Jordan ready to swap inmate for pilot held by Islamic State
Jordan is willing to swap an Iraqi woman prisoner involved in deadly 2005 hotel bombings for a Jordanian pilot captured in December by extremists from the Islamic State group, a…
Syria
Kurds celebrate ousting Islamic State fighters from Kobani
By ZEINA KARAM Jubilant Kurdish fighters ousted Islamic State militants from the key Syrian border town of Kobani on Monday after a four-month battle — a significant victory for both…
Japan stunned by video claiming death of 1 of 2 IS hostages
By YURI KAGEYAMA From the prime minister to ordinary people, Japanese were shocked Sunday at a video purportedly showing one of two Japanese hostages of the extremist Islamic State group…
Japan condemns new video, not yet verifying it’s of hostages
By MARI YAMAGUCHI and ELAINE KURTENBACH Japanese officials said Saturday they were investigating a new online message purporting to be from the extremist Islamic State group about the two Japanese…
IS-linked militants say countdown for Japan’s hostages began
By MARI YAMAGUCHI and ELAINE KURTENBACHMilitants affiliated with the Islamic State group have posted an online warning that the “countdown has begun” for the group to kill a pair of…
Islamic State group threatens to kill 2 Japanese hostages
By JON GAMBRELL and MARI YAMAGUCHI The Islamic State group threatened to kill two Japanese hostages Tuesday unless they receive $200 million in 72 hours, directly demanding the ransom from…
European police arrest 2 dozen in anti-terrorism sweeps
By RAF CASERT and ANGELA CHARLTON French, German and Belgian police arrested more than two dozen suspects in anti-terrorism raids Friday, as European authorities rushed to thwart more attacks by…
Belgium police kill 2 in anti-terror raid during shootout
By RAF CASERT and FRANK AUGSTEIN Belgian security forces killed two terror suspects with links to Syria in a fierce shootout in the eastern city of Verviers on Thursday and…