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Russia says wants Syria elections, ready to help Free Syrian Army

By Andrew Osborn and Maria Kiselyova MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Kremlin wanted Syria to prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections, as Moscow intensified its drive to convert its increased clout with Damascus into a political settlement. In comments which mark a shift in Russia’s position, he also said that Russia’s airforce, which has been bombing Islamist militants in Syria since Sept. 30, would be

U.S. patrols to raise stakes with Beijing in disputed South China Sea

By Greg Torode HONG KONG (Reuters) – U.S. plans to send warships or military aircraft within 12 nautical miles of China’s artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, possibly within days, could open a tense new front in Sino-U.S. rivalry. A range of security experts said Washington’s so-called freedom of navigation patrols would have to be regular to be effective, given Chinese ambitions to project power deep into maritime

U.S. patrols to raise stakes with Beijing in disputed South China Sea

By Greg Torode HONG KONG (Reuters) – U.S. plans to send warships or military aircraft within 12 nautical miles of China’s artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, possibly within days, could open a tense new front in Sino-U.S. rivalry. A range of security experts said Washington’s so-called freedom of navigation patrols would have to be regular to be effective, given Chinese ambitions to project power deep into maritime