L.A. Times - Europe

Former KGB spy's past threatens his life as a Canadian

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Mikhail Lennikov is on the brink of deportation to Russia over a Canadian law barring residency to onetime employees of antidemocratic spy agencies. Canadians have rallied to his defense.

For the last 12 years, Mikhail and Irina Lennikov have lived unremarkable lives, not unlike countless other immigrants who came to Canada from Eastern Europe looking for a fresh start in a prosperous and quiet land.

Obama calls on Russia to work with U.S. on terrorism, nuclear curbs

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 01:48:00 -0700

In a far-reaching speech in Moscow, the president says it is up to the new generation of leaders in both countries to put aside differences and tackle international issues, including terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

President Obama today called on Russians to put aside their former roles as Cold War foes of the United States and join together to work to curb nuclear weapons and to improve the economic and social lives of people around the globe.

Manchester United poised for a shopping spree

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The British powerhouse hasn't spent much yet but has a lot of cash on hand. Expect Sir Alex Ferguson to make a major move or two before all is said and done.

Sir Alex Ferguson and his traveling sideshow head for Asia this week, the pilgrimage to parts East intended to serve as both a jersey-selling venture and a way to knock the rust off last season.

Rory McIlroy goes for the glory

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

At 20, youngster from Northern Ireland has already come a long way and he sees no reason why he can't contend at the British Open.

Around noon Saturday in a golf dreamland by a sapphire lake, a teenage boy's mouth went agape, and clearly the world had made another of its patented accelerations.

Lance Armstrong still third in Tour de France; Luis Leon Sanchez wins eighth stage

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Rinaldo Nocentini earns the leader's yellow jersey for the second straight day.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong remains in third place in the Tour de France, after Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez won the eighth stage Saturday in a sprint ahead of three other breakaway riders.

Britain roiled by troop deaths in Afghanistan

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The deaths of eight British soldiers in Afghanistan within 24 hours triggered a debate Saturday that could undercut support in Britain for the war.

G-8 pledges $20 billion to fight world hunger after appeal from Obama

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:13:00 -0700

At the end of the Group of 8 summit, President Obama says the leading industrialized nations made progress on climate change and nuclear nonproliferation. Afterward, he visits Pope Benedict.

World leaders agreed to come up with $20 billion to fight hunger after a personal appeal from President Obama, who capped the European leg of his latest foreign trip with a visit to the Vatican this morning.

President Obama, Pope Benedict agree to disagree on abortion, stem-cell research

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

In a reportedly cordial closed-door meeting at the Vatican, the pope discusses his opposition to abortion and stem-cell research, views that Obama, unlike his predecessor, does not share.

Meeting for the first time, President Obama and Pope Benedict XVI sought common ground Friday on peace in the Middle East but struggled to bridge differences over abortion and stem-cell research -- divisive issues that have the White House battling with conservative and Catholic Americans back at home.

Despite Obama's pledge, G-8 makes little headway on global warming

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The president promises at the Italy G-8 summit that the U.S. will lead on climate change, but familiar obstacles -- compounded by the global recession -- produce familiar results.

Addressing leaders of the world's most important economies early Thursday, President Obama wasted no time in proclaiming a new day for U.S. policy on climate change.

Beneath the G-8 summit, a valley of misery for Italy quake victims

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the meeting of world leaders to L'Aquila as a sign of solidarity with quake victims. But residents say they don't want symbolism, but homes, schools and jobs.

If the earthquake that killed 300 people here in April was the injury, then the Group of 8 summit underway in this ravaged town is surely the insult -- at least in the eyes of plenty of its inhabitants.