LA Times News

LA Times News

Mexico announces capture of Zetas paramilitary suspect

Posted: 09 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT

The man known as the Squirrel is accused of numerous crimes, including the possible slaying of an American who vanished, reportedly while jet-skiing.

MEXICO CITY — The Mexican navy on Monday announced the capture of an alleged field commander of the Zetas crime organization whom it accuses of numerous high-profile crimes, including the possible killing of an American who disappeared while reportedly jet-skiing on a border lake two years ago.

In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez reelection raises unity questions

Posted: 08 Oct 2012 07:02 PM PDT

President Hugo Chavez says he had a good talk with his vanquished rival, Henrique Capriles. But whether that will lead to bipartisan cooperation is unclear.

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his supporters on Monday celebrated his reelection, while many in the country wondered whether his victory could result in improved relations with opposition parties after a decade of bitterness and division.

In Syria, a rebellion calls for revolutionary measures

Posted: 09 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Law student Hanadi, 19, is eager to see action on the front lines. Her ticket? A marriage of convenience to a militia commander fighting to oust Bashar Assad.

DAMASCUS, Syria — The crack of a sniper rifle and the boom of exploding shells seemed to take turns as Hanadi slipped out of the apartment and onto the dark street.

Recapturing momentum on Kony

Posted: 08 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Invisible Children, whose 'Kony 2012' video about a Ugandan warlord went viral, plans a rally to urge new efforts to catch Joseph Kony, who kidnaps children to use as soldiers and sex slaves.

SAN DIEGO — First came the sensation: an activist video that captivated tens of millions of viewers in just a few days with its plea for the capture of African warlord Joseph Kony and an end to his mass abductions of children for use as soldiers and sex slaves.

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez wins reelection by wide margin

Posted: 07 Oct 2012 11:24 PM PDT

The incumbent defeats Henrique Capriles to win another six-year term despite growing dissatisfaction with economic woes and rising crime.

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez apparently won reelection by a convincing margin Sunday, with allegiance among poor voters to his socialist revolution trumping dissatisfaction with a stunted economy, rising crime and the increasing polarization of society.

House intelligence panel warns against two Chinese firms

Posted: 07 Oct 2012 03:37 PM PDT

WASHINGTON — The federal government should "view with suspicion" attempts by two Chinese telecommunications companies to expand in the U.S. market because of a strong risk that they would aid spying and cybertheft by China, a yearlong investigation by the House intelligence committee has concluded.

Egypt rights activists seeing hopes dissolve

Posted: 07 Oct 2012 09:18 PM PDT

Women and minorities had wanted guarantees of equal rights, but that goal seems out of reach now that control of Egypt has shifted to an Islamist president.

CAIRO — Eman Mostafa, a village girl from southern Egypt, was shot and killed last month when she dared to spit in the face of the man who groped her.