The Los Angeles Post
California & Local U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: January 22, 2025
Today: January 22, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

Staff Writer

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

World

EU executive chides Poland, Hungary for democratic deficiencies

The European Union’s executive on Wednesday chided Poland and Hungary for democratic deficiencies that have been accerbated by measures taken or left unaddressed by the current governments. While the EU Commission’s annual rule of law report noted a smattering of improvements in the two nations, it also underscored many remaining shortcomings that highlight the standoff between the Brussels-based EU institutions and the two east European nations. It constitutes one of the fundamental problems within the 27-nation bloc that has always sought to be a beacon of Western political liberalism in a world where autocracies sway ever more

EU executive chides Poland, Hungary for democratic deficiencies
World

South Sudan president says he will be a candidate in long-delayed elections set for 2024

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan says his country’s long-delayed elections will take place in 2024 and that he will be on the ballot. Kiir, who has led South Sudan since the territory became independent of Sudan in 2011, accepted the endorsement of the ruling party at a stadium event Tuesday in Bahr el Ghazal. “I am deeply touched by your endorsement and your continued support to our historic party,” Kiir told tens of thousands of supporters at the Wau Stadium. Kiir is expected to face his long-time rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, who

South Sudan president says he will be a candidate in long-delayed elections set for 2024
World

UK, Canada, Sweden, Ukraine take Iran to top UN court over 2020 downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet

The United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden and Ukraine launched a case against Iran at the United Nations’ highest court Wednesday over the downing in 2020 of a Ukrainian passenger jet and the deaths of all 176 passengers and crew. The four countries want the International Court of Justice to rule that Iran illegally shot down the Ukraine International Airlines plane and to order Tehran to apologize and pay compensation to the families of the victims. Flight PS752 was traveling from Tehran to Kyiv on Jan. 8, 2020 when it was shot down soon after takeoff. The

UK, Canada, Sweden, Ukraine take Iran to top UN court over 2020 downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet
World

Ukraine and Russia trade accusations of imminent attack on Europe's largest nuclear plant.

Ukraine and Russia accused each other Wednesday of planning to attack one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants, which is located in southeastern Ukraine and occupied by Russian troops, but neither side provided evidence to support their claims. Citing intelligence reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian troops had placed “objects resembling explosives on the roof of several power units” of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The objects could be used to “simulate” an attack, he said, meaning a false flag attack. A statement from the General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said the “foreign

Ukraine and Russia trade accusations of imminent attack on Europe's largest nuclear plant.
Political

Prigozhin revolt raised fears of Putin's toppling – and a nuclear Russia in chaos

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on June 29, less than a week after the rebellion by the mercenary Wagner Group. Contributor/Getty Images As national security scholar Gregory F. Treverton says, the brief mutiny mounted by Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group, may be over, but the dramatic events sparked by that mutiny are “still unfolding.” In this interview with The Conversation U.S. democracy editor Naomi Schalit, Treverton, a former chairman of the National Intelligence Council in the Obama administration, points out that the U.S. response to the incident was superficially simple – essentially

Prigozhin revolt raised fears of Putin's toppling – and a nuclear Russia in chaos
Environment

America's disconnection crisis: In 31 states, utilities can shut off power for nonpayment in a heat wave

Low-income residents are among those most likely to lose cooling in their homes because they can’t pay their bills. Solidcolours/iStock/Getty Images Plus Millions of Americans have already been sweltering through heat waves this summer, and forecasters warn of hot months ahead. For people who struggle to afford air conditioning, the rising need for cooling is a growing crisis. An alarming number of people risk losing access to utility service altogether because they can’t pay their bills. Energy utility providers shut off electricity to at least 3 million customers in 2022 who had missed a bill payment. Over 30% of these

America's disconnection crisis: In 31 states, utilities can shut off power for nonpayment in a heat wave
Environment

America's power disconnection crisis: In 31 states, utilities can shut off electricity for nonpayment in a heat wave

Low-income residents are among those most likely to lose cooling in their homes because they can’t pay their bills. Solidcolours/iStock/Getty Images Plus Millions of Americans have already been sweltering through heat waves this summer, and forecasters warn of hot months ahead. July 3 and 4, 2023, were two of the hottest days, and possibly the hottest, on satellite record globally. For people who struggle to afford air conditioning, the rising need for cooling is a growing crisis. An alarming number of Americans risk losing access to utility service altogether because they can’t pay their bills. Energy utility providers shut off

America's power disconnection crisis: In 31 states, utilities can shut off electricity for nonpayment in a heat wave
Environment

America faces a power disconnection crisis amid rising heat: In 31 states, utilities can shut off electricity for nonpayment in a heat wave

Low-income residents are among those most likely to lose cooling in their homes because they can’t pay their bills. Solidcolours/iStock/Getty Images Plus Millions of Americans have been sweltering through heat waves in recent weeks, and U.S. forecasters warn of a hot summer ahead. Globally, 2023 saw the warmest June on record, according to the European Union’s climate change service. That heat continued into July, with some of the hottest global daily temperatures on satellite record, and possibly the hottest. For people who struggle to afford air conditioning, the rising need for cooling is a growing crisis. An alarming number of

America faces a power disconnection crisis amid rising heat: In 31 states, utilities can shut off electricity for nonpayment in a heat wave
World

Iran tried to seize 2 oil tankers near Strait of Hormuz and fired shots at one of them, US Navy says

Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday, firing shots at one of them, the U.S. Navy said. It said that in both cases, the Iranian naval vessels backed off after the U.S. Navy responded to distress signals, and that both commercial ships continued their voyages. “The Iranian navy did make attempts to seize commercial tankers lawfully transiting international waters,” said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. “The U.S. Navy responded immediately and prevented those seizures.” He said the gunfire directed at the

Iran tried to seize 2 oil tankers near Strait of Hormuz and fired shots at one of them, US Navy says
World

Rain again affects play at Wimbledon day but matches go ahead under the roof on Centre Court

Rain is again affecting play at Wimbledon on Day 3 of the grass-court tournament. Intermittent showers Wednesday forced matches on the outside courts to be suspended twice, while play in the main stadiums was also stopped for a short time because of the weather. Only Centre Court and No. 1 Court at the All England Club have roofs. Top-seeded woman Iga Swiatek and defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic were both scheduled to play on Centre Court after the opening match between Daria Kasatkina and Jodie Burrage. On No. 1 Court, third-seeded Daniil Medvedev was playing Arthur

Rain again affects play at Wimbledon day but matches go ahead under the roof on Centre Court
World

English men's soccer has its first female head coach as Hannah Dingley takes over at Forest Green

While women’s soccer is growing in popularity in the U.K., opportunities for women in the men’s game remain few and far between. That changed this week when Forest Green Rovers became the first professional soccer team in England to appoint a female head coach. Hannah Dingley, who was already in charge of the fourth division club’s academy, has been made caretaker head coach following the departure of Duncan Ferguson on Tuesday. “It’s perhaps telling for the men’s game that in making this appointment on merit, we’ll break new ground – and Hannah will be the first

English men's soccer has its first female head coach as Hannah Dingley takes over at Forest Green
World

Sean "Diddy" Combs' dispute with Diageo deepens as court unseals business details

Rapper, producer and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs is asking the New York Supreme Court to enforce a 2021 agreement that requires spirits seller Diageo to treat his DeLeon tequila brand “at least as favorably” as its other tequila brands. Combs signed the agreement with Diageo – which owns more than 200 brands including Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin – after what he says were years of neglect for DeLeon, a brand he established with the London company in 2013. Combs’ lawsuit against Diageo was filed in May. But many details, including the 2021 agreement, were redacted at the time. On

Sean "Diddy" Combs' dispute with Diageo deepens as court unseals business details
World

German Cabinet approves a lower 2024 budget as it eyes a return to financial 'normality'

Germany’s Cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft 2024 budget that foresees lower spending, with defense among the exceptions, as Europe’s biggest economy sticks to rules limiting borrowing that were suspended during the coronavirus pandemic. The government’s plan calls for spending of 445.7 billion euros ($486 billion), down 6.4% from the 476.3 billion euros it expects to spend this year. Defense spending is set to rise by 1.7 billion euros to some 51.8 billion euros, some way short of what the defense minister initially sought. Germany plans to reach a NATO target of spending 2% of gross domestic

German Cabinet approves a lower 2024 budget as it eyes a return to financial 'normality'
World

France's Supreme Court rejects groups' request for slavery reparations in case from Martinique

France’s highest court has rejected a request by three groups seeking reparations for slavery in a case that originated on the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The court’s decision on Wednesday said that no individual produced evidence showing they had “suffered individually” any damage from the crimes that their ancestors had been subjected to. Slavery was abolished in France in 1848, but before that had a significant slave trade, shipping more than 1 million Africans to colonies in the Americas. The International Movement for Reparations and two other groups launched efforts in pursuit of reparations in 2005.

France's Supreme Court rejects groups' request for slavery reparations in case from Martinique
World

Environmental activists arrested at Wimbledon for throwing confetti and puzzle pieces on court

Two environmental activists were arrested at Wimbledon on Wednesday after getting on court and disrupting a match by scattering orange confetti and puzzle pieces on the grass. A woman and a man wearing T-shirts from Just Stop Oil — a protest group that wants the British government to stop new oil, gas and coal projects — made it onto the field of play at Court 18 before being taken away by security. The interruption happened as three-time Grand Slam semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who is seeded 21st in the men’s bracket, was about to hit

Environmental activists arrested at Wimbledon for throwing confetti and puzzle pieces on court
World

Stalemate: UPS, Teamsters contract talks break down with each side blaming the other

Contract negotiations between UPS and the union representing 340,000 of the company’s workers broke down early Wednesday with each side blaming the other for walking away from talks. The Teamsters have imposed several deadlines for United Parcel Service negotiators to make their “last, best and final” offer to its unionized workers in recent days. Union officials said Wednesday that UPS “walked away from the bargaining table after presenting an unacceptable offer” to Teamsters members. UPS told a different story. The package delivery company said it was the Teamsters who abandoned negotiations, “despite UPS’s historic offer that builds on our industry-leading

Stalemate: UPS, Teamsters contract talks break down with each side blaming the other
World

Hockey Diversity Alliance feels betrayed, says NHL 'late to party' in launching inclusion coalition

Akim Aliu and his fellow members of the Hockey Diversity Alliance say they feel betrayed and confused by the NHL’s decision to launch — or as far as the HDA is concerned, re-launch — an inclusion committee to diversify the sport and make hockey more welcoming. Whatever happened, Aliu wondered, to the league announcing a partnership with the HDA to address the same issues three years ago? And why, the HDA wondered in releasing a scathing statement Wednesday, is the NHL essentially duplicating what they’ve been doing by funneling millions into programs at the grassroots level and introducing hockey to

Hockey Diversity Alliance feels betrayed, says NHL 'late to party' in launching inclusion coalition
Arts

Bear Grylls goes into the wild with a new batch of celebrities, from Bradley Cooper to Rita Ora

For his latest role, Bradley Cooper leapt onto a hovering helicopter, rappelled down a 400-foot cliff and pulled himself across a 100-foot ravine in one of the harshest climates in North America. His reward wasn’t an Oscar nomination or a big box office hit. It was a hug from adventurist Bear Grylls and some words of encouragement. “He smashed it,” Grylls says. Cooper is one of several celebrities — including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cynthia Erivo, Russell Brand, Troy Kotsur, Rita Ora, Daveed Diggs and Tatiana Maslany — who put their survival skills to the test in a

Bear Grylls goes into the wild with a new batch of celebrities, from Bradley Cooper to Rita Ora
World

Mass shootings claim lives at gatherings over the July Fourth holiday

Mass shootings broke out at festivals, block parties and other gatherings in a handful of cities this week as the U.S. celebrated the Fourth of July. Gun violence that flared in Washington, D.C, Louisiana, Florida, Philadelphia, Texas and Baltimore left more than a dozen dead and almost 60 wounded — including children as young as 2 years old. In Shreveport, Louisiana, at least three people were killed and 10 others wounded late Tuesday night, Shreveport police Sgt. Angie Willhite said. One of the injured was in critical condition Wednesday but the others were expected to survive,

Mass shootings claim lives at gatherings over the July Fourth holiday
World

Hong Kong police arrest 4 men accused of supporting people overseas endangering national security

Hong Kong police on Wednesday arrested four men they accused of providing financial support to people who fled overseas and are involved in activities endangering national security, escalating a high-profile crackdown on dissidents in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Police said the four are suspected of using companies, social media and mobile applications to receive funds that they then provided to the people overseas. A police statement did not identify the four suspects or the people they allegedly supported. Local media, including the South China Morning Post, said the four are former members of the now-defunct pro-democracy

Hong Kong police arrest 4 men accused of supporting people overseas endangering national security
Political

Jenin has long been seen as the capital of Palestinian resistance and militancy – the latest raid will do little to shake that reputation

A Palestinian confronts Israeli military vehicles in the Jenin refugee camp on July 4, 2023. Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Israeli troops withdrew from Jenin on July 4, 2023 after two days of heavy aerial bombardment and ground invasion. According to reports, 12 Palestinians were killed and over 100 wounded in what the Israeli military described as a “counter-terrorism operation”. One Israeli soldier was also reportedly killed. The site of the latest confrontation in not new. The Jenin refugee camp, on the western edge of the town of Jenin in the north of the occupied West Bank, has often

Jenin has long been seen as the capital of Palestinian resistance and militancy – the latest raid will do little to shake that reputation
World

Suspect, 40, arraigned on murder charges in Philadelphia mass shooting that killed 5

A 40-year-old accused of killing a man in a house and then gunning down four others on the streets of a southwest Philadelphia neighborhood before surrendering to police officers has been arraigned on murder and other charges. Kimbrady Carriker was arraigned Wednesday on five counts of murder as well as charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons counts of possession without a license and carrying firearms in public, prosecutors said. A 2-year-old boy and a 13-year-old youth were also wounded by gunfire and another 2-year-old boy and a woman were hit by shattered glass in the

Suspect, 40, arraigned on murder charges in Philadelphia mass shooting that killed 5
World

You can watch Wimbledon on TV outdoors in Brooklyn. It's part of a bid to blend the past and present

Tennis fans in New York can gather to see live TV coverage of the last three days of Wimbledon at an outdoor watch party at Brooklyn Bridge Park from July 14-16, featuring the women’s final and the men’s semifinals and final. Online registration for 1,500 free tickets for each day ends Thursday; walk-ins will be allowed, too. So much of that paragraph would have been incomprehensible to anyone around for the initial edition of the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament in 1877, from the television broadcast to the trans-Atlantic appeal to the online element to, even,

You can watch Wimbledon on TV outdoors in Brooklyn. It's part of a bid to blend the past and present
World

Hong Kong-born singer Coco Lee dies by suicide at age 48, her siblings say

Coco Lee, a Hong Kong-born singer and songwriter who had a highly successful career in Asia, has died by suicide, her siblings said Wednesday. She was 48. The star had been suffering from depression for several years, Lee’s elder sisters Carol and Nancy Lee said in a statement posted on Facebook and Instagram, with her condition deteriorating drastically over the last few months. “Although, CoCo sought professional help and did her best to fight depression, sadly that demon inside of her took the better of her,” the statement read. Lee attempted suicide at home over the

Hong Kong-born singer Coco Lee dies by suicide at age 48, her siblings say
Political

Attorney who challenged Trump's 2020 loss gives up law license as states weigh disciplining him

Attorney Lin Wood, who filed legal challenges seeking to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss, is relinquishing his law license, electing to retire from practicing rather than face possible disbarment. Multiple states have weighed disciplining him for pushing Trump’s false claims that he defeated Joe Biden. On Tuesday, Wood asked officials in his home state of Georgia to “retire” his law license in light of “disciplinary proceedings pending against me.” In the request, made in a letter and posted on his Telegram account, Wood acknowledges that he is “prohibited from practicing law in this State and

Attorney who challenged Trump's 2020 loss gives up law license as states weigh disciplining him

Follow