• Trump names hostage envoy Robert O'Brien as new national security adviser

    Trump names hostage envoy Robert O'Brien as new national security adviser

    Sep 18, 2019 01:31 PM EST

    ... Trump's third national security adviser. O'Brien was among five job candidates Trump said Tuesday were under consideration. As the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs at the State Department, O'Brien worked closely with the families of American hostages and advised administration officials on hostage issues. He previously ...

  • Hoyer: Democrats support border security, not taking the government 'hostage'

    Hoyer: Democrats support border security, not taking the government 'hostage'

    Jan 02, 2019 11:40 PM EST

    House Democrats are “prepared to negotiate” with President Trump on border security, said incoming majority leader Rep. Steny Hoyer, but they don’t want the government, or the country, to be “penalized” in the meantime. Hoyer talks to Judy Woodruff about agreeing with the president on the end goal of border security, but not on how...

  • Afghan forces free most hostages taken in new Taliban attack

    Afghan forces free most hostages taken in new Taliban attack

    Aug 20, 2018 04:29 PM EST

    Afghan forces rescued nearly 150 people Monday, including women and children, hours after the Taliban ambushed a convoy of buses and abducted them. The quick response marked a rare if limited battlefield success for the troops after weeks of unrelenting insurgent attacks.

  • WATCH: Trump says U.S. will leave Iran deal, 'will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail'

    WATCH: Trump says U.S. will leave Iran deal, 'will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail'

    May 08, 2018 12:45 AM EST

    ... will be reinstituting the highest level of sanctions and warning any country not to help the Iranian government. Trump says America "will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail" and will not allow "a regime that chants 'Death to America'" to get access to nuclear weapons. The president says he ...

  • News Wrap: Gunman in Southern France takes hostages, attacks police

    News Wrap: Gunman in Southern France takes hostages, attacks police

    Mar 23, 2018 10:45 PM EST

    In our news wrap Friday, protesters blocked a highway in Sacramento and prevented thousands of fans from getting into a pro basketball game over the police killing of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man. Also, a gunman in Southern France attacked police, took hostages and killed three people before being shot dead. The Islamic State...

  • 3 dead, dozen injured in hostage situation in southern France

    3 dead, dozen injured in hostage situation in southern France

    Mar 23, 2018 12:50 PM EST

    TREBES, France — An armed man went on rampage Friday in southern France, carjacking a vehicle, shooting at police and taking hostages in an hours-long standoff at a supermarket. He killed three people and wounded others before being shot to death when French police stormed the market, authorities said. Among ...

  • Ex-hostage wants British Islamic State kidnappers put on trial in UK

    Ex-hostage wants British Islamic State kidnappers put on trial in UK

    Feb 09, 2018 04:20 PM EST

    LONDON — Former Islamic State hostages and families of the group's victims are urging Britain and the United States to put two recently captured extremists on trial, arguing that denying them justice will fuel the hatred and violence they supported. French journalist Nicolas Henin, who was held by the men ...

  • Despite advances under Obama, lack of transparency can hinder hostage families

    Despite advances under Obama, lack of transparency can hinder hostage families

    May 05, 2017 06:42 PM EST

    ... research. The kidnappings include those perpetrated by criminal gangs looking to extort money, in addition to the high-profile terrorist cases. Rachel Briggs, who started Hostage UK in 2004 and, more recently, Hostage US to support the families of hostages, was a university student when her British uncle was kidnapped ...

  • Libyan hijackers release hostages and surrender peacefully in Malta

    Libyan hijackers release hostages and surrender peacefully in Malta

    Dec 23, 2016 09:13 PM EST

    Two Libyan hijackers surrendered to authorities after threatening to use hand grenades to blow up a plane they diverted from Libya to Malta.

  • Payment to Iran was used as ‘leverage’ for hostage release, admits State Department

    Payment to Iran was used as ‘leverage’ for hostage release, admits State Department

    Aug 19, 2016 11:30 PM EST

    In January, Iran released American hostages in a development coinciding with a U.S. payout of $400 million -- money that had been owed for decades. The Obama administration previously denied a connection between the two events, but on Friday, the State Department modified its response, saying the money was used as “leverage.” Judy Woodruff talks...