Hillary Clinton campaign slams Trump for mocking Indians; Obama to send 250 troops to Syria: Top news today

Above 800 al-Qaeda fighters killed in Yemen anti-jihad offensive: Arab coalition – Yemeni troops backed by Arab coalition air strikes killed more than 800 members of Al-Qaeda in an attack on a southeastern provincial capital held by the group for the past year, the coalition said Monday. “The operation resulted… in the death of more than 800 Al-Qaeda members and some of their leaders, while some others fled,” Arab coalition commanders said in a statement published by SPA, the official Saudi news agency. READ FULL STORY

White House to release secret chapter on possible Saudi connections to 9/11 attacks: The Obama administration will likely soon release at least part of a 28-page secret chapter from a congressional inquiry into 9/11 that may shed light on possible Saudi connections to the attackers. The documents, kept in a secure room in the basement of the Capitol, contain information from the joint congressional inquiry into “specific sources of foreign support for some of the Sept. 11 hijackers while they were in the United States.” READ FULL STORY

Grassroot Indian-American body launched to campaign for Hillary Clinton: A nationwide grassroot body of Indian-Americans has been launched by Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s campaign to support the former secretary of state, hinting that an Indian-American could also be appointed under her presidency. The organisation named ‘Indian-Americans for Hillary Clinton’ (IAHC) was launched yesterday in a Maryland suburb of Washington by Clinton’s campaign manager John Podesta. READ FULL STORY

China’s Xi Jinping warns against religious influences from abroad: Chinese President Xi Jinping says that China must be on guard against nefarious religious influences from abroad. His comments follow a tightening of religious space that has seen bans on the wearing of veils and beards in the predominantly Muslim region of Xinjiang, and the removal of church crosses in eastern China. READ FULL STORY

Clinton campaign criticises Trump for mocking Indians: Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has slammed Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for mocking an Indian call centre worker during an election rally this week, saying it shows disrespect towards the community and is reflective of his divisive rhetoric. “Donald Trump mocking Indian workers is just typical of his disrespect that he has shown to groups across the spectrum,” said John Podesta, chairman of the Clinton Campaign. READ FULL STORY