India Bollywood actor Vinod Khanna dies of cancer at age 70

Vinod Khanna, a dashing Bollywood actor turned politician, has died of cancer, a hospital official said. He was 70.

Tushar Pania, a spokesman for Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, said Khanna died Thursday due to bladder carcinoma.

Khanna made his Bollywood debut in 1968 and acted in more than 100 films. His popular performances included "Mere Apne" (My Own), "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" (My Village, My Country), "Gaddaar" (Traitor), "Kachhe Dhaage" (Delicate Thread) and "Amar Akbar Anthony." He acted with top stars Amitabh Bachhan and Dharmendra in several Hindi movies.

Spokesman: Congolese opposition leader Tshisekedi dies at 84

Congo's opposition icon Etienne Tshisekedi, who pushed for democratic reforms for decades in the vast Central African nation throughout dictatorship and civil war, has died, his political party said late Wednesday. He was 84.

His death comes at a politically fragile moment for Congo, where he was heavily involved in the recent deal to get President Joseph Kabila to agree to step down by the end of this year after months of deadly protests. The parties signed a deal that has yet to be implemented.

Thousands mourn beloved leader Jayalalithaa in south India

Hundreds of thousands of people thronged the southern Indian city of Chennai on Tuesday to honor their late beloved leader, Jayaram Jayalalithaa, a former film actress and popular politician.

Jayalalithaa, chief minister of Tamil Nadu state, died overnight following a heart attack a day earlier.

Indian actress-turned-politician Jayaram Jayalalithaa dies

Jayaram Jayalalithaa, the hugely popular south Indian actress who later turned to politics and became the highest elected official in the state of Tamil Nadu, died Monday. She was 68.

The Apollo Hospital in the southern Indian city of Chennai said Jayalalithaa died at 11:30 p.m. local time Monday after undergoing surgery following a heart attack on Sunday night.

Known by her followers as "Amma," which means "Mother" in the Tamil language, Jayalalithaa inspired intense loyalty among film fans and political supporters alike.

Secrecy shrouded details of Fidel Castro's health

Cuban leader Fidel Castro would always laugh off speculation about his health.

With an athletic build, and physical stamina that lasted deep into his 70s, it seemed he would continue to rule for many more years.

Castro's own physician, a specialist in longevity, even suggested in 2004 that the leader could live to 140. "I am not exaggerating," Dr. Eugenio Selman said.

Fidel Castro clung to socialism, mentored new leftists

Fidel Castro's revolution was slowly dying — or so it seemed.

Communism had collapsed in Europe, and Cuba's Soviet lifeline was severed. Food was in short supply. Power outages silenced TV sets normally tuned to a nighttime soap opera. Factories rusted in the tropical heat.

The title of an American book seemed just right: "Castro's Final Hour." That was in 1992.

Cuba's Fidel Castro, who defied US for 50 years, dies at 90

Former President Fidel Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half century rule, has died at age 90.

With a shaking voice, President Raul Castro said on state television that his older brother died at 10:29 p.m. Friday. He ended the announcement by shouting the revolutionary slogan: "Toward victory, always!"

Quotes from Fidel Castro across more than 5 decades

Quotes from Fidel Castro:
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"Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me." — Oct. 16, 1953, at his trial for rebel attack that launched Cuban Revolution.
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"I am not interested in power nor do I envisage assuming it at any time. All that I will do is to make sure that the sacrifices of so many compatriots should not be in vain, whatever the future may hold in store for me." — Jan. 1, 1959, upon triumph of the revolution.

A look at the life of Fidel Castro

NAME: Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz.

TITLES: Former president of Council of State and Council of Ministers, first secretary of Communist Party of Cuba, commander in chief of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. Before resigning Feb. 19, 2008, he was the world's longest-ruling head of government, and leader of one of world's last five communist states. Had been off public stage for year and half after provisionally ceding power to his brother Raul following emergency intestinal surgery.

Key dates in Fidel Castro's government in Cuba

Key events in Cuba under Fidel Castro:

Jan. 1, 1959 — Castro's rebels take power as dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba.

June 1960 — Cuba nationalizes U.S.-owned oil refineries after they refuse to process Soviet oil. Nearly all other U.S. businesses expropriated by October.

October 1960 — Washington bans exports to Cuba, other than food and medicine.

Fidel Castro has died at age 90, brother says

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro has died at age 90, his brother, President Raul Castro announced late Friday on state television.

Pakistan cricket legend Khan marries ex-BBC journalist

Pakistan's legendary cricket star and politician, Imran Khan, tied the knot Thursday, ending weeks of speculation about whether one of the country's most famous bachelors was getting married for a second time.

Sobbing Japanese politician tenders resignation

A Japanese politician who was seen sobbing over dubious spending in a video that went viral resigned Friday.

The local legislative assembly accepted the resignation of Ryutaro Nonomura, but also decided to pursue criminal charges against him.

Nonomura, 47, a Hyogo prefectural assemblyman, burst into tears and screamed nonsensical phrases when he was asked at a news conference last week about the number of trips he took to a hot springs at taxpayers' expense.

Calls for his resignation had grown. Nonomura visited the hot springs 106 times last year, using public money and reporting it as political activity.

Video of Japan politician weeping goes viral

A video clip of a weeping Japanese politician accused of dubious spending on trips to a hot springs has gone viral, leaving many outraged and puzzled.