A former prisoner leading a private effort to help find captive US journalist Austin Tice is concerned that deposed Syrian leader Assad may be hiding him. Nizar Zakka, who was detained in Iran on spying charges, now runs Hostage Aid Worldwide, a group working to free kidnapped civilians. Both Zakka’s group and the US government believe Assad or his former officials are holding Tice.He believes that members of the ousted Assad clan or former officials may still be holding him. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION4:28 WHO IS AUSTIN TICE?5:12 TICE ESCAPED BRIEFLY IN 2013: REPORT6:10 US IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HTS TO FIND TICE

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (December 16) accused the West of pushing Russia to its “red lines” – situations it has publicly made clear it will not tolerate – and said Moscow had been forced to respond.Putin told a meeting of defence officials that Russia was watching the U.S. development and potential deployment of short and medium-range missiles with concern.He said Russia would lift all of its own voluntary restrictions on the deployment of its own missiles if the U.S. went ahead and deployed such missiles.Putin, who said Russian forces in Ukraine have taken control of 189 settlements so far this year, said Russia’s nuclear weapons were there for deterrence. n18oc_world n18oc_crux