Today's Headlines and Commentary

Today, the Islamic State released another video. This clip, which has not yet been independently verified, shows two Japanese hostages kneeling in orange jumpsuits. Standing between them is a militant dressed in all black, who, speaking in English, demands that Tokyo pay $200 million within the next 72 hours in order to secure the captives’ release. The New York Times reports that the terrorist’s “voice, manner, and attire” are similar to those of the jihadist who has appeared in the previously released videos. Meanwhile, the two hostages are identified as Kenji Goto Jogo, a freelance journalist, and Haruna Yukawa, the chief executive officer of a private security company. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is currently in the Middle East on a multi-country tour, and while in Cairo on Saturday, he pledged $200 million in non-military aid to the region. Back in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga affirmed, “Our country will not be intimidated by terrorism, and there is no change to our policy of contributing to the international community’s fight against terrorism.” The Washington Post also has the story. According to the United Nations, the Islamic State has actually carried out “scores of execution-style killings” over the past month. The Times details a number of examples. Tonight, President Barack Obama will deliver his seventh State of the Union address (SOTU). Military Times predicts which defense issues will be touched upon in the speech: Iraq, Afghanistan, Veterans’ Affairs reform, and cyber terrorism, in; sequestration and military pay and benefits, out. In advance of the SOTU, Defense One shares its own “State of Defense,” analyzing what 2015 will bring for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. On Sunday, the Islamic State released 200 Yazidi captives. The Associated Press reports that those freed were mostly elderly and infirm and had likely become too much of a burden for the militant group. Meanwhile, plans for increased bombing of Islamic State positions near the Syrian border town of Kobani have stalled, as U.S. and Turkish officials have failed to agree upon “parameters.” Ankara remains focused on ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while the primary concern of the U.S. is the Islamic State militant group. The Post has more. Reuters informs us that the Syrian government has begun the process of destroying the facilities, at which it created and housed its chemical weapons stockpiles. Another round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group concluded in Geneva over the weekend. According to French diplomat Nicolas de la Riviere, "The mood was very good, but I don't think we made a lot of progress." Reuters notes that leaders will meet again in February to continue discussions. Meanwhile, on Friday, President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron appealed to the U.S. Congress, urging legislators not to pass a new round of sanctions against Iran. According to McClatchy, such a bill would jeopardize the international nuclear negotiations. Reuters shares news that a U.S. drone strike in northwest Pakistan killed four alleged insurgents yesterday. Yesterday, the Ukrainian government accused Moscow of sending Russian troops across their shared border in support of pro-Russian separatists. According to the Times, 700 Russian troops have reportedly entered eastern Ukraine. The Guardian reports that jury selection in the case against Khalid al-Fawwaz begins in New York today. Al-Fawwaz stands accused of helping to plan the 1998 attacks at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.  Reuters informs us that two Yemeni citizens have been charged in a federal district court with “conspiring to murder Americans abroad and providing material support to al Qaeda.” And apropos of Yemen: per the BBC, "Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital Sanaa have shelled the president's home, shattering a ceasefire. President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi was reported to be inside the house but an official insisted that he was safe." The Post’s Walter Pincus argues for the creation of a free-standing Defense Department agency devoted solely to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Finally, Vice News shares some compelling drone footage of the current situation at Donetsk Airport, the center of hostilities between the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian separatists. The images display “bombed and burned out buildings amid a frozen landscape pockmarked by artillery and mortar shell impacts.

ICYMI: Yesterday, on Lawfare

Jack shared his reactions to a Times story regarding NSA penetration of North Korean cyber networks. Herb Lin examined what the National Research Council’s recently released report on bulk collection of signals intelligence adds to the public debate on the topic. Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.