Letter: IS hostage 'scared to die'

WASHINGTON - Hostage Peter Kassig wrote in June that he was "scared to die" at the hands of his Islamic State jihadist captors, his parents said in a statement released on Saturday.

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Venezuela signed an agreement with a Chinese State-owned company on Sunday to build and send into orbit the country's third satellite using Chinese technology.

Runoff likely as Brazil goes to polls

The twists and turns in Brazil's presidential race ended on Sunday, at least for a few hours, as millions of Brazilians cast ballots in an election expected to force a three-week runoff campaign between incumbent Dilma Rousseff and one of her two top challengers.

ROK official: Kim in good health

The Republic of Korea's Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said he was told by Kim Yang-gon, a senior member of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, that there was no problem with the health of DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, Yonhap News Agency reported on Sunday.

British hostage freed in Libya after 5 months

British schoolteacher David Bolam has been released after nearly five months of captivity in Libya, reportedly after payment of a ransom to his Islamist captors.

Allied forces slow IS attempts to capture key town

Smoke billowed over the key Syrian border town of Kobane on Sunday as Kurdish fighters supported by US-led airstrikes battled to hold back intensified attacks by Islamic State jihadists.

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US to partly lift Vietnam arms export embargo

The Obama administration said on Thursday that it is moving to partially lift a 30-year-old arms embargo against Vietnam.

Fat sheep, fat price for Saudi Eid festivities

There is a whiff of sheep dung in the early evening air as the sun drops from sight and Ali Al-Shamrani ponders the market for his animals ahead of Saturday's Eid al-Adha festival.

Cameron on surprise visit to Afghanistan

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron pledged support on Friday for Afghanistan's newly sworn-in president and the country's new unity government, saying during a surprise visit to Kabul that Britain is committed to helping Afghans build a more secure and prosperous future.

Family that hosted Ebola patient confined to home

A woman who has been confined to her Dallas apartment under armed guard after a man infected with Ebola stayed at her home, said she never imagined this could happen to her so far from disease-ravaged West Africa.

Snowden, Malala tipped for Nobel prizes

Nobel prize season starts on Monday with speculation rife that the peace prize could go to US whistleblower Edward Snowden, Pakistani girls' education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, or perhaps Pope Francis.