Seoul confirms death of second hostage SEOUL, July 31 (UPI) -- South Korea confirmed that a second hostage among South Koreans taken captive by the Taliban has been killed in Afghanistan.

Israel expects good missile defense TEL AVIV, Israel, July 31 (UPI) -- Israel's new defense minister expects the country to be able to defend its skies against most enemy missiles within three to five years.

German gets key role in Kosovo talks BERLIN, July 30 (UPI) -- The longtime German ambassador to the United States will be the European Union's envoy in talks to resolve the Kosovo conflict.

Germany criticizes U.S. arms sales BERLIN, July 30 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives are irritated by the planned U.S. arms sales to the Middle East.

S. Korea to build more golf courses SEOUL, July 30 (UPI) -- South Korea plans to build more golf courses to boost its domestic service industry with more and more citizens going aboard.

N. Korea holds local elections PYONGYANG, North Korea, July 30 (UPI) -- North Korea has held local elections for government councils of provinces, cities and counties, with a 100 percent approval of candidates.

Body of hostage returns to S. Korea SEOUL, July 30 (UPI) -- The body of the South Korean Christian pastor shot dead in Afghanistan has been brought home amid pleas for the release of hostages held by the Taliban.

S. Korea to develop mines in North SEOUL, July 27 (UPI) -- South and North Korea will launch a joint on-site survey of natural resources in the North as part of efforts to boost cross-border economic cooperation.

U.S., S. Korea to hold war games SEOUL, July 27 (UPI) -- U.S. and South Korean troops will jointly conduct the world's largest simulation exercise next month amid tensions over North Korea's nuclear drive.

Franco-Libyan nuclear deal angers Germany BERLIN, July 27 (UPI) -- The nuclear deal French President Nicolas Sarkozy has struck with Libya seems to strain Franco-German relations.

New PA government eschews armed resistance JERUSALEM, July 27 (UPI) -- The platform of the new Palestinian government headed by Salam Fayyad hails peace with Israel as not only a strategy but also "a necessity."

Israel likely to devise missiles for India TEL AVIV, Israel, July 27 (UPI) -- Pakistan's cruise missiles that can hit hundreds of miles inside India prompted New Delhi to accept an Israeli plan to develop a cruise missile interceptor.

Inter-Korea military talks rupture SEOUL, July 26 (UPI) -- High-level military talks between South and North Korea ruptured after a bitter three-day dispute over their poorly marked western sea border.

S. Korea sends presidential envoy to Kabul SEOUL, July 26 (UPI) -- Shocked by the death of a hostage, South Korea has dispatched a special presidential envoy to Afghanistan to ensure the release of the remaining captives.

Rice discusses Mideast on Radio Sawa WASHINGTON, July 25 (UPI) --

U.N. says Darfur violence hampers food aid UNITED NATIONS, July 25 (UPI) --

U.N. Mideast envoy sees hope in region UNITED NATIONS, July 25 (UPI) -- The U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process says there is cause for hope in the troubled region.

8 Koreans freed with report of one killed SEOUL, July 25 (UPI) -- Eight of 23 South Korean hostages in Afghanistan have been released apparently after kidnappers were given a large ransom.

Hunger deaths rise in N. Korea SEOUL, July 25 (UPI) -- An increasing number of North Koreans are dying from starvation or hunger-related diseases in recent months as food shortages have further worsened.

S. Korea, Indonesia seek energy ties SEOUL, July 25 (UPI) -- South Korea and Indonesia have held a bilateral energy forum focused on pushing for joint efforts to develop energy sources.

U.N. Darfur draft resolution weakened UNITED NATIONS, July 24 (UPI) --

Koreas open military talks SEOUL, July 24 (UPI) -- Little has been achieved on the first day of high-level military talks between South and North Korea on reducing tension across their heavily armed border.

U.N. helps Yemen fights locusts UNITED NATIONS, July 23 (UPI) --

Congo activity concerns U.N. council UNITED NATIONS, July 23 (UPI) --

Turkey's winners and losers WASHINGTON, July 23 (UPI) --

U.N. asks Dutch to host Hariri plot trial UNITED NATIONS, July 23 (UPI) --

Iraq: Coalition pullout could be disaster UNITED NATIONS, July 20 (UPI) -- Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih says a premature pullout of coalition forces from his country "would cause a disaster."

U.N. chief presses for Congo solution UNITED NATIONS, July 20 (UPI) --

U.N.: Harry Potter to set postal record UNITED NATIONS, July 20 (UPI) --

Veto threat halts U.N. Kosovo solo quest UNITED NATIONS, July 20 (UPI) --

Seoul sends rice to North over land SEOUL, July 20 (UPI) -- South Korea has started sending rice to North Korea overland for a speedy delivery of the much-needed food aid for the famine-hit country.

S. Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan SEOUL, July 20 (UPI) -- About 20 South Korean Evangelists, who have ignored their government's warning against traveling to Afghanistan, seem to have been abducted by the Taliban.

Kyrgyz special-needs kids get learning aid MANILA, Philippines, July 19 (UPI) -- Kyrgyzstan will be getting financial aid to educate children with special needs.

U.S. group wants tighter China control WASHINGTON, July 18 (UPI) -- Tighter control over Chinese imports would not be a protectionist measure, but rather a way to protect U.S. consumers from harm, a major business group says.

U.S. wants special U.N. mediator in Iraq HAMBURG, Germany, July 18 (UPI) -- Washington wants to install a special U.N. mediator for Iraq.

Six alleged German terrorists on the run HAMBURG, Germany, July 18 (UPI) -- Some 13 Germans allegedly have been trained in terror camps in Pakistan, but only seven of them have been arrested, a report says.

Seoul seeks unmanned U.S. spy aircraft SEOUL, July 18 (UPI) -- South Korea is seeking to procure U.S.-made Global Hawks, unmanned aerial vehicles, to boost its surveillance over North Korea.

U.N.: $2.5 billion global aid shortage UNITED NATIONS, July 17 (UPI) --

World Bank bans two India drug companies WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- Two drug companies in India have been banned from doing business with the World Bank.

U.N. chief to meet Calif. governor UNITED NATIONS, July 16 (UPI) --

U.S. rebukes Iran for student arrests WASHINGTON, July 16 (UPI) --

Koreas to have high-level military talks SEOUL, July 16 (UPI) -- Military officials from North and South Korea plan to meet next week to discuss tension reduction measures across their heavily armed border.

N. Korea wins $115 million investment deal SEOUL, July 16 (UPI) -- Egypt is set to invest $115 million in modernizing, upgrading and operating a cement plant in North Korea.

U.N. warns of looming disaster in Congo UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (UPI) --

Pakistanis protest government at mosques ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 13 (UPI) --

U.N. Hariri inquiry reporting progress UNITED NATIONS, July 13 (UPI) -- The U.N. inquiry into the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister has taken a step forward with the identification of "persons of particular interest."

Olmert secretly visits Jordan TEL AVIV, Israel, July 13 (UPI) -- Israel is keeping an official silence on why Prime Minister Ehud Olmert paid a secret visit to Jordan, where he met King Abdullah II.

Israel reconsidering Gaza strategy? TEL AVIV, Israel, July 13 (UPI) -- A series of Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip this week seems to have heightened a desire to reconsider the strategy followed there.

U.S. increases UNHCR Iraq aid WASHINGTON, July 12 (UPI) -- Iraqi refugees will get additional aid from the United States.

China flood brings rat outburst BEIJING, July 12 (UPI) -- Heavy flooding in China has brought on an outbreak of rodents, and there is a growing concern of disease spreading as a result.