Troops to remain as long as needed, says Obama
The United States has deployed a team of 300 soldiers to Cameroon to fight against militant group Boko Haram, President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday. The troops will conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Obama said they would remain there till they were “no longer needed”, and have been equipped with weapons “for their own protection and safety”. The US president also announced that the White House is considering the possibility of a long-term presence of a large number of American troops in Afghanistan, beyond 2016, in the wake of the takeover of Kunduz by the Taliban.
Israel deploys more troops in Jerusalem
Israeli forces stepped up their presence in Jerusalem on Wednesday, adding hundreds of soldiers and security checkpoints at crucial locations, as the violence between Palestinians and Israelis continued. The Israel police shot dead a Palestinian who stabbed an Israeli woman at Jerusalem’s main bus station, while another Palestinian was killed while trying to stab a policeman elsewhere in the city. The violence between the neighbours erupted a month ago over the Jewish New Year, due to rumours that Israel was plotting to take over Jerusalem's holy Temple Mount, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is Islam's third-holiest shrine.
Iranian troops enter Syria under Russian cover, claims report
Iran has sent hundreds of troops into northern and central Syria, joining fighters from its Lebanese ally Hezbollah in a battle against rebels, and taking advantage of cover from Russia's air campaign, reported the Associated Press on Wednesday. Rebel groups fighting the army of President Bashar al-Assad in the country warned that the move will only lead to more destruction. "Sending more troops from Hezbollah and Iran only increases the shelf life of the Syrian regime, which is destined to end," said Major Jamil Saleh, leader of Tajammu Alezzah, a faction of the rebel group Free Syrian Army. Saleh added that the presence of Iranian troops on the ground is not new, but was kept quiet.
Jamaican writer wins Man Booker Prize 2015
Jamaican writer Marlon James won the Man Booker Prize 2015 late Tuesday for his novel A Brief History of Seven Killings, which is a fictional account of an attempt to kill singer Bob Marley in 1976. James is the first from his country to win the prize. The chair of judges, Michael Wood, said it was an extraordinary book and that it had been a unanimous decision. James dedicated the win to his father.
Hillary Clinton makes strong showing at first Democratic debate
Hillary Clinton showed off her rhetorical skills and breadth of policy knowledge in the first Democratic presidential debate in the United States on Wednesday, edging out rival Bernie Sanders. Clinton targeted Sanders for his support for gun rights, while her opponents stayed easy on her. Top political analysts said Clinton won by a landslide, though Sanders maintained a strong position among his supporters.
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The United States has deployed a team of 300 soldiers to Cameroon to fight against militant group Boko Haram, President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday. The troops will conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Obama said they would remain there till they were “no longer needed”, and have been equipped with weapons “for their own protection and safety”. The US president also announced that the White House is considering the possibility of a long-term presence of a large number of American troops in Afghanistan, beyond 2016, in the wake of the takeover of Kunduz by the Taliban.
Israel deploys more troops in Jerusalem
Israeli forces stepped up their presence in Jerusalem on Wednesday, adding hundreds of soldiers and security checkpoints at crucial locations, as the violence between Palestinians and Israelis continued. The Israel police shot dead a Palestinian who stabbed an Israeli woman at Jerusalem’s main bus station, while another Palestinian was killed while trying to stab a policeman elsewhere in the city. The violence between the neighbours erupted a month ago over the Jewish New Year, due to rumours that Israel was plotting to take over Jerusalem's holy Temple Mount, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is Islam's third-holiest shrine.
Iranian troops enter Syria under Russian cover, claims report
Iran has sent hundreds of troops into northern and central Syria, joining fighters from its Lebanese ally Hezbollah in a battle against rebels, and taking advantage of cover from Russia's air campaign, reported the Associated Press on Wednesday. Rebel groups fighting the army of President Bashar al-Assad in the country warned that the move will only lead to more destruction. "Sending more troops from Hezbollah and Iran only increases the shelf life of the Syrian regime, which is destined to end," said Major Jamil Saleh, leader of Tajammu Alezzah, a faction of the rebel group Free Syrian Army. Saleh added that the presence of Iranian troops on the ground is not new, but was kept quiet.
Jamaican writer wins Man Booker Prize 2015
Jamaican writer Marlon James won the Man Booker Prize 2015 late Tuesday for his novel A Brief History of Seven Killings, which is a fictional account of an attempt to kill singer Bob Marley in 1976. James is the first from his country to win the prize. The chair of judges, Michael Wood, said it was an extraordinary book and that it had been a unanimous decision. James dedicated the win to his father.
Hillary Clinton makes strong showing at first Democratic debate
Hillary Clinton showed off her rhetorical skills and breadth of policy knowledge in the first Democratic presidential debate in the United States on Wednesday, edging out rival Bernie Sanders. Clinton targeted Sanders for his support for gun rights, while her opponents stayed easy on her. Top political analysts said Clinton won by a landslide, though Sanders maintained a strong position among his supporters.
