for India's leader

There will be plenty of time to discuss global tensions during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. this week. But he’s starting his day Wednesday by highlighting a pursuit of inner tranquility. After arriving in New York on Tuesday afternoon and holding private meetings, the leader of the world’s most populous nation kicks off his public schedule Wednesday with a group yoga session on the United Nations’ north lawn. U.N. General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and many other diplomats and U.N. officials are expected to attend the event. It

Modi to start US visit with yoga on the UN lawn, a savvy and symbolic choice for India's leader
Political

Biden-Modi relationship built around mutual admiration of scrappy pasts, pragmatic needs

No one would mistake them for best of friends. But U.S. President Joe Biden, the son of blue-collar Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who rose from tea seller’s son to premier, have developed a relationship based on mutual respect of their scrappy backgrounds and a pragmatism about the shared challenges their two countries face. Biden is hosting Modi for a state visit this week as he looks to tighten his relationship with the leader of a nation of 1.4 billion that the U.S. administration sees as a pivotal force in Asia for decades to

Biden-Modi relationship built around mutual admiration of scrappy pasts, pragmatic needs
Political

With Trump under indictment, House GOP calls on Trump-era special counsel who studied Russia probe

As Donald Trump faces a 37-count federal indictment and the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted, House Republicans are using a special counsel’s report to renew their argument that federal law enforcement is tainted by political bias. John Durham, who recently completed his report on the FBI’s investigation of Trump’s 2016 campaign, will testify Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee. That’s one day after Durham met behind closed doors with members of the House Intelligence Committee. While Durham produced just three prosecutions — with two acquittals — in a four-year investigation, his report highlighted FBI

With Trump under indictment, House GOP calls on Trump-era special counsel who studied Russia probe
Political

Jill Biden: Consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade 'go far beyond the right to choose'

Jill Biden said Tuesday that the consequences for women of losing the constitutional right to an abortion “go far beyond the right to choose” as she hosted a conversation with four women, including a Texas doctor, who shared emotional stories of being denied necessary reproductive care. The first lady invited the women from Texas, Florida and Louisiana to the White House to help highlight the anniversary Saturday of the Supreme Court decision overturning its 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, which established a constitutional right to an abortion. The ruling last June left it up to individual

Jill Biden: Consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade 'go far beyond the right to choose'
Political

DA, ethics panel back judge in Donald Trump hush-money case, finding no evidence of bias

Donald Trump’s tempestuous views aside, Manhattan prosecutors say neither the former president nor his lawyers have shown any evidence to support their claims that the judge in his hush-money criminal case has an anti-Trump bias. They urged him to reject defense demands that he step aside from the case. In court papers made public Tuesday, the Manhattan district attorney’s office defended Judge Juan Manuel Merchan against Trump’s claims that he’s a “Trump-hating judge,” amplifying a court ethics panel’s recent opinion that a judge in his situation wouldn’t have to recuse himself. The opinion, issued May 4

DA, ethics panel back judge in Donald Trump hush-money case, finding no evidence of bias
Political

Booze, drugs, a pet snake and foreign dealings: Families can cause headaches for a White House

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden whose plea deal on federal tax and gun charges was made public Tuesday, is by no means the first presidential relative whose personal troubles have brought unwelcome headlines and headaches for a White House. The younger Biden will plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses in an agreement that also allows him to avoid full prosecution on a felony charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user, as long as he abides by certain conditions. The deal closes a long-running Justice Department probe into Hunter Biden, long known

Booze, drugs, a pet snake and foreign dealings: Families can cause headaches for a White House
Political

Trump's penchant for talking could pose problems as Mar-a-Lago criminal case moves ahead

Criminal defendants are routinely advised to avoid commenting on pending charges against them. But Donald Trump, the former president and current White House hopeful, is no ordinary defendant. In his first televised interview since his arraignment last week on federal charges, the former president acknowledged that he delayed turning over boxes of documents despite being asked to do so, drew factually incorrect parallels between his case and classified document probes concerning other politicians, and claimed he didn’t actually have a Pentagon attack plan that the indictment says he boasted about to others. Those comments — like any

Trump's penchant for talking could pose problems as Mar-a-Lago criminal case moves ahead
Political

Pentagon accounting error provides extra $6.2 billion for Ukraine military aid

The Pentagon said Tuesday that it overestimated the value of the weapons it has sent to Ukraine by $6.2 billion over the past two years — about double early estimates — resulting in a surplus that will be used for future security packages. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said a detailed review of the accounting error found that the military services used replacement costs rather than the book value of equipment that was pulled from Pentagon stocks and sent to Ukraine. She said final calculations show there was an error of $3.6 billion in the current fiscal year

Pentagon accounting error provides extra $6.2 billion for Ukraine military aid
Political

Georgia officials won't take over elections in state's largest, Democrat-heavy county

Georgia’s State Election Board won’t take over running elections in the state’s most populous county, ending an investigation that had sparked fears of partisan meddling. The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to end its performance review of Fulton County nearly two years after it had begun. Multiple board members said that they want the county to continue to work on improvements before the 2024 election and not to backslide on work already done. “The question is, are we going to draw a line in the sand and say let us go, be done with this, and leave

Georgia officials won't take over elections in state's largest, Democrat-heavy county
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
Political

What to know about Hunter Biden's plea deal in federal tax and gun case

The announcement that federal prosecutors have reached a plea deal with President Joe Biden’s son Hunter over tax and gun charges marks the likely end of a five-year Justice Department investigation that has dogged the Biden family. It doesn’t, however, mean that congressional Republicans are done with their own wide-ranging probe into nearly every facet of Hunter Biden’s business dealings, including examining foreign payments and other aspects of his finances. Some of the Republican candidates hoping to face off against President Biden in the 2024 election are decrying the deal as evidence of an unfair justice system, particularly in light

What to know about Hunter Biden's plea deal in federal tax and gun case
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
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
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
Political

Biden will host a forum about artificial intelligence with technology leaders in San Francisco

President Joe Biden will convene a group of technology leaders on Tuesday to debate artificial intelligence. The Biden administration is seeking to figure out how to regulate the emergent field of AI, looking for ways to nurture its potential for economic growth and national security and protect against its potential dangers. Biden plans to meet with eight experts from academia and advocacy groups. The sudden emergence of AI chatbot ChatGPT and other tools has jumpstarted investment in the sector. AI tools are able to craft human-like text, music, images and computer code. This form of automation

Biden will host a forum about artificial intelligence with technology leaders in San Francisco
Political

Inside the deepening rivalry between Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says there’s no chance “on God’s green earth” he’s running for president in 2024, but he wants to make clear that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running, is “weak” and “undisciplined” and “will be crushed by Donald Trump.” DeSantis, meanwhile, likes to mock Newsom’s apparent “fixation” on Florida while insisting that the Democratic governor’s “leftist government” is destroying California. Welcome to one of the fiercest rivalries in U.S. politics, featuring dueling term-limited governors who represent opposite ends of the ideological spectrum and lead two of the nation’s largest and most influential

Inside the deepening rivalry between Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom
Political

Biden is ready to fete India's leader, looking past Modi's human rights record and ties to Russia

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is, on many counts, a curious choice for President Joe Biden to honor with a state visit. Since Russia’s Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine 16 months ago, India has boosted its economy by purchasing increasing quantities of cheap Russian oil. Human rights groups and political opponents have accused Modi of stifling dissent and introducing divisive policies that discriminate against Muslims and other minorities. And India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has espoused a worldview in which there are no allies or friends, only “frenemies.” But Biden, who will welcome Modi to

Biden is ready to fete India's leader, looking past Modi's human rights record and ties to Russia
Political

Disciplinary hearing against Trump attorney John Eastman begins in California

An effort to disbar conservative attorney John Eastman, who devised ways to keep former President Donald Trump in the White House after his defeat the 2020 election, will begin Tuesday in Los Angeles. Eastman is expected to spend the day testifying before the State Bar of California in a proceeding that could result in him losing his license to practice law in the state. He faces 11 disciplinary charges stemming from his development of a dubious legal strategy that was aimed at helping Trump remain in power by disrupting the counting of state electoral votes. The

Disciplinary hearing against Trump attorney John Eastman begins in California
Political

Tribal activists see 'green colonialism' in Nevada mine Biden hails as key to clean energy

Just 45 miles (72 kilometers) from the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation where Daranda Hinkey and her family corral horses and cows, a centerpiece of President Joe Biden’s clean energy plan is taking shape: construction of one of the largest lithium mines in the world. As heavy trucks dig up the earth in this remote, windswept region of Nevada to extract the silvery-white metal used in electric-vehicle batteries, the $2.2 billion project is fueling a backlash. “No Lithium. No mine!″ proclaims a large hand-painted sign in Hinkey’s front yard. The Biden administration says the project will help

Tribal activists see 'green colonialism' in Nevada mine Biden hails as key to clean energy
Political

UN members adopt first-ever treaty to protect marine life in the high seas

Members of the United Nations adopted the first-ever treaty to protect marine life in the high seas on Monday, with the U.N.’s chief hailing the historic agreement as giving the ocean “a fighting chance.” Delegates from the 193 member nations burst into applause and then stood up in a sustained standing ovation when Singapore’s ambassador on ocean issues, Rena Lee, who presided over the negotiations, banged her gavel after hearing no objections to the treaty’s approval. The treaty to protect biodiversity in waters outside national boundaries, known as the high seas, covering nearly half of earth’s

UN members adopt first-ever treaty to protect marine life in the high seas
Political

Trump faces questions about whether he'll drag down the Republican Party after his indictments

Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican faithful was evident from the moment he left the federal courthouse in Miami last week. Fresh off becoming the first former president to face criminal charges levied by the government he once oversaw, Trump’s motorcade moved through a crowd of hundreds of mostly adoring fans. He met more supporters at a Cuban restaurant in Little Havana, a Miami neighborhood that, like much of south Florida, has swung toward Republicans in recent years. A federal indictment on charges of mishandling the nation’s most sensitive national security secrets would doom any other White House hopeful. But

Trump faces questions about whether he'll drag down the Republican Party after his indictments

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