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.
Iranian cleric’s death leaves gap in key power body
ANKARA (Reuters) – The head of Iran’s top clerical body has died after lying in a coma for months, leaving a gap in the only institution that has the authority to elect and dismiss the country’s Supreme Leader.
Ukraine vote candidate survives gun and grenade attack: party
KIEV (Reuters) – A Ukrainian election candidate allied to the prime minister was shot at and came under a grenade attack as he left his home late on Monday, and only survived because he was wearing body armor, his party said.
Japan PM’s woes may not end despite resignations of two ministers
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is facing increased pressure from a newly energized opposition over potential scandals within his cabinet even though he swiftly jettisoned two ministers this week in a bid to calm the storm.
Nepoch drops ties with ‘princeling’ He Jintao: sources
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China private equity firm Nepoch Capital has erased its princeling backer He Jintao from the documents it shows investors after he was questioned in connection with a corruption investigation, sources have told Reuters.
