Russia to step up its military involvement in Syria

Russia intends to step up its military involvement in Syria to prevent the "imminent" collapse of the Syrian government, the EU's foreign policy chief has told the news agency.
Federica Mogherini's comments on Saturday follow reports that 500 Russian troops have been deployed to a forward operating base in the Syrian port city of Latakia.
The US and the EU have also approached Iran to help find a solution to the Syrian conflict.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Mogherini discussed the issue with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Russian military shipments to Syria have alarmed the US and its allies in recent weeks, and Putin is expected to defend them in a UN speech on Monday, according to Aljazeera.
-- Samir