Japan investigating ISIS video that claims one hostage has been killed
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
A new video released by Islamic State militants claims that one of two Japanese hostages being held by the group has been killed. Japanese officials are investigating the validity of the message, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his country's demand for the hostages' "immediate release" on Saturday, The Associated Press reports.
ISIS threatened on Tuesday to behead the hostages unless the group received $200 million in ransom. Japan has not commented on whether it is considering paying the ransom for Kenji Goto, a 47-year-old journalist, and Haruna Yukawa, a 42-year-old adventurer.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
