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China says U.S. actions in South China Sea 'irresponsible, dangerous'

By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Friday it was “strongly dissatisfied” after a U.S. military plane flew over part of the South China Sea near where China is building artificial islands, and called on the United States to stop such action or risk causing an accident. The Chinese navy issued eight warnings to the U.S. P8-A Poseidon, the U.S. military’s most advanced surveillance aircraft, when it conducted

China says U.S. actions in South China Sea 'irresponsible, dangerous'

By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Friday it was “strongly dissatisfied” after a U.S. military plane flew over part of the South China Sea near where China is building artificial islands, and called on the United States to stop such action or risk causing an accident. The Chinese navy issued eight warnings to the U.S. P8-A Poseidon, the U.S. military’s most advanced surveillance aircraft, when it conducted

Islamic State fighters press advance east of Iraqi town

Islamic state fighters pressed an advance east of Ramadi on Friday after breaching Iraqi defenses outside the city the insurgents overran last weekend in a major defeat for the Baghdad government. The fall of Ramadi is the most significant setback for Iraqi forces in almost a year and has cast doubt on the effectiveness of U.S. strategy in helping Iraq to fight Islamic State. While pro-government forces are seeking to

Islamic State fighters press advance east of Iraqi town

Islamic state fighters pressed an advance east of Ramadi on Friday after breaching Iraqi defenses outside the city the insurgents overran last weekend in a major defeat for the Baghdad government. The fall of Ramadi is the most significant setback for Iraqi forces in almost a year and has cast doubt on the effectiveness of U.S. strategy in helping Iraq to fight Islamic State. While pro-government forces are seeking to

Irish vote on gay marriage in landmark referendum

By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries DUBLIN (Reuters) – The Irish voted on Friday on whether to allow gay marriage, just two decades after decriminalizing homosexuality, with a strong early turnout likely to favor the ‘Yes’ side. With the once mighty Catholic Church’s influence ravaged by child abuse scandals, opinion polls indicated the proposal would pass by as much as two-to-one, making Ireland the first country to adopt same-sex marriage

Irish vote on gay marriage in landmark referendum

By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries DUBLIN (Reuters) – The Irish voted on Friday on whether to allow gay marriage, just two decades after decriminalizing homosexuality, with a strong early turnout likely to favor the ‘Yes’ side. With the once mighty Catholic Church’s influence ravaged by child abuse scandals, opinion polls indicated the proposal would pass by as much as two-to-one, making Ireland the first country to adopt same-sex marriage

Stretched Afghan army falls back on militias to help defend Kunduz

By Feroz Sultani and Kay Johnson KUNDUZ, Afghanistan/KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan government has enlisted hundreds of militia fighters controlled by local commanders to battle Taliban militants near the northern city of Kunduz, officials said, underlining how the armed forces are struggling to tackle the insurgency alone. The recruitment of unofficial armed groups in Kunduz is on a larger scale than previous attempts by the government and NATO forces to

Stretched Afghan army falls back on militias to help defend Kunduz

By Feroz Sultani and Kay Johnson KUNDUZ, Afghanistan/KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan government has enlisted hundreds of militia fighters controlled by local commanders to battle Taliban militants near the northern city of Kunduz, officials said, underlining how the armed forces are struggling to tackle the insurgency alone. The recruitment of unofficial armed groups in Kunduz is on a larger scale than previous attempts by the government and NATO forces to

Colombia's FARC rebels suspend unilateral ceasefire over air strike

Colombia’s FARC guerrillas said Friday they are suspending their six-month-old unilateral ceasefire over a government air strike that killed 26 rebels. “FARC suspend unilateral ceasefire,” said a blog post by the rebel delegation at peace talks to end the five-decade conflict. It accused President Juan Manuel Santos’s government of forcing it to end the ceasefire with the air strike and ground attack Thursday in the western Cauca region and other

Colombia's FARC rebels suspend unilateral ceasefire over air strike

Colombia’s FARC guerrillas said Friday they are suspending their six-month-old unilateral ceasefire over a government air strike that killed 26 rebels. “FARC suspend unilateral ceasefire,” said a blog post by the rebel delegation at peace talks to end the five-decade conflict. It accused President Juan Manuel Santos’s government of forcing it to end the ceasefire with the air strike and ground attack Thursday in the western Cauca region and other