Politics

US Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner seemed indifferent to the imminent liberation of the ancient city of Palmyra by the Syrian army from the hands of Islamic State. The Syrian army with the help of Russian military support is on the verge of taking back what is left of the historical city. The US shows no enthusiasm that the “jewel in the desert” is about to be freed from ISIS. Russia Today reports: Backed by Russian warplanes, Syrian troops managed to enter the historic city on Thursday.

Police in France have arrested a suspected militant linked to a terrorist cell that was planning a new ‘high level’ attack on French soil, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve reported. The minister said that security services managed to “foil a plot in France that was at an advanced stage” Security forces locked down the area during a major raid in Argenteuil near to Paris. The Guardian reports: Police carried out raids in the Argenteuil suburb of Paris following the arrest of the man at 5.30pm on Thursday who was believed to be planning a terrorist attack.

Hillary Clinton has been accused of orchestrating voter fraud during Arizona’s Democratic primary vote on Tuesday, as thousands of voters have complained that their votes were unknowingly changed to independent – preventing them from voting for Democratic rival Bernie Sanders.  Authorities have announced an official investigation into claims that the Clinton campaign were part of a vote rigging scandal to prevent Bernie Sanders from winning the State. Thehornnews.com reports: One voter posted a picture with the following explanation, “Fraud in AZ? I am a long time registered Dem.

Few would deny that the recent horrors in Brussels demand action, beginning, certainly, with a thoroughgoing purge of Belgian security and intelligence agencies. Other proposed remedies are shambolic, meaningless, or simply farcical, such as the idea of police patrolling “Muslim areas” in the U.S. (Which areas? Where? With what goal?) I would suggest, though, that one urgent priority is for the U.S. and its European allies to consider immediate political and diplomatic recognition of the Islamic State. Let me explain the grounds for that proposal.