The Iranian government denied rebel claims that the 48 captives were members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

CNN: January 9, 2013 -- Updated 1206 GMT (2006 HKT)

Kaschei's efforts to keep his female captives in submission and put Ivan under his spell turn futile once the white-clad hero waves the feather he gained for granting freedom to the firebird.

WSJ: Firebird | American Ballet Theatre | Ratmansky's Fresh Fantasy | By Robert Greskovic

Farc's decision to quickly free the captives suggests the rebels are no longer willing to pay the political price for capturing and holding members of the Colombian security forces for too long, says the BBC's correspondent in Bogota, Arturo Wallace.

BBC: Colombian Farc releases two hostage policemen

All of this adds to the endless charm of their scampering and marching and delicately calibrated choreography, which threads the young dancers through the production as lively captives and, eventually, as members of the narrative's intricate and marvelously arranged climax.

WSJ: Twyla Tharp's The Princess & the Goblin | Atlanta Ballet | The Kids Are All Right | Ballet Review by Robert Greskovic

The internal security minister, George Saitoti, had complained several times that, without more support, Kenya's justice system could not cope with the influx of pirate captives.

ECONOMIST: Piracy

Some people in the neighborhood, including Charles Ramsey, the man who helped free the alleged captives, say they don't recall seeing anything suspicious at Castro's home.

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Newspapers in Algeria have come out in strong praise of their army's actions in the hostage crisis at the In Amenas gas plant, in which dozens of captives are now thought to have died.

BBC: Algerian press defends army action in hostage crisis