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Today: January 22, 2025
Today: January 22, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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World

Israeli forces shell southern Lebanon border village after rocket lands near disputed territory

Israeli forces shelled a southern Lebanese border village on Thursday after several explosions were heard in a disputed area where the borders of Syria, Lebanon and Israel meet. Tensions continue to flare in the border area over two tents erected by the militant group Hezbollah and Israel’s building of a wall around the Lebanese part of a village that Israeli troops captured during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. A Lebanese military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of not being cleared to provide information to journalists said one rocket was fired toward Israel from the

Israeli forces shell southern Lebanon border village after rocket lands near disputed territory
World

Nigeria triggers national response plan for annual deadly floods; 14 states on alert

Nigeria’s government activated its national response plan ahead of what is expected to be another round of annual flooding related to climate change, putting several states on alert, authorities told The Associated Press on Thursday. Following floods last year that killed more than 600 people, the National Emergency Management Agency said it was preparing for another dangerous deluge. The agency requested support from the country’s air force and activated its offices to be ready to respond quickly across the country, spokesperson Manzo Ezekiel said. “As it is, the (flooding) outlook is still very gloomy, and we

Nigeria triggers national response plan for annual deadly floods; 14 states on alert
World

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits China as part of efforts to sooth strained relations

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in Beijing on Thursday for meetings with Chinese leaders as part of efforts to revive relations that are strained by disputes about security, technology and other irritants. Yellen planned to focus on stabilizing the global economy and challenging Chinese support of Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, Treasury officials in Washington told reporters ahead of the trip. The secretary was due to meet with Chinese officials, American businesspeople and members of the public, according to Treasury officials. They gave no details, but said Yellen wouldn’t meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Yellen follows

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits China as part of efforts to sooth strained relations
World

Climate talks chief urges oil producing states to slash emissions

The president of this year’s United Nations’ climate talks urged the oil and gas industry Thursday to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by or before 2050 in a speech to oil producing states. Speaking at a meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna, Sultan al-Jaber urged members to invest heavily in renewables and work toward reducing planet-warming emissions from third parties, such as those released by suppliers or customers. He also encouraged nations to reach net zero methane emissions by 2030. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide

Climate talks chief urges oil producing states to slash emissions
World

Glitches in Japan's unpopular MyNumber digital ID cards draw a flood of complaints

The minister charged with an overhaul of Japan’s digitized system to assign a number to everyone living in the country has apologized, as doctors protested glitches with health insurance and local governments begged Thursday for clarity on how to handle the problems. The MyNumber, or “MaiNa” for short, system has clearly gone afoul. The government has ordered a total rechecking of MyNumber data, one by one, “mechanically,” as the digital agency put it. The goal is to complete it by the fall, which could be anytime from September to November. Local governments have to deal with much

Glitches in Japan's unpopular MyNumber digital ID cards draw a flood of complaints
World

UAE pledges $15 million to help rebuild occupied West Bank camp hard hit by Israeli offensive

The United Arab Emirates pledged Thursday to give $15 million to help rebuild the Jenin refugee camp after the most intense Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades. The funding promise comes after the two-day offensive destroyed the camp’s narrow roads and alleyways. The operation, meant to crack down on Palestinian militants after a series of recent attacks on Israelis, sent thousands of people fleeing their homes. Twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed in the fighting. The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency reported that the money would be

UAE pledges $15 million to help rebuild occupied West Bank camp hard hit by Israeli offensive
World

2 New Jersey firefighters died battling a blaze deep in a ship carrying 5,000 cars

Two firefighters were killed battling a blaze that began when cars caught fire deep inside a cargo ship carrying 5,000 cars at a New Jersey port, Newark’s fire chief said Thursday. Five other firefighters were injured but were expected to recover. Responding firefighters found five to seven vehicles already on fire when they reached the 10th floor of the cargo ship at Port Newark around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night. The blaze quickly extended to the 11th and 12th floors, and as firefighters were pushed back by the intense heat, two of them were lost, Fire Chief

2 New Jersey firefighters died battling a blaze deep in a ship carrying 5,000 cars
World

Shell CEO calls it 'irresponsible' to cut oil production now

The head of global energy giant Shell says it would be “irresponsible” to cut oil and gas production at a time when the world economy is still dependent on fossil fuels. In an interview with the BBC released Thursday, Shell CEO Wael Sawan also refused to rule out moving the company’s headquarters and stock market listing from Britain to the United States. “The reality is, the energy system of today continues to desperately need oil and gas,” Sawan said. “And before we are able to let go of that, we need to make sure that we have

Shell CEO calls it 'irresponsible' to cut oil production now
World

7 children, 2 adults hurt after car crashes into school in Wimbledon, not far from tennis tournament

London police say seven children and two adults were injured Thursday when a car crashed into an elementary school on a very narrow road in Wimbledon, in southwest London. The Metropolitan Police said the incident was not being treated as a possible extremist attack. Police were called to The Study Preparatory School, a private all-girls school, at 9:54 a.m., along with paramedics in ground and air ambulances. The driver of the vehicle, believed to be a Land Rover, stopped at the scene, the London police force said. No arrests were made. “There are a number of people

7 children, 2 adults hurt after car crashes into school in Wimbledon, not far from tennis tournament
World

Thousands party in Spain's Pamplona city as firework blast begins San Fermin bull-running festival

Tens of thousands of people packed the town hall square in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona on Thursday to celebrate the traditional “chupinazo” firework blast that starts the San Fermín bull-running festival. Nearly everyone, including many tourists, was dressed in the traditional garb of white trousers and shirt with red sash and neckerchief as they sang and shouted. As the rocket was fired, many doused each other with red or sparkling wine. The highlight of the nine-day festival is the early morning “encierros,” or bull runs, starting on Friday, when thousands of daredevils race to

Thousands party in Spain's Pamplona city as firework blast begins San Fermin bull-running festival
World

United Methodists lose one-fifth of US churches in schism driven by growing defiance of LGBTQ bans

More than 6,000 United Methodist congregations — a fifth of the U.S. total — have now received permission to leave the denomination amid a schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people in the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination. Those figures emerge following the close of regular meetings in June for the denomination’s regional bodies, known as annual conferences. The departures began with a trickle in 2019 — when the church created a four-year window of opportunity for U.S. congregations to depart over LGBTQ-related issues — and cascaded to its highest level this year. Church law forbids the marriage or

United Methodists lose one-fifth of US churches in schism driven by growing defiance of LGBTQ bans
World

Israeli court acquits border police officer charged with killing autistic Palestinian man

An Israeli court on Thursday acquitted a border police officer who was charged with reckless manslaughter in the deadly shooting of an autistic Palestinian man in Jerusalem’s Old City three years ago. The Jerusalem district court ruled that the officer was acting in self defense when he shot and killed 32-year old Eyad Hallaq. The case has drawn comparisons to the police killing of George Floyd in the United States. The court described the incident as a tragic mistake, noting that the officer made a split-second decision in dangerous situation. Taking risks, the court said, “is an

Israeli court acquits border police officer charged with killing autistic Palestinian man
World

The death toll from a South Africa gas leak blamed on illegal gold processing has risen to 17

The death toll from a toxic gas leak that authorities blamed on an illegal gold processing operation in South Africa rose to 17, including three children, as police removed canisters from a community of closely packed shacks and sifted through evidence Thursday. The leak of what authorities said was a toxic nitrate gas happened Wednesday night in the informal Angelo settlement in Boksburg, a city on the eastern outskirts of Johannesburg. The three children who died were ages 1, 6 and 15, police said. At least 10 people were hospitalized, including a 2-month-old baby, two

The death toll from a South Africa gas leak blamed on illegal gold processing has risen to 17
Political

Russia's kidnapping of Ukrainian children is not unique – Putin and others have long used children as political pawns

People in Brussels attend a memorial for the Ukrainian children who have been forcibly taken to Russia. hierry Monasse/Getty Images Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian soldiers have forcibly taken an estimated 16,000 Ukrainian children to Russia. Over 300 children have since returned home, but it is not clear what happened to most of the rest. The mass abductions led prosecutors at the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants in March 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova. Moscow counters that the children it has brought to

Russia's kidnapping of Ukrainian children is not unique – Putin and others have long used children as political pawns
Political

Police treatment in black and white – report on Minneapolis policing is the latest reminder of systemic racial disparities

People in the Brooklyn borough of New York City protest police violence against Black women on Sept. 5, 2020. Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images The latest reminder that police officers around the country routinely deny Black people their constitutional rights comes from the Justice Department. This time, it’s about Minneapolis, the site of a police officer’s video-recorded murder of resident George Floyd. More than three years after Floyd’s brutal death and the global protest movement that sprang from it, a June 2023 Justice Department report found that Minneapolis police use excessive force, including unjustified deadly force in their interactions with

Police treatment in black and white – report on Minneapolis policing is the latest reminder of systemic racial disparities
Arts

Chloe confirms Gabriela Hearst is leaving, as eyes look toward Fendi show to cap couture

Fashion whispers have finally been confirmed: Gabriela Hearst is stepping down as the creative director of Maison Chloé after a brief but impactful three-year tenure. Hearst, the first female designer with multicultural roots (Uruguay and United States) to lead a Parisian fashion house, has been a transformative force at Chloé since her appointment in December 2020. Here are some highlights of the last day of fall couture shows on Thursday that will include Fendi later in the day: GABRIELA HEARST BIDS ADIEU TO CHLOÉ, LEAVING A GREEN LEGACY Despite the relative brevity of her tenure, Hearst leaves

Chloe confirms Gabriela Hearst is leaving, as eyes look toward Fendi show to cap couture
World

More Americans apply for jobless benefits, but layoffs are not rising significantly

The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits rose last week, but remains at healthy levels despite the Federal Reserve’s attempt to cool the labor market by raising interest rates. U.S. applications for jobless claims rose by 12,000 to 248,000 for the week ending July 1, from 236,000 previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week moving average of claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week volatility, fell by 3,500 by 253,250. Jobless claim applications are seen as a proxy for the number of layoffs in a given week. Overall, 1.72 million people were collecting unemployment benefits the

More Americans apply for jobless benefits, but layoffs are not rising significantly
World

2 weeks of monsoon rains in Pakistan have killed at least 55, including 8 children

The death toll from two weeks of monsoon rains rose to at least 55 on Thursday after 12 people, including eight children, died in weather-related incidents in Pakistan amid fears of flash floods, authorities said. The eastern city of Lahore witnessed a record-breaking downpour the previous day, flooding many streets and disrupting normal life. Since Wednesday, 19 people have died in the city due to collapsing roofs and electrocution, officials said. Pakistan’s weather forecast agency warned of more rain to hit the city. At least eight children died when a massive landslide hit Shangla, a district

2 weeks of monsoon rains in Pakistan have killed at least 55, including 8 children
Arts

Zendaya tennis drama ‘Challengers’ to open Venice Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival is serving up one of the year’s buzzier films as its opening night selection in Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers.” The romantic tennis drama starring Zendaya, “West Side Story’s” Mike Faist and “The Crown’s” Josh O’Connor will have its world premiere out of competition at the 80th edition of the festival in September, organizers said Thursday. “Challengers” stars Zendaya as a tennis prodigy whose past collides with her present when her husband, played by Faist, faces off against a competitor who was once his best friend and her boyfriend. A spicy and suggestive teaser trailer that debuted recently

Zendaya tennis drama ‘Challengers’ to open Venice Film Festival
World

Wimbledon is finally dry as organizers try to catch up following 3 days of rain

The courts are finally dry at Wimbledon and the sun is even shining through the clouds at times, giving organizers hope of fitting in a full day of tennis on Thursday for the first time at this year’s tournament. The first three days of action at the All England Club were affected by rain. Only eight matches were completed on Tuesday. Those matches were played on either Centre Court or No. 1 Court, the only stadiums on the grounds with roofs. Because of the all the disruption, there were a handful of first-round matches being played

Wimbledon is finally dry as organizers try to catch up following 3 days of rain
Arts

An already full-tilt movie franchise turns it up a notch in 'Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning'

There are, as a rule, only so many places you can go as an action movie after leaving Tom Cruise clinging to the side of an Airbus A400M and flinging him out a cargo plane at 25,000 feet. But in the kinetic, headlong world of “Mission: Impossible,” the pressure to keep upping the ante — like the films’ always-running star — never stops. “Every time we finish a movie, the first thing Tom says to me is: We can do better,” says Christopher McQuarrie. McQuarrie, the writer-director of 2015’s “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” and the

An already full-tilt movie franchise turns it up a notch in 'Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning'
World

Greece welcomes deescalation in the eastern Mediterranean without directly referring to Turkey

Greece’s newly appointed defense minister on Thursday welcomed a deescalation of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, expressing hope this would lead to a “climate of trust” without directly referring to Turkey. But Nikos Dendias said that trust must be built on the U.N. charter and on respect for the rule of law on land and at sea with the “absolute condemnation for the threat of the use of force.” Dendias, a former foreign minister, made the remarks after talks with his Cypriot counterpart Michalis Georgallas during his first overseas visit following the reelection of Greek Prime

Greece welcomes deescalation in the eastern Mediterranean without directly referring to Turkey
World

U.S. job openings dip to 9.8 million but remain high, showing resilience in labor market

U.S. job openings slipped in May but remained at levels high enough to illustrate that the American labor market remains resilient in the face of sharply higher interest rates. Employers posted 9.8 million job vacancies, down from 10.3 million in April, the Labor Department said Thursday. But layoffs fell slightly, and more Americans quit their jobs — a sign they were confident they could find better pay or working conditions elsewhere. Job openings fell in healthcare, insurance and finance. But there were more jobs available in education and government. The Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover

U.S. job openings dip to 9.8 million but remain high, showing resilience in labor market
World

Zelenskyy visits Bulgaria, Czechia and draws support for Kyiv’s NATO membership bid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the capitals of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic on Thursday, discussing military aid and receiving assurances of support for Ukraine’s entry into NATO after i ts war with Russia is over. Czech President Petr Pavel said it is in the interest of his country and Ukraine that soon as the war ends negotiations about NATO membership begin. “I’m convinced that Ukraine will be part of NATO,” Zelenskyy said in Prague, adding that an “ideal” result of next week’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania would be an invitation for Ukraine to join

Zelenskyy visits Bulgaria, Czechia and draws support for Kyiv’s NATO membership bid
World

Mass expulsions and mistreatment of migrants reported in Tunisia as tensions spike in port city

Tensions spiked dangerously in a Tunisian port city this week after three migrants were detained in the death of a local man, and there were reports of retaliation against Black foreigners and accounts of mass expulsions and alleged assaults by security forces. The people suspected in the slaying of a 41-year-old Tunisian were under investigation for premeditated murder, according to Faouzi Masmoudi, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office in the seaside city of Sfax. Twenty-two migrants from sub-Saharan countries in Africa also were detained for questioning in connection with crimes in the area, Masmoudi said Wednesday. Sfax,

Mass expulsions and mistreatment of migrants reported in Tunisia as tensions spike in port city

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