January 23, 2015

"Top spokesman of the Japanese government Yoshihide Suga said on Friday afternoon that they still have no contact from the Islamic State (IS) militants, who have taken two Japanese nationals hostages, after the deadline set by the military group.

Suga said that Japan continues to seek early release of the two hostages, Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa. The government believes that the deadline was set at around 2:50 p.m. Friday, 72 hours from a video clip claiming to execute the two Japanese unless ransom of about 200 million U.S. dollars is paid."

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http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015-01/23/content_19390504.htm