LA Times News

LA Times News

Young India golfers take swings at poverty

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 05:25 PM PDT

Pro golfer Indrajit Bhalotia coaches impoverished boys who show promise in the sport, giving them a shot at a life-changing career.

KOLKATA, India — Fourteen-year-old Mohan Sardar lives with his sister and parents in a one-room shanty barely larger than the bed they all share, near a swamp filled with human waste, dead animals and floating plastic.

Syria violence at 'unprecedented level,' U.N. monitor says

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 07:01 PM PDT

Gen. Robert Mood, head of the U.N. team, says dialogue is impossible amid the escalating conflict. Meanwhile, the highest-profile defection yet is reported.

BEIRUT — Violence in Syria has surged to an "unprecedented level," the chief of the United Nations observer mission said Thursday, as reports surfaced of the most high-profile defection to date from the security forces of President Bashar Assad.

San Diego trial: a femme fatale or a case of mistaken identity?

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Nancy Mendoza Moreno is accused of luring three men to Mexican kidnappers who extracted large ransoms. The defense says she's been mixed up with another woman.

SAN DIEGO — The young woman invited the wealthy businessman over for drinks. He arrived holding flowers and a bottle of Remy Martin cognac. She smiled. Her flirting seemed to promise more than cocktails. The businessman, Eduardo Gonzalez Tostado, also brought condoms.

Obama administration files new trade complaint against China

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 07:00 PM PDT

The filing is aimed at lifting tariffs that Beijing slapped on many large U.S.-made cars and SUVs last year. It comes amid charges from Mitt Romney that the president isn't tough enough on China.

The Obama administration ratcheted up trade tensions with China, filing an international complaint against tariffs that Beijing slapped on many large U.S.-made cars and sport utility vehicles late last year.

Apple is hit with two lawsuits in China after settling one

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 12:00 AM PDT

For Apple Inc.in China, it's been one step forward and two steps back when it comes to lawsuits.

WikiLeaks has data from 2.4 million Syrian emails

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 05:02 AM PDT

The secret-spilling group WikiLeaks said Thursday it was in the process of publishing material from 2.4 million Syrian emails -- many of which it said came from official government accounts.

The secret-spilling group WikiLeaks said Thursday it was in the process of publishing material from 2.4 million Syrian emails -- many of which it said came from official government accounts.

China's myopia epidemic comes into focus

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT

As many as 90% of urban youth in China are nearsighted. Researchers think they can fight myopia by forcing youngsters to put down their books and expose their eyes to natural light.

GUANGZHOU — The children at the Bayi Xiwang elementary and middle school are doing something revolutionary by current Chinese standards: They're playing outside.