LA Times News

LA Times News

China wants no surprises at Communist Party congress

Posted: 07 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

The tightly scripted 18th party congress, set to begin Thursday, will bring together 2,270 delegates from across China and a new lineup of leaders.

BEIJING — A popular joke making the rounds in Beijing touts the superiority of China's political system to that of the United States.

Putin fires Russia defense minister amid fraud inquiry

Posted: 06 Nov 2012 05:30 PM PST

Russian President Vladimir Putin's dismissal of Anatoly Serdyukov comes amid allegations of fraud and embezzlement in the sale of military assets.

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin fired his defense minister Tuesday amid a criminal investigation of suspected fraud and embezzlement involving military assets.

On India-China border, reports of UFOs skyrocket

Posted: 06 Nov 2012 05:28 PM PST

Mysterious yellow spheres that appear to lift off from the Chinese side are causing more embarrassment than fear as India struggles to figure out what they are.

NEW DELHI — Adding to the litany of issues besetting neighboring nuclear rivals China and India, ranging from border disputes to the Dalai Lama to trade deficits, is a new one: UFOs.

Moozfly an unorthodox Web platform for Spanish-speaking comedians

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 05:40 PM PST

More than two dozen comedians from around the world have contributed material to Moozfly, which launched last month out of a Rancho Palos Verdes home.

Anna Nikita Doroshina, described as a Russian Martha Stewart, was the inspiration for Moozfly, an online comedy channel that features Spanish-speaking comedians from around the world.