LA Times News

LA Times News

Afghanistan insurgents attack 3 government compounds in Kandahar

Posted: 07 May 2011 03:26 PM PDT

At least one person is killed an 27 are wounded in fierce simultaneous attacks on the governor's compound, mayor's office and an intelligence agency. Large blasts are reported and gunfire rattles for hours through the city, which the Taliban considers its spiritual home.

Insurgent gunmen launched fierce simultaneous attacks Saturday against at least three government compounds in the troubled southern city of Kandahar, hours after the Taliban vowed to fight on in the wake of Osama Bin Laden's death.

Egypt's new foreign policy moves test old alliances

Posted: 07 May 2011 04:26 PM PDT

Cairo is reaching out to Iran and the militant group Hamas, a new agenda that angers Israel and will pose a challenge to U.S. ties as it threatens to upend the balance of power in the Middle East.

Egypt's new government has embarked on adventurous diplomacy to replace the legacy of former President Hosni Mubarak with a bolder Middle East presence less compliant with the U.S. and Israel.

Libyan forces destroy key fuel supply in Misurata

Posted: 07 May 2011 01:35 PM PDT

The loss of stored fuel in the rebel-held city in western Libya could lead to gasoline shortages and make an already dire humanitarian crisis worse.

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi destroyed three huge fuel tanks in the besieged city of Misurata, aggravating an already dire humanitarian crisis there, the rebel leadership said Saturday.

Afghan insurgents hit government sites in Kandahar

Posted: 07 May 2011 05:15 AM PDT

At least a dozen are wounded in attacks launched after a Taliban vow to fight on after Bin Laden's death.

Insurgent gunmen launched fierce simultaneous attacks Saturday against at least three government compounds in the troubled southern city of Kandahar, hours after the Taliban vowed to fight on in the wake of Osama bin Laden's death.

Mexico woos tourists as U.S. advises travelers to avoid parts of the violence-plagued country

Posted: 06 May 2011 10:55 PM PDT

Tourists have to weigh the conflicting signals and decide for themselves whether to travel south of the U.S. border. One California family isn't worried enough to stay away from Cabo San Lucas, but they will be more alert.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon is touting 2011 as the year of tourism, and the Mexico Tourism Board is spending millions of dollars plastering Southland billboards with images of the Great Pyramid of Cholula and underwater trees.

U.S.-born cleric was target of Yemen drone strike

Posted: 06 May 2011 08:59 PM PDT

The special operations mission targeted Anwar Awlaki, a cleric suspected of involvement in terrorist plots. He escaped but two other terrorist suspects were killed.

A U.S. drone attack in Yemen was an attempt to kill Anwar Awlaki, an American-born militant suspected of involvement in multiple terrorist plots against the United States, but he eluded the missiles, a U.S. official said Friday.