LA Times News

LA Times News

Egypt calls for calm as church bombing toll rises to 25

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 12:00 AM PST

Egyptian authorities try to keep tensions between Christians and Muslims from rising after the New Year's bombing. At least seven people are being held on suspicion of involvement in the attack on a Coptic church.

The New Year's Day bombing of a church in the northern coastal city of Alexandria sparked calls for calm Sunday as Egyptian security officials scrambled to find suspects and the death toll rose to 25, according to a statement issued Sunday by the nation's Coptic Orthodox Church.

Palestinians to appeal to U.N. with anti-settlement resolution

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 05:58 PM PST

The carefully worded resolution declares Jewish settlement in the West Bank a major obstacle to ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is meant to increase pressure on Israel and the U.S. to move forward.

Frustrated by the collapse of U.S.-sponsored peace talks, Palestinians are preparing to take their case to the U.N. Security Council in the coming days with a resolution declaring ongoing Jewish settlement in the West Bank a major obstacle to ending the conflict.

Military relief flights help Australian city in the path of floodwaters

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 07:31 PM PST

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Military planes were flying food and other supplies toward a major city being slowly swamped in Australia's flood emergency Monday, and police were increasing patrols in evacuated regions amid reports of looting.