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  1. National

US journalist released from Syria 'overwhelmed with emotion'

A US journalist released earlier this week after almost two years of imprisonment in Syria said he was "overwhelmed with emotion" because of the attention he has received upon returning home.

Peter Theo Curtis, 45, was captured in 2012 by Nusra Front and was only released on Sunday.

He said: "I suddenly remember how good the American people are, and what kindness they have in their hearts."

Meanwhile, Douglas McAuthur McCain, 33, who is suspected of fighting with Islamic State militants operating in Iraq and Syria, has been killed in the Middle East, a US security official has said.

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  1. John Ray

IS held Mosul Dam 'like terrorists with nuclear weapon'

I have been speaking to General Mansour Barzani, head of Kurdish Peshmerga Special Forces.

He told me that the Islamic State seizure of Mosul Dam was like terrorists possessing a nuclear weapon, such was the potential destructive potential if the dam had been breached.

Whilst they controlled the area IS had killed many men and kidnapped many women, General Barzani said.

He also thanked the US for their air support but said that the Peshmerga still needed more heavy weapons from the West.

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