Mukalla is an oasis of stability in war-torn Yemen. So why do some residents miss Al Qaeda?

Fuel truck driver Ali Astal wouldn’t dare cross this country brimming with guns and militias without a Kalashnikov or two stashed under the dashboard.

But when he reaches the Mukalla city limits, he gamely surrenders his weapons at a checkpoint.

“This is for the city’s security,” he said as a soldier…

latimes.com – Los Angeles Times

Home of the Day: A modern oasis in Santa Barbara

Dramatic mountain and ocean views are on full display from the vantage of this newly built modern-style home on more than two acres in Santa Barbara. Clean lines, walls of floor-to-ceiling glass and exposed steel beams lend a polished look to more than 2,500 square feet of loft-style living space.


latimes.com – Los Angeles Times