Palestinians downbeat on promised rebuilding of ruined Gaza Strip
GAZA/RAMALLAH West Bank (Reuters) – The first torrential downpour of an approaching winter has already soaked the Gaza Strip, compounding the misery of thousands of Palestinians who scrambled to patch homes wrecked by the summer war with Israel.
Special Report: U.S. visa program for crime victims is hit-or-miss prospect
(Reuters) – It was the week of Chinese New Year, and Jian Zhen Huang was climbing her sister’s doorstep in Brooklyn with cups and other supplies for the celebration inside. Suddenly, a young man grabbed her, punched her in the face several times, knocked her down to the pavement and stole her phone.
Islamic State wins ground from Syrian government in east: monitor
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State won territory from Syrian government forces in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor on Tuesday, its first gain there in about two months, a group that tracks the civil war reported.
Iraqi refugees in Lebanon ‘left behind, forgotten’: charity
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Thousands of Iraqi refugees in Lebanon face a daily struggle to survive because of a lack of jobs and the rising cost of food and accommodation, a Catholic charity said on Tuesday.
Pakistani Taliban sack influential spokesman as divisions grow
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The Pakistani Taliban have sacked the movement’s influential spokesman, according to a statement received by Reuters on Tuesday, in a sign of growing divisions within the deeply fractured group.
Britain sends drones to fly surveillance missions over Syria
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain said on Tuesday it was authorizing spy planes and armed drones to fly surveillance missions over Syria “very shortly” in order to gather intelligence on Islamic State (IS) militants.
Pope to visit Turkey as region’s Christians flee Islamic State persecution
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis will travel to Turkey next month, the Vatican said on Tuesday, his first visit to the predominantly Muslim country which has become a refuge for Christians fleeing persecution by Islamic State militants in neighboring Syri…
U.S., Japan to conduct joint military drill for island defense
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan said on Tuesday it would hold a bilateral military exercise with the United States in November to ensure smooth joint operations between the two countries’ militaries and bolster island defense capabilities.
Juncker’s EU team members get parliamentary approval
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The incoming EU executive led by Jean-Claude Juncker looks set to take office on schedule next month after lawmakers said committees in the European Parliament had endorsed a final two nominees on Tuesday.
India warns Pakistan of more pain in Kashmir fighting
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India warned Pakistan on Tuesday of more “pain” if it continued to violate a ceasefire on their disputed border in Kashmir and said it was up to Islamabad to create the conditions for a resumption of peace talks.
