In the past, Japan has acquiesced to terrorist demands. But recent threats by Islamic State jihadists have exposed Japan’s lack of options, writes Yuriko Koike

Japan said it was still trying to secure the release of two Japanese hostages held by Islamic State militants after a deadline to pay a ransom passed and there was no immediate word on their fate.

Carlos the Jackal has been sentenced to life in prison – again – in a Paris trial that ended with him rallying for revolution and weeping for Muammar Gaddafi.

The US has frozen the assets of 25 worldwide terrorist groups including Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network and the Real IRA.

The Japanese Red Army, a revolutionary group responsible for terrorist massacres in Israel and Italy, will disband nearly four decades after it was formed, newspapers have reported in Tokyo.