LA Times News

LA Times News

25 bodies found in Acapulco, 15 decapitated

Posted: 09 Jan 2011 12:00 AM PST

Messages attached to some of the bodies reportedly claim responsibility on behalf of the Sinaloa drug cartel and accuse the dead men of being extortionists.

The bodies of at least 25 people, 15 of them with their heads cut off, were discovered Saturday in the resort city of Acapulco, authorities said.

North Korea calls for talks; South skeptical

Posted: 09 Jan 2011 12:00 AM PST

A call to 'open their hearts' is the latest in a series of overtures from Pyongyang. Officials in Seoul say the regime needs to demonstrate with actions that it truly seeks peace.

North Korea has ushered in 2011 with a series of gestures that seem designed to keep officials in South Korea off guard, and Saturday was no exception, with Pyongyang calling for officials in Seoul to "open their hearts" and resume talks after weeks of hostility on the divided Korean peninsula.

Iran confirms arrest of woman described as American spy

Posted: 09 Jan 2011 12:00 AM PST

An Iranian security official says a woman he says was on a U.S. espionage mission has been arrested, though her nationality remains in question.

A high-ranking Iranian security official confirmed reports of the arrest of a woman described as an American spy, state media reported, but her nationality remained in question Saturday.

Cleric Muqtada Sadr strikes a measured tone in his return to Iraq

Posted: 09 Jan 2011 12:00 AM PST

In the holy city of Najaf, a spirited group of followers welcomes Sadr after a four-year absence. He still urges resistance to U.S. forces, but tempered with unity and discipline.

His beard now flecked with gray, Muqtada Sadr studied the thousands of faithful who pushed and jostled one another Saturday, craning their necks for a glimpse of the mysterious cleric they hadn't seen in person in nearly four years.

Iran confirms arrest of American woman

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 04:28 AM PST

The 34-year-old female is accused of taking photographs of guard posts along the Armenian border.

After days of contradictory reports citing unnamed officials, an Iranian security official Saturday publicly confirmed the arrest of a female American described as an alleged spy along its border with Armenia.

WikiLeaks says U.S. is demanding its Twitter account info

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 03:02 AM PST

The website says the U.S. wants private messages, contact information and personal details of founder Julian Assange, Pfc. Bradley Manning and others.

WikiLeaks' Twitter account details have been subpoenaed by U.S. officials, the secret-spilling site announced Saturday, adding that it suspected other American Internet companies were also being asked to hand over information about its activities.