LA Times News

LA Times News

Obama reassessing sensitive foreign issues now that election is over

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:50 PM PST

Substantial shifts on Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and other touchy topics are possible with President Obama securely seated in the White House.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has begun to reassess its foreign policy on a range of challenges, including Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and missile defense, that were viewed as too politically sensitive for any substantial shifts during the presidential campaign.

Bleakness only a child's smile can lift

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 06:32 PM PST

Raza Gul works backbreaking hours in a tiny Afghan bakery to provide for her children, her one source of joy. Without them, there's only her husband's opium addiction and worries about the Taliban.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Raza Gul trudges the half-mile to work through a maze of brick and mud homes, sewage streams and toddlers running naked. She's two months pregnant, and her lower back aches as she steps over ditches and eyes speeding cars. Her sister-in-law, a frail woman, shadows her. They say little.

In China, corruption is hot topic at party congress

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 05:19 PM PST

Leaders from President Hu Jintao on down to regional party chiefs have issued warnings against graft and called for public disclosure of officials' assets.

BEIJING — A mid-level public security official earning $19,000 a year acquires 21 houses, valued at more than $6 million. The former railroad minister is alleged to have accumulated $250 million in bribes, which he reportedly hoped to use to buy his way into the Politburo. Families of Politburo members are revealed to have fortunes in the hundreds of millions.

Palestinians to seek elevated status in U.N. this month

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 04:25 PM PST

Palestinians say they have lined up support for their bid to boost their status from observer entity to nonmember state at the United Nations.

JERUSALEM — Facing a lack of progress in their statehood bid, Palestinian leaders said Monday that they would ask the United Nations General Assembly by month's end to elevate their status in the international body from observer entity to nonmember state.

BBC suspends 2 editors amid scandal over investigative program

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 03:57 PM PST

The BBC scandal surrounding programs on child molestation has led to the resignation of the British broadcaster's director and spurred calls for an overhaul.

LONDON — They're words that the BBC isn't accustomed to hearing about itself: "shoddy journalism" on one of its premier investigative programs, "unacceptable mistakes" by senior staff, a director general with "the leadership qualities of Winnie the Pooh."

Kandahar shootings: Youngest survivors recall night of terror

Posted: 11 Nov 2012 04:20 AM PST

Looking gravely across a courtroom in Afghanistan, 7-year-old Zardana raised her hand Saturday and swore to testify truthfully about the night a man who prosecutors say was a U.S. soldier shot her in the head, shot her brother in the leg and killed her grandmother.

Thais divided on lottery ticket machines

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

Thailand's government argues that machines would reduce rip-offs by street vendors and increase state revenue. Critics say they'd undermine the social order.

BANGKOK, Thailand — Siripong Khwanthong sidles up to a lottery seller along a crowded street near Bangkok's Patpong pleasure district, studies the selection and settles on a ticket ending in 37. "The number just came to me," he says. "Maybe I'll be lucky tomorrow."