The North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Vladimir Putin&s military have shown ferocious commitment, brutality — and a determination to kill themselves rather than face capture, The Independent has been told.

The Palestinian militant movement Hamas released four female Israeli soldier hostages on Saturday in return for 200 Palestinian prisoners, in keeping with the ceasefire agreement in the 15-month-old war in Gaza.

Hamas freed four female Israeli soldiers yesterday in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners in the second swap under the Gaza truce & but a delay in releasing another hostage prompted Israel to halt the return of Gazans to the enclave&s bombed-out north.

An Alabama woman passed a major milestone on Saturday to become the longest living recipient of a pig organ transplant - healthy and full of energy with her new kidney for 61 days and counting.