LA Times News

LA Times News

Uncertainty marks White House review on Afghanistan, Pakistan

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:07 PM PST

Obama emphasizes that 'we are on track to achieve our goals,' but the review reveals little about important issues such as when Afghan forces will be able to take over security.

A review of President Obama's war strategy cites progress in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but leaves until later the answers to questions that have plagued the U.S. effort since Obama dispatched additional troops last year.

More than 12,000 killed in Mexican drug war this year, officials say

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:30 PM PST

The overall death toll in the 4-year-old war is said to be 30,196, but it could be higher. A top official says recent operations against cartels have weakened them.

More than 12,000 people have died this year in Mexico's drug war, officials said Thursday, making it the deadliest year since President Felipe Calderon launched a government crackdown against traffickers in 2006.

Ivory Coast clashes leave 20 dead

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

Security forces clash with supporters of Alassane Ouattara, who was declared victor in the presidential vote. With President Laurent Gbagbo refusing to cede power, fears of civil war grow.

Ivory Coast's election standoff tilted dangerously toward renewed civil war Thursday with reports of heavy gunfire in the commercial capital as security forces clashed with supporters of an opposition leader.

China's Wen, India's Singh make little progress at summit

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

The two sides pledge to expand trade but fail to resolve border disputes and other issues.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Thursday in New Delhi, the main event of a three-day summit aimed at building trust and reducing long-standing irritants. But they announced no substantive breakthrough and little progress on border disputes, access to shared water resources or security issues.

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange released on bail

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

Assange will wear an electronic tag and remain under 'mansion arrest' at a friend's estate in England as he fights extradition to Sweden on charges of sexual assault.

After nine days in jail, Julian Assange was released on bail Thursday by a British judge who ruled that the controversial WikiLeaks founder could fight extradition to Sweden over sex-crimes allegations from the confines of a friend's country estate.

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange is granted bail, will leave jail for country mansion

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 07:14 AM PST

A London judge rules that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can remain free while fighting extradition to Sweden on sex-crimes allegations, which Assange says are politically motivated. After posting $312,000 bail, Assange will surrender his passport, wear an electronic tag, be under curfew and report to police daily.

After nine days in jail, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted bail Thursday in a politically charged case concerning alleged sex crimes in Sweden.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be freed on bail

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:52 AM PST

Assange surrendered in Britain on a Swedish sex-crimes warrant. He denies wrongdoing but is fighting Sweden's request to extradite him for questioning.

Julian Assange will be freed on bail from a British jail, a U.K. judge ruled Thursday, rejecting an appeal by prosecutors to keep the WikiLeaks founder in prison as he fights an extradition request by Sweden.

Skull believed to be Henri IV's returned to descendant

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:28 AM PST

The head vanished during the French Revolution and ended up in the attic of a now-retired public servant.

A 400-year-old skull French researchers believe was the head of celebrated King Henri IV was hidden for decades in the attic of a now-retired public servant, and has been donated to one of the king's descendants.

Likely Taliban bomb kills 14 on Afghan bus

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 02:49 PM PST

The civilians were on a minibus in Afghanistan's relatively safe northwest. Also, the Defense Ministry says four Afghan soldiers were killed by what it describes as a mistaken NATO airstrike.

A roadside bomb probably set by Taliban insurgents killed at least 14 Afghan civilians aboard a minibus Thursday in the country's relatively safe northwest.

White House report claims progress, challenges in Afghanistan

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:23 AM PST

The review affirms Obama's strategy of paving the way for troop withdrawals beginning in July 2011 and says the challenge is in maintaining gains against insurgents. It also calls for adjusting U.S. strategy for Pakistan.

A long-awaited White House review of the U.S. troop buildup in Afghanistan lays claim to progress in the fight against the Taliban insurgency, but it also acknowledges challenges to building a stable Afghan government and in eliminating militant sanctuaries in Pakistan.

Iran suicide bombing kills at least 39

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

The Jundallah organization, which claims to represent Iran's mostly Sunni ethnic Baluch minority, takes responsibility for the attack in the southeast Iran city of Chabahar. The bombers targeted a procession of Shiite worshipers.

Suicide bombers killed at least 39 people and wounded dozens more Wednesday while targeting a procession of worshipers observing an important Shiite Muslim holiday in southeastern Iran, state media reported.

Islanders tried frantically to rescue boat crash victims

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

But the wind and waves were so violent, reaching survivors was often impossible. At least 28 people were killed. The boat was believed to be full of refugees.

Residents of Australia's isolated Christmas Island first heard the screams of children just offshore.