* ISIS Claims American Hostage Killed in Coalition Airstrike ISIS claims a female American hostage was killed in an airstrike in Syria. American officials: There's no proof.
* NATO involvement in Ukraine is "destructive" - Russian envoy to alliance NATO weapons deliveries to Ukraine are unacceptable and could lead to dangerous and unpredictable consequences, says Moscow’s NATO envoy.
* PHOTO GALLERY: Seething with anger, Jordanians rally around king after ISIS murder of pilot Crowds massed near the main Husseini mosque, then marched chanting "Death to Daesh."
* US has little faith in Hollande-Merkel trip to Russia US vice president Joe Biden has indicated he has little faith France and Germany will persuade Russia to halt its offensive in Ukraine.
* Iran: The "Americans are begging us for a deal" A top Iranian military leader claims that U.S. officials have been "begging us" to sign a nuclear deal during closed door negotiations with Tehran over its contested nuclear program, according to recent comments made to the Iranian state-controlled media.
* Report: EU building hundreds of illegal structures for Palestinians in Area C of West Bank Right-wing organization says EU trying to establish "facts on the ground;" EU says it is providing "humanitarian assistance."
* Yemen crisis: Houthi rebels 'announce takeover' Yemen's Shia Houthi rebel movement has announced it is taking over the government and dissolving parliament.
* Ukraine crisis: Hollande and Merkel set for Putin talks German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are meeting Russia's Vladimir Putin to try to end escalating fighting in Ukraine.
* Al Azhar "freely" promotes slaughter of Christians and infidels Egypt's Al Azhar University - seen by many as Sunni Islam's most authoritative voice - continues to incite enmity for and violence against non-Muslim "infidels."
* N.Korea 'Staging Biochemical Warfare Drills' North Korea has boosted biochemical warfare drills as part of its regular winter exercises, intelligence agencies here believe.