LA Times News

LA Times News

Political cease-fire ends in Israel

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:05 PM PST

A truce with Hamas in place, campaigning for Israel's January elections takes off. Observers say the conflict at best will be a neutral factor for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Likud Party.

JERUSALEM — Soon after the cease-fire took effect this week between Israel and Hamas, another truce ended: The agreement among candidates in Israel's upcoming elections not to campaign during the crisis.

Egypt unrest flares over Morsi's move to broaden his power

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 06:41 PM PST

Clashes erupt and political offices aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood are burned in response to President Mohamed Morsi's decree to free his office from judicial oversight.

CAIRO — Clashes erupted across Egypt over President Mohamed Morsi's decree expanding his authority, a move that sharpened lines between Islamists and those who fear the president is stealing power in order to edge the country closer to Islamic law.

Rival Palestinian factions' success brings them closer

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 04:31 PM PST

Hamas' recent battle with Israel and Fatah's expected victory at the U.N. have resurrected the Palestinian cause and provide the two sides a new chance at unity that has long eluded them.

GAZA CITY — The Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah are intense rivals that control different turf and employ contrary strategies against Israel, but they have managed in their separate ways to put the Palestinian drive for statehood back on the international agenda.

China dissident Ai Weiwei basks in his relative liberty

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 04:32 PM PST

Artist Ai Weiwei, who lay low for a year after his detention, is seemingly everywhere at once, at least abroad. At home he remains confined and largely silent. But he's not complaining.

BEIJING — Ai Weiwei is out of the box.

European Union budget talks break up with no plan

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

The European Union's talks end with no deal but plenty of hard feelings, a reminder of internal squabbling between the 27 member states just weeks before the EU will accept the Nobel Peace Prize.

LONDON — Divisions within the European Union were laid bare by two days of haggling between leaders over a new long-term spending plan that broke up Friday with no agreement, but plenty of hard feelings.