L.A. TIMES World News, Jul 17, 2011

British tabloids' tactics may spur soul-searching By Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times The dodgy, sometimes illegal, ploys used to ferret out salacious information on celebrities and politicians fed a readership of 7 million. Some argue that introspection is in order for a society that lapped up such gossip with little thought to how it was acquired. Murdoch and son to appear before Parliament committee Gun-smuggling cartel figures possibly were paid FBI informants By Richard A. Serrano, Washington Bureau Probe reveals that the U.S. agency running the 'Fast and Furious' anti-gun-trafficking operation didn't know about the alleged FBI informants. Congressional investigators are looking into the matter. In Beijing, redevelopment threatens last bathhouse By Benjamin Haas, Los Angeles Times The traditional bathhouses, from a time when Chinese homes lacked plumbing and all bathing was communal, have fallen victim to wrecking balls. In their place are spas in upscale hotels.

WORLD NOW Latest posts from Babylon & Beyond and La Plaza SYRIA: Videos said to show violent clashes in Damascus suburbs- Babylon & Beyond07/16/2011, 6:32 a.m. Mexico lags in regional economic growth- L.A. Times - Latin America Blog07/15/2011, 6:47 p.m. The week in Latin America: Peru's African legacy- L.A. Times - Latin America Blog07/15/2011, 12:53 p.m. EGYPT: Protests continue but activists divided over goals- Babylon & Beyond07/15/2011, 9:25 a.m. EGYPT: Mubarak denies accusations of killing protesters- Babylon & Beyond07/14/2011, 1:26 p.m.

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