LA Times News

LA Times News

Last remaining Western prisoner at Guantanamo sent home to Canada

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 12:45 PM PDT

Omar Ahmed Khadr, the youngest and last remaining Western prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention center for terrorism suspects, was sent home to his native Canada on Saturday after a decade at the U.S. military prison in southern Cuba.

Syria rebels practice patience in the fight for Damascus

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 07:47 PM PDT

President Bashar Assad is committed to keeping his grip on the capital like nowhere else. His security apparatus there has forced rebels to employ a calculated warfare.

DAMASCUS, Syria — When shop owners and customers saw the small group of armed men appear on the street, they ran the other way or headed indoors.

In India, emu scheme leaves behind distraught investors, birds

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 07:44 PM PDT

About 10,000 Indian investors are said to be out $50 million and the fate of 100,000 birds is in limbo after the collapse of what some call a Ponzi scheme.

PERUNDURAI, India — When visitors approach, the flightless birds with the large eyes and jerky necks kick their neighbors and peck at their sores as they crowd against the fence, desperate for food and a bit of attention after being all but abandoned last month.

Syria fighting leaves historic Aleppo market in flames

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 04:50 PM PDT

The extent of damage to the Souk Madina in the Old City is unknown as rebels and government forces continue to battle for control of Aleppo.

BEIRUT — The historic bazaar in the Syrian city of Aleppo was in flames Saturday, the latest casualty in a lingering conflict that has taken its toll not only in human lives but in damage to Syria's infrastructure and heritage.

Vatican court blocks evidence in trial of pope's ex-butler

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 06:59 PM PDT

As the trial of Paolo Gabriele begins in the theft and leaking of confidential papal papers, the court rejects a defense request to enter evidence from a parallel inquiry.

VATICAN CITY — The self-proclaimed whistle-blowing butler of Pope Benedict XVI went on trial Saturday for allegedly stealing confidential documents from the papal apartments, with the court swiftly rejecting a defense request to enter evidence from a parallel investigation of broader issues of Vatican infighting.

The greening of the mooncake

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 03:03 PM PDT

Refuse from tons of mooncakes is just a small part of China's trash problem, but it is attracting attention from activists seeking to encourage greener business practices.

BEIJING — With the Mid-Autumn Festival fast approaching, Yang Haijuan dropped by the posh China World Hotel to pick up three deluxe sets of mooncakes, gifts for her friends.

Obama blocks Chinese firm's Oregon wind farm projects

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Obama issues a rare presidential order instructing Ralls Corp. to divest itself of four Oregon wind farm projects next to a military base, citing a national security threat.

WASHINGTON — President Obama, in a rare move, blocked the acquisition by a Chinese-owned company of four wind farm projects next to a military base in Oregon.