LA Times News

LA Times News

Obama, China's Hu agree to disagree

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 06:04 PM PST

The U.S. and Chinese presidents acknowledge major differences on economic and human rights issues, but they also pledge to cooperate to stabilize Sino-U.S. relations. Hu's visit leads to $45 billion in business deals.

The leaders of the U.S. and China unapologetically acknowledged major differences on economic issues and human rights in a White House summit Wednesday, but also pledged cooperation to stabilize relations between the world's two largest economies.

Theories abound in Haiti over why Baby Doc came back

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 05:21 PM PST

Is Jean-Claude Duvalier after money, or did he come home to die? Or does he somehow fit into the unresolved political process?

There are as many theories about why Jean-Claude Duvalier returned to Haiti as there are cracks in the crumpled walls of the presidential palace.

Arab leaders meet, Tunisia on their minds

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 05:21 PM PST

Arab leaders gathered for the Arab Economic Summit in Egypt are focused on the Tunisian uprising, many fearing that it could trigger unrest across the region.

The uprising in Tunisia and the toppling of President Zine al Abidine ben Ali dominated the annual Arab Economic Summit, which opened Wednesday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheik amid fears that unrest could ripple across the Middle East.

Tunisia's new government to investigate ex-president's financial dealings

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 12:34 PM PST

Calm returns to the country and newly sworn-in officials pledge to release political prisoners of former President Zine el Abidine ben Ali's regime and to hold free elections in six months.

Tunisia's transitional government on Wednesday began to redress alleged financial and political abuses of the deposed ruler and his family as a measure of calm returned to a country roiled less than a week ago by a popular uprising.

Obama and Hu Jintao pledge cooperation, downplay differences

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 12:17 PM PST

'China and United States share expanding common interests,' Chinese President Hu Jintao says at a joint news conference. The White House announces agreements that are expected to increase U.S. exports to China by $45 billion.

WASHINGTON — In a historic joint news conference between the leaders of the world's two major economic superpowers, President Obama and President Hu Jintao of China on Wednesday pledged cooperation on trade, business, human rights and intellectual property issues while downplaying the underlying tensions between the two nations.

String of bomb attacks continues in Iraq

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 08:44 AM PST

In a third straight day of assaults, a car bomb destroys the headquarters of a security force in Diyala province, killing as many as 14. A separate bombing wounds a Diyala official and kills three others.

A car bomb leveled the headquarters of a local security force in Iraq's Diyala province, killing as many as 14 people. In a separate attack, a bomber wounded the deputy head of Diyala's provincial council and killed three others.

Obama formally welcomes Chinese President Hu Jintao

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 07:54 AM PST

A formal ceremony is held in Washington to welcome China's president, Hu Jintao, whose visit comes as China is becoming a growing political issue for both Democrats and Republicans.

WASHINGTON -- President Obama welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House on Wednesday morning in a formal ceremony marked by the fanfare reserved only for a visiting head of state.

Roadside bomb kills 13 in Afghanistan

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 07:29 AM PST

The victims include women and children, part of a group traveling to a rural health clinic. The attack comes as President Hamid Karzai orders a delay in the opening of the new parliament.

They were on their way to a rural health clinic — men, women and children packed aboard a motorized rickshaw, one of the humblest but most common modes of transportation in Afghanistan. The bomb killed at least 13 of them.

Roadside bomb kills 13 Afghan children, 7 others

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 05:12 AM PST

The U.S.-led coalition reports the toll from the country's southeast. A provincial governor says the victims were traveling for medical treatment.

U.S.-led coalition forces said Wednesday that a roadside bomb attack in southeastern Paktika province killed 20 civilians, including 13 children, in the deadliest insurgent attack in months.

60 Iraqis killed when suicide bomber attacks police applicants

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 12:04 AM PST

About 160 are injured in the blast in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. It's the deadliest such strike since the nation's new government was formed.

At least 60 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up beside a line of people applying for police jobs in Tikrit, the hometown of the late dictator Saddam Hussein, officials said.

Israel drops investigation into police shooting of Palestinian

Posted: 19 Jan 2011 12:04 AM PST

The Palestinian motorist sideswiped police and then tried to flee when they opened fire. Israeli officials say the border policeman who shot the man in the head while he was lying in the road acted reasonably out of fear that the man was a terrorist.

Israeli officials said Tuesday they were dropping a criminal probe of an Israeli border policeman who shot to death a Palestinian motorist after the man sideswiped a foot patrol of soldiers and then tried to escape when they opened fire.