World News Update, what you need to know

Murdered US hostage James Foley told his parents of his life imprisoned with 17 other captives in a Syrian dungeon, in a moving letter memorised by a fellow hostage who was later freed.

ELSEWHERE:

ST LOUIS - Michael Brown, the black teen whose shooting by a white officer ignited protests and a national debate on race, has been eulogised at a cathartic funeral service as a victim of abusive policing whose untimely death demands justice.

WASHINGTON - The US military's top general believes Islamic State extremists will "soon" pose a threat to America and Europe and that an international coalition will be needed to confront it, his spokesman says.

GAZA CITY - Violence has reverberated across Gaza with Israel launching several deadly air strikes, while Egypt proposed a new ceasefire that would open key crossings into the blockaded territory.

FREETOWN - The UN's new leader on Ebola says the fight against the epidemic is a "war" which could take another six months, and warns that airlines boycotting the region are hampering the response.

DONETSK - Kiev says its forces are battling an armoured column that crossed from Russia, as Moscow unveiled plans for a new aid convoy for east Ukraine, ramping up tensions on the eve of crunch talks on the conflict.

MOSCOW - Russia has complained of a failure to release details of the investigation into the Malaysian jet that crashed in Ukraine in July, accusing international investigators of lack of transparency.