• Japan to probe melted Fukushima reactor with 'snake' robot

    Japan to probe melted Fukushima reactor with 'snake' robot

    Feb 06, 2015 08:57 PM EDT

    Tokyo Electric Power Co. is finally ready to examine the inside of one of the three compromised reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant -- with the help of a remote-controlled robot that uncannily resembles a snake.

  • Online video purports to show beheading of Japanese hostage

    Online video purports to show beheading of Japanese hostage

    Jan 31, 2015 09:07 PM EDT

    UPDATE: Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Sunday the video posted online showing the apparent execution of hostage Kenji Goto by ISIS militants appears authentic, Reuters reported. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Japan would work with other nations to bring those responsible for Goto's death to justice ...

  • ‘I am Kenji’ Facebook page rallies around Japanese hostage

    ‘I am Kenji’ Facebook page rallies around Japanese hostage

    Jan 29, 2015 07:24 PM EDT

    Updated Feb. 2 | On Saturday, the Islamic State group released a video showing the apparent execution of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe  said on Sunday, "We will not forgive terrorists, and we will work alongside the international community to make them pay for their sins ...

  • After hostage execution, Japan devotes 'all efforts' to rescue second from ISIS

    After hostage execution, Japan devotes 'all efforts' to rescue second from ISIS

    Jan 24, 2015 11:39 PM EDT

    ... HARI SREENIVASAN, PBS NEWSHOUR ANCHOR: For more about today's beheading of one Japanese hostage and Japan's efforts to free the second, we are joined now by Hajime Ozaki. He is the New York bureau chief of the Kyodo News Agency. So, what steps did the Japanese government ...

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    Obama says terror group has killed Japanese hostage

    Jan 24, 2015 10:50 PM EDT

    RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- President Barack Obama is condemning what he calls "the brutal murder" of a Japanese hostage by the Islamic State group. Obama's statement doesn't say how the United States knows that Haruna Yukawa is dead, and the Japanese government is trying to verify an online ...

  • Japanese hostage reportedly executed in Syria

    Japanese hostage reportedly executed in Syria

    Jan 24, 2015 07:47 PM EDT

    A video released Saturday purportedly announced the execution of one of the two Japanese hostages being held by the militant group Islamic State in Syria.  Japanese officials condemned the apparent execution of Haruna Yukawa, a 42-year-old unemployed widower who went to Syria in July and was captured the ...

  • News Wrap: Ransom deadline passes for Japanese hostages held by Islamic State

    News Wrap: Ransom deadline passes for Japanese hostages held by Islamic State

    Jan 24, 2015 12:25 AM EDT

    ... for two Japanese hostages held by Islamic State forces in Syria. On Tuesday, the militants had threatened to kill Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa unless Japan paid $200 million within 72 hours. As the deadline passed today, the group announced the countdown has begun. Japanese officials said they're still ...

  • Why is the Islamic State targeting Japan for ransom?

    Why is the Islamic State targeting Japan for ransom?

    Jan 21, 2015 01:50 AM EDT

    ... Japanese nationals if hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom isn't paid later this week. Jeffrey Brown reports. JEFFREY BROWN: The threat came as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met separately with Palestinian and Israeli leaders in the Middle East. A new video message warned that Islamic State militants ...

  • Islamic State militants demand ransom for Japanese captives

    Islamic State militants demand ransom for Japanese captives

    Jan 20, 2015 03:06 PM EDT

    In a video purportedly from the Islamic State group, militants threatened to kill two Japanese hostages unless they got $200 million within 72 hours. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the holding of Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa “unforgiveable,” saying “Their lives are the top priority.” He did not discuss ...

  • Japanese prime minister says he will express remorse for World War II

    Japanese prime minister says he will express remorse for World War II

    Jan 05, 2015 10:54 PM EDT

    ... as to whether he will maintain the same tone set by Murayama. The debate over the extent of Japanese war crimes has soured relations between Japan and neighboring countries. China’s foreign ministry criticized Abe last August for honoring war criminals at a Buddhist Temple. Abe also sided with Japanese ...