The Los Angeles Post
California & Local U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: January 23, 2025
Today: January 23, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

Staff Writer

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Science

Panda twins born in South Korea for the 1st time

A giant panda has given birth to twin cubs at a theme park in South Korea. Ai Bao gave birth to the cubs, both female, last Friday at the Everland theme park near Seoul, the park’s operator, Samsung C&T resort group, said in a statement Tuesday. It’s the first time that panda twins have been born in South Korea, the resort group said. Both Ai Bao and her newborns are in good health, it said. Decades of conservation efforts in the wild and study in captivity saved the giant panda species from extinction, increasing its

Panda twins born in South Korea for the 1st time
World

Live Updates | Lithuania and allies beef up security for NATO summit

Follow along for updates on the summit of the NATO military alliance in Lithuania’s capital: What to know: — Turkey’s decision to end opposition to Sweden’s NATO membership boosts summit — Sweden’s rocky road from neutrality toward NATO membership — What is NATO doing to help Ukraine in the war with Russia? — Ukraine, defense plans and Sweden’s membership top summit agenda —— Lithuania and several of its allies have beefed up security for the NATO summit, with as many as 12,000 troops backed by warships, air defense systems and artillery deployed for the two-day meeting.

Live Updates | Lithuania and allies beef up security for NATO summit
World

Israeli authorities evict Palestinian family from Jerusalem home after decades-long legal battle

Israeli authorities on Tuesday evicted a Palestinian family from their contested apartment in Jerusalem’s Old City, the family said, capping a decades-long legal battle that has come to symbolize conflicting claims to the holy city. Activists say the Ghaith-Sub Laban family’s eviction is part of a wider trend of Israeli settlers, backed by the government, encroaching on Palestinian neighborhoods and cementing Israeli control by seizing property in east Jerusalem. Israel describes it as a simple battle over real estate, with settlers claiming the family are squatters in an apartment formerly owned by Jews. Earlier this year, Israel’s

Israeli authorities evict Palestinian family from Jerusalem home after decades-long legal battle
Political

White House lays out effort against animal sedative xylazine but doesn't call for new restrictions

Federal officials on Tuesday called for more testing and research on xylazine, the powerful animal sedative that’s spreading through the nation’s illicit drug supply, but they stopped short of recommending new restrictions on the veterinary medication. A six-point plan from the White House’s drug control office aims to scale up testing, treatment and efforts to intercept illegal shipments of xylazine, which is being mixed into fentanyl and other illicit opioids. The White House declared xylazine-laced fentanyl an “emerging threat” in April and called for a national strategy to combat its use. Xylazine, sometimes known as tranq, can

White House lays out effort against animal sedative xylazine but doesn't call for new restrictions
World

Tourists are told to stay away from an erupting volcano in Iceland because of poisonous gases

Authorities in Iceland on Tuesday warned tourists and other spectators to stay away from a newly erupting volcano that is spewing lava and noxious gases from a fissure in the country’s southwest. The eruption began Monday afternoon after thousands of earthquakes in the area, meteorological authorities said. This one comes 11 months after its last eruption officially ended. The eruption is in an uninhabited valley near the Litli-Hrútur mountain, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of the capital, Reykjavik. The area, known broadly as Fagradalsfjall volcano, erupted in 2021 and 2022 without causing damage or disruptions

Tourists are told to stay away from an erupting volcano in Iceland because of poisonous gases
World

China says its foreign minister is ill. A senior diplomat will take his place at ASEAN

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is unwell and the country’s senior diplomat will take his place at a two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin gave no details of what was ailing Qin, who has not been seen in public in more than two weeks. “State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang is unable to attend this series of foreign ministers’ meetings due to health reasons,” Wang said at a daily briefing Tuesday. Wang Yi, a former foreign minister and

China says its foreign minister is ill. A senior diplomat will take his place at ASEAN
Arts

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ms. Lauryn Hill will headline Global Citizen Festival to fight inequality

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ms. Lauryn Hill and Megan Thee Stallion will headline this year’s Global Citizen Festival as the anti-poverty nonprofit looks to focus attention on increasing inequality for girls and young women around the world. Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said the Sept. 23 event at New York’s Central Park will be the centerpiece of his group’s campaign to encourage supporters, especially those in Gen Z, to take action on gender inequality, climate change and other issues. Studies show that half of Gen Z “feel disillusioned and powerless to make a positive impact,” Evans

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ms. Lauryn Hill will headline Global Citizen Festival to fight inequality
World

Thailand's prime minister, who seized power in a 2014 coup, quits politics after losing election

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who served almost nine years in office after seizing power in a 2014 military coup, said Tuesday that he is leaving politics. His announcement came after the political party for which he served as a prime minister candidate this year finished fifth in May’s general election, capturing just 36 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. Prayuth, 69, a former army commander, made the announcement on the Facebook page of Ruam Thai Sang Chart, or the United Thai Nation Party. He had been their nominee to return as prime minister. “I would

Thailand's prime minister, who seized power in a 2014 coup, quits politics after losing election
Political

Liberal CEOs were more likely to exit Russia following its invasion of Ukraine than more conservative corporate leaders

Burberry was one of the first Western companies to announce it was suspending sales in Russia after the invasion. Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Companies led by liberal-leaning CEOs were more likely to leave Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 than those helmed by conservatives, according to our new study. We measured their political leanings based on how much they donated to the two main U.S. political parties over five recent federal election cycles. In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, over 1,000

Liberal CEOs were more likely to exit Russia following its invasion of Ukraine than more conservative corporate leaders
Health

The 21st Century Cures Act requires that patients receive medical results immediately – and new research shows patients prefer it that way

The 21st Century Cures Act requires that test results be released to patients even before their health care provider has reviewed them. Natalia Gdovskaia/Moment via Getty Images The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Patients overwhelmingly prefer to see their medical test results online immediately, even if that means viewing results before discussing them with a health care professional. These are the key findings from our team’s recent study, published in JAMA Network Open. Importantly, this preference remains true for patients who received results with abnormal or potentially concerning findings. We carried out

The 21st Century Cures Act requires that patients receive medical results immediately – and new research shows patients prefer it that way
Environment

Sawfish, guitarfish and more: Meet the rhino rays, some of the world's most oddly shaped and highly endangered fishes

An Atlantic guitarfish swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory/Flickr, CC BY “Shark!” When you hear this word, especially at the beach, it can conjure up images of bloodthirsty monsters. This summer – particularly on July 14, which is Shark Awareness Day – my colleagues and I are eager to help the public learn more about these misunderstood, ecologically important and highly threatened animals and their close relatives – rays and chimaeras. As a marine biologist focused on conserving sharks, I want people to know that an estimated one-third of them are at risk of extinction. Second,

Sawfish, guitarfish and more: Meet the rhino rays, some of the world's most oddly shaped and highly endangered fishes
Environment

How climate change intensifies the water cycle, fueling extreme rainfall and flooding – the Northeast deluge was just the latest

People were trapped in stores as floodwater swept through Highland Falls, N.Y., on July 9, 2023. AP Photo/John Minchillo A powerful storm system that hit the U.S. Northeast on July 9 and 10, 2023, dumped close to 10 inches of rain on New York’s Lower Hudson Valley in less than a day and sent mountain rivers spilling over their banks and into towns across Vermont, causing widespread flash flooding. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said he hadn’t seen rainfall like it since Hurricane Irene devastated the region in 2011. Extreme water disasters like this have disrupted lives in countries around the

How climate change intensifies the water cycle, fueling extreme rainfall and flooding – the Northeast deluge was just the latest
Political

Anti-LGBTQ laws in the US are getting struck down for limiting free speech of drag queens and doctors

Anti-LGBTQ laws passed in 2023 included measures to deny gender-affirming care to trans children. Mario Tama/Getty Images Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures in the U.S. in 2023. Many of those bills seek to reduce or eliminate gender-affirming care for transgender minors or to ban drag performances in places where minors could view them. Most of those bills have not become law. But many of those that have did not survive legal scrutiny when challenged in court. Anti-LGBTQ laws that federal judges have concluded do not pass constitutional scrutiny include anti-trans legislation in Arkansas and anti-drag

Anti-LGBTQ laws in the US are getting struck down for limiting free speech of drag queens and doctors
World

German opposition leader takes aim at migration, but largely rules out working with far right

Germany’s conservative opposition leader said Tuesday that large-scale migration is one of the country’s biggest problems and the main reason for a recent surge in support for the far right. But Friedrich Merz ruled out cooperating at the state or national level with the Alternative for Germany party that has overtaken his center-right Christian Democratic Union in polls for three state elections in the east next year — to the alarm of mainstream politicians. One senior security official of Jewish origin told The Associated Press that he would leave the country if the far-right party, known by

German opposition leader takes aim at migration, but largely rules out working with far right
World

Bank of America to pay more than $100M for doubling fees, opening accounts without customer consent

Bank of America must pay more than $100 million to customers for doubling up on some fees, withholding reward bonuses and opening accounts without customer consent. Bank of America will pay $90 million in penalties to its organization and $60 million in penalties to the OCC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Tuesday. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency found the bank’s double-dipping on fees was illegal. Bank of America, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves 68 million people and small business clients. The bank had $2.4 trillion in consolidated assets and $1.9 trillion in domestic deposits as

Bank of America to pay more than $100M for doubling fees, opening accounts without customer consent
World

Japan's top court says government restrictions on transgender employee's use of restrooms illegal

Japan’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that restrictions imposed by a government ministry on a transgender female employee’s use of restrooms at her workplace are illegal, in a landmark decision that could promote LGBTQ+ rights in a country without legal protections for them. It was the court’s first ruling on the working environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. The judges said in a unanimous ruling that the Economy and Trade Ministry’s restrictions, which forced the plaintiff to use either a nearby men’s room or women’s restrooms that were at least two floors away, were “extremely inappropriate.” It said the approval

Japan's top court says government restrictions on transgender employee's use of restrooms illegal
World

Ousting Norman, giving Woods and McIlroy LIV teams were discussed with PGA Tour, documents show

The negotiators of a business deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi funders of LIV Golf discussed ousting LIV chief executive Greg Norman and giving Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy their own LIV teams, according to documents obtained by Congress. Those were among the many proposals to unify golf’s rival factions that representatives of the PGA Tour and the Saudi government discussed during their hasty negotiations this spring. The talks culminated in a framework agreement announced last month between the tour and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The deal to bring Saudi investment into the PGA

Ousting Norman, giving Woods and McIlroy LIV teams were discussed with PGA Tour, documents show
World

Play, swim and eat: Europe's largest casino resort opens its doors in Cyprus as tourism rebounds

A new casino resort touted as the largest of its kind in Europe has opened its doors in Cyprus, aiming to transform the east Mediterranean island nation into a year-round destination for luxury tourism, officials said Tuesday. The 600 million euro ($659 million) City of Dreams Mediterranean is one of the largest development projects ever undertaken in the eastern Mediterranean island nation. The resort boasts a 14-story, 500-room hotel replete with a casino, sporting facilities, a family adventure park, the island’s largest pool complex, an outdoor amphitheater, eight restaurants and bars, and a conference center. Lawrence

Play, swim and eat: Europe's largest casino resort opens its doors in Cyprus as tourism rebounds
World

Elina Svitolina beats top-ranked Iga Swiatek to reach Wimbledon semifinals

Three months after returning from maternity leave, Elina Svitolina reached the Wimbledon semifinals by beating top-ranked Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 Tuesday. The 28-year-old Ukrainian gave birth to her daughter in October and returned to the WTA tour in April. Swiatek, a four-time major champion, won the French Open last month but was playing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time. ___ AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Elina Svitolina beats top-ranked Iga Swiatek to reach Wimbledon semifinals
World

UN ends aid to northwest Syria from Turkey after Security Council fails to renew approval

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday failed to renew authorization of the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria’s rebel-held northwest from neighboring Turkey, officially ending a U.N. operation that had been vital to helping a region of 4.1 million people. The council failed to adopt either of two rival resolutions to authorize further deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, where the latest six-month mandate expired on Monday. Syrian President Bashar Assad opened two additional crossing points from Turkey at Bab al-Salameh and al-Rai to increase the flow of assistance to victims of the devastating magnitude

UN ends aid to northwest Syria from Turkey after Security Council fails to renew approval
World

Judge declines to block Microsoft's record $69 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard

A federal judge has handed Microsoft a major victory by declining to block its looming $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard. Regulators are seeking to ax the deal because they say it will hurt competition. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said in a ruling that the “FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content.” Microsoft appeared to have the upper hand

Judge declines to block Microsoft's record $69 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard
Political

US is sanctioning the pro-Russian head of Serbian intelligence for alleged corruption

The U.S. imposed sanctions on the pro-Russian head of Serbian intelligence on Tuesday, accusing Aleksander Vulin of involvement in illegal arms shipments, drug trafficking and misuse of public office. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said Vulin used his public authority to help U.S.-sanctioned Serbian arms dealer Slobodan Tesic move illegal arms shipments across Serbia’s borders. Vulin is also accused of involvement in a drug trafficking ring, Treasury said. Vulin was appointed spy chief for the Balkan state last year. He previously served as Serbia’s interior minister. In that role, he visited Moscow last August, a rare

US is sanctioning the pro-Russian head of Serbian intelligence for alleged corruption
Science

Jewelry, ornate pottery show 3,000-year-old Cypriot city was a key trading hub, scientist says

New discoveries including gold ornaments and fine pottery at an ancient port city in Cyprus dating back more than 3,000 years indicate that the settlement was one of the Mediterranean’s most important trading posts in the late Bronze Age, an archeologist said Tuesday. Professor Peter M. Fischer from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, said the city now known as Hala Sultan Tekke because of its proximity to a famous mosque flourished in 1,630-1,150 B.C. because of its trade in the “most sought after product at that time” -– plentiful copper mined from the Troodos mountain range.

Jewelry, ornate pottery show 3,000-year-old Cypriot city was a key trading hub, scientist says
World

Amazon pushes back against Europe's pioneering new digital rules

Amazon is disputing its status as a big online platform that needs to face stricter scrutiny under European Union digital rules taking effect next month, the first Silicon Valley tech giant to push back on the pioneering new standards. The online retailer filed a legal challenge with a top European Union court, arguing it’s being treated unfairly by being designated a “very large online platform” under the 27-nation bloc’s sweeping Digital Services Act. Amazon, whose filing to the European General Court was made available Tuesday, is the second company to protest the classification. German online retailer Zalando

Amazon pushes back against Europe's pioneering new digital rules
World

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will fight in Saudi Arabia in October

Boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia, promoters announced Tuesday. The latest high-profile crossover boxing match between a mixed martial artist and a professional boxer will take place in a regulation ring, with three ringside judges using the 10-point scoring system. The fight announcement by promoter Top Rank didn’t specify whether the bout will count on the fighters’ professional boxing records or whether Fury’s WBC heavyweight title will be on the line. Fury and Ngannou have talked about a potential meeting for more than

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will fight in Saudi Arabia in October

Follow