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Fight against Islamic state

Japan in effort with Jordan does its best to save journalist

"This incident is extremely sorrowful," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said

TOKYO, February 1. /TASS/. Japan in effort with other countries, primarily Jordan, did its best to save Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday.

"This incident is extremely sorrowful," Kishida said in comments on Kenji Goto’s execution by Islamic State gunmen, noting that "we have taken every opportunity to save his life, co-operating with other countries, primarily Jordan."

On January 20, Islamic State terrorists posted a video with Japanese hostages Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa whom they threatened to kill, if Japanese government does not pay a $200 million ransom for them within 72 hours. Upon the expiration of the deadline another video was posted on the Internet, saying that Yukawa was already killed.

After the assassination of the first Japanese captive extremists have changed the terms for the release of the second hostage. In a swap for Goto they demanded from Jordanian leadership to free terrorist Sajida al-Rishawi, who has been sentenced to death in Jordan for her involvement in a 2005 terrorist attack that killed about 60 in Amman. Meanwhile, Jordan was also interested in a prisoner swap, because Jordanian pilot 1st Lt. Muath al Kasaesbeh had been held by gunmen.

On Saturday evening, terrorists have posted on the Internet a video showing the slaying of second Japanese hostage Kenji Goto. Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said the video was believed to be geniune "with a high degree of probability.".

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Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 24th

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Top Russian security official pledges continued push toward global justice

Nikolay Patrushev added that Moscow is happy that its position is received well by most countries, whose delegates are attending a meeting in St. Petersburg

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There were no casualties, egional Governor Igor Artamonov said

US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

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