World News Briefs -- October 3, 2017

A request for blood donations on a sign for the Aria Resort and Casino. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Reuters: Las Vegas police look for motive in deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Police sought clues on Tuesday to explain why a retiree who enjoyed gambling but had no criminal record set up a vantage point in a high-rise Las Vegas hotel and poured gunfire onto a concert below, slaying dozens of people before killing himself.

The Sunday night shooting spree from a 32nd-floor window of the Mandalay Bay hotel, on the Las Vegas Strip, killed at least 59 people before the gunman turned a weapon on himself. More than 500 people were injured, some trampled, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The gunman, identified as Stephen Paddock, 64, left no immediate hint of his motive for the arsenal of high-powered weaponry he amassed, including 42 guns, or the carnage he inflicted on a crowd of 22,000 attending an outdoor country music festival.

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MIDDLE EAST

US-led strike kills 18 civilians in Syria's Raqa: monitor.

12,500 flee Iraq fighting in IS-held Hawija: UN.

Iraqi and Turkish Kurds share fears of unknown future.

Kurdish former Iraqi president Jalal Talabani dies aged 83.

Veteran Iraqi Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani dies.

US MQ-9 Reaper drone shot down in Yemen: CentCom.

Israeli warning as Palestinians edge closer to reconciliation.

Netanyahu backs annexation of 19 West Bank settlements.

ASIA

Mattis says Afghan forces fully engaged for first time.

Kim Jong-Nam suffered extensive organ damage, trial hears.

Deadly clashes as fighters storm army base in Kashmir.

10,000 Rohingya poised to enter Bangladesh as exodus swells again.

Rohingya militants in Bangladesh camps eager to fight.

Myanmar beauty queen 'dethroned over Rohingya video'.

Urban inequality a growing risk in Asia: World Bank.

AFRICA

Death toll rises in Cameroon's Anglophone region unrest.

DR Congo violence drives thousands into Zambia.

Blasts at Uganda MPs Bobi Wine and Allan Ssewanyana's homes.

Analysis: Jihadist attacks on the rise in northern Burkina Faso.

Mozambique's President Nyusi to run for re-election in 2019.

Patience Jonathan: Nigeria ex-first lady decries 'witch-hunt'.

Egypt 'escalates LGBT crackdown' after rainbow flag display.

Oscar Pistorius's family to sue makers of 'grossly misrepresentative' film.

EUROPE

Protests hit Catalonia amid strike against police violence. General strike grinds Catalonia to a halt.

Spain's crackdown on Catalan voters spawns new separatists.

Catalan leader calls for international mediation in Madrid stand-off.

Brexit: MEPs urge delay in trade talks decision.

Spoils of Brexit: EU cities race to get EU agencies from UK.

Putin calls for better US ties as he meets new envoy.

Russian opposition leader Navalny jailed again.

Rome with a view: Colosseum opens top levels to public.

AMERICAS

First photos from Vegas gunman’s sniper nest emerge as Trump says he will talk about gun control ‘as time goes by’.

US orders 15 Cuban diplomats to leave Washington embassy over sonic 'attacks'. Ties threatened: US to tell Cuba to remove most diplomats.

US now calling mysterious health ailments in Cuba 'attacks'.

Ecuador court orders arrest of vice president in Odebrecht graft probe.

Bolivia's army in dispute with government over Che Guevara homage.

Trudeau to meet with Trump as trade talks heat up.

US revives trade dispute over Canadian wine.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

ISIS claim of link to Las Vegas shooter is a sign terror group is 'desperate' to remain relevant, experts say.

Trial begins for Ahmed Abu Khatallah, accused Benghazi terrorist.

Belgium moves to expel mosque imam over security fears.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Facebook rolls out new ad policies amid Russia investigation. Facebook says 10 million US users saw Russia-linked ads.

Equifax raises the impact of US data breach.

1,000-year-old China Song dynasty bowl sells for record $37.7m.