LA Times News

LA Times News

France president pledges public security focus after riots

Posted: 14 Aug 2012 07:04 PM PDT

French President Francois Hollande faces the challenge of dealing with crime and security problems in gritty suburbs. He vows to quell the violence.

PARIS — French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday that his government would use "all means" necessary to quell violence after overnight rioting in northern France left more than a dozen police officers injured and several buildings damaged or destroyed.

Syria ex-premier says Assad controls only 30% of country

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:00 AM PDT

The Syrian regime is near collapse, defecting Prime Minister Riyad Farid Hijab says. He calls on other leaders to defect and for the opposition to unite.

BEIRUT — The regime of President Bashar Assad is near collapse and now controls only 30% of Syria, the country's former prime minister said Tuesday in his first comments since defecting to Jordan last week.

Afghanistan attacks kill dozens of civilians

Posted: 14 Aug 2012 07:34 PM PDT

Most of those killed in the blasts in Afghanistan's north and south were shoppers. A hospital where victims were being treated was also attacked.

KABUL, Afghanistan — In one of the year's deadliest days for Afghan civilians, at least 39 people were killed and more than 100 hurt Tuesday in attacks that spanned the country from north to south, including the brutal tactic of a suicide bombing staged at a hospital where victims of an earlier blast were being treated.

Iran museum exhibition shows off Pop art collection

Posted: 14 Aug 2012 06:43 PM PDT

Iran's extensive Modern and Pop art collection, locked up for 30 years, is on display and includes works by Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein.

TEHRAN — At the Museum of Contemporary Art here, 19-year-old Aristotle Qajari, whose father named him after the celebrated Greek philosopher and writer, was mesmerized by an art form that is considerably more recent — and completely new to him.

Magnitude 7.3 quake hits eastern Russia

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 08:49 PM PDT

The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 7.3 earthquake has hit the waters off of far eastern Russia. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami was generated.

The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 7.3 earthquake has hit the waters off of far eastern Russia. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami was generated.

Egypt president's firing of generals seen as 'soft coup'

Posted: 14 Aug 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's military purge is seen as part of a deal to allow the ruling generals a graceful exit while broadening Morsi's powers.

CAIRO — Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's firing of the nation's top generals was interpreted by analysts Monday as a politically engineered strategy to significantly broaden his powers as economic and political pressures mount in a country that still lacks a new constitution.

India hotels, resorts suffer under tiger tourism ban

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 05:58 PM PDT

The India court ruling on tourism in tiger parks is called a bid to protect the national animal, but many environmentalists think the judges are misguided.

BILONA KALAN, India — Amit Jaiswal sits in the darkened dining room of his Tiger Treat Resorts in a glum mood. After pooling his family savings, taking out a large loan and checking with his astrologer for an auspicious name, he opened in December here on the main road to the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.

Syria: Some in opposition fear rebels miscalculated in Aleppo

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 08:15 PM PDT

The Syria activists fear that the Aleppo offensive may lead to a humanitarian crisis and undermine the revolution by turning the city against them.

ALEPPO, Syria — In million-dollar apartments in a neighborhood of the city as yet unscathed, the battle for Aleppo plays out daily on flat-screen TVs. Amid imported sofas and abstract art, the revolution doesn't seem so close.