President Biden expressed concern over the Los Angeles wildfire due to the high number of missing persons, suggesting that the death toll, currently at 11, could rise. Additionally, he highlighted the occurrence of looting in the affected areas, prompting an increase in police and military presence to maintain order.
The Pacific Palisades wildfire has spread over an area more than twice the size of the JR Yamanote Line's inner loop, covering approximately 150 square kilometers. The fire has resulted in 11 deaths and damaged over 10,000 buildings.
To address looting in wildfire-affected areas, authorities are increasing the number of police officers and soldiers to maintain public order and security.
The meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba and Indonesian President Prabowo aims to build trust between the leaders and strengthen cooperation in security, particularly in response to China's maritime expansion. They plan to enhance collaboration through initiatives like Japan's OSA (Official Security Assistance) and aim for an early convening of the '2+2' foreign and defense ministerial talks.
In the hammer attack at Hosei University, a 22-year-old sociology student, Yoo Joo-hyun, allegedly attacked eight students during an economics class. The suspect moved from the front to the back of the classroom, striking students on the back of their heads. Some victims reported no prior acquaintance with the attacker, and the suspect claimed to have been bullied and unable to endure it any longer.
A New York court upheld a guilty verdict against former President Trump regarding hush money payments but decided not to impose any penalties. The judge emphasized that legal protections are tied to the office of the presidency, not the individual, and that Trump should not receive special treatment. This marks the first time a U.S. president has been convicted in a criminal case while in office.
President Biden criticized Meta's decision to discontinue third-party fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, calling it a disgrace and contrary to American justice. The Biden administration has been advocating for measures to prevent hate speech and misinformation on social media, and this move by Meta is seen as aligning with former President Trump's critical stance on content moderation.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that regulating hate speech and harmful content on social media is not censorship but a necessary measure to prevent real-world impacts. He emphasized that allowing such content online can have significant negative effects on society.