Efforts To Free Japanese ISIS Captive 'Deadlocked'
A top Japanese diplomat says indirect negotiations to free a captive journalist from the militant Islamic State group have reached a "state of deadlock."
Middle East
In Qatar, Released Taliban Member Raises U.S. Concerns
There are new suspicions that one of the men released from a U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl last year might be trying to contact Taliban fighters.
Jailed Saudi Blogger Granted Another Reprieve From Flogging; Reason Unclear
Raif Badawi is being punished for insulting Islam. He was flogged Jan. 9, part of a sentence of 50 lashes a week for 20 weeks, along with a decade in prison. Two previous rounds were also canceled.
Woman Held By Jordan Has Close Ties To Islamic State
Jordan has indicated that it is willing to swap a convicted terrorist for a Jordanian pilot held captive by the so-called Islamic State. The terrorist is a woman named Sajida al-Rishawi. She and her husband conducted a suicide attack at a Jordanian hotel. Her belt did not detonate but dozens of people were killed. ISIS has demanded her release in part because she has longstanding ties to the group.
Syrian President Assad Talks To 'Foreign Affairs' Magazine
The civil war in Syria has been going on for almost four years. Jonathan Tepperman recently met with President Bashar Assad in Damascus. He talks to Steve Inskeep about how Assad views the conflict.
ISIS Hostage Said To Announce New Deadline For Prisoner's Release
A Japanese hostage held by the violent extremist group ISIS has reportedly been forced to record a message setting a Thursday deadline for Jordan to release an Iraqi prisoner.
Jordan Considers Handing Over Prisoner For Hostage Pilot
The Jordanian government says it might trade a notorious attempted suicide bomber for a pilot being held by the self-proclaimed Islamic State, or ISIS.
How A Single Town In Syria Became A Symbol Of The War Against ISIS
Now that Kurdish fighters have retaken the Syrian border town of Kobani from ISIS, the Obama administration is assessing the significance of the development. For months, officials suggested the town was of little strategic significance even as warplanes bombed targets day after day.
Jordan Tests Coalition Against ISIS With Offer To Negotiate
Robert Siegel talks to Rula Al Hroob, member of the Jordanian Parliament, about how people in Jordan feel about a prisoner exchange for a pilot captured by ISIS in Syria.
2 Israeli Soldiers Killed In Attack Near Lebanese Border
Hezbollah took responsibility for the attack and Israel returned fire, in one of the most serious flare ups of a long-running confrontation.