An online video released today purports to show the Islamic State (IS) group threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless they receive a $200m (€173m) ransom in the next 72 hours.

Yesterday’s deadly attack on the offices of a Paris magazine exposes not just the horrors of extreme religious fundamentalism but the paucity of moderate Islamic voices.

Al-Qaida has threatened to murder a British-born photographer held hostage by the extremist Islamic group, according to a terrorist monitoring organisation.

US president Barack Obama has said the beheading of Peter Kassig by the Islamic State group in Syria is “an act of pure evil”.

The video showing what the fifth beheading victim of the Islamic State militant known as Jihadi John was released just hours after reports emerged that he was injured in an allied air strike.

The parents of a US aid worker threatened with beheading by the Islamic State group say they have broken their silence about their son’s year-long captivity because "the dynamics have changed" and they fear for his life.

The British extremist responsible for the on-screen beheading of hostages has reportedly been identified, as MPs prepare to vote on whether the UK should join air strikes against Islamic State (IS).

The wife of British hostage Alan Henning has called on "the people of the Islamic State to see it in their hearts to release my husband", describing him as a "peaceful, selfless man".

The wife of British hostage Alan Henning has called on “the people of the Islamic State to see it in their hearts to release my husband”, describing him as a “peaceful, selfless man”.

Britain stands ready to take "whatever steps are necessary" to help an international push to destroy the "evil" extremist group who murdered a British aid worker, David Cameron said.

A government TD has criticised a film organisation for distributing leaflets which depict a man about to get his throat cut.

The BBC has edited this Saturday’s episode of Doctor Who to remove a scene where a character is beheaded after the murder of two journalists by Islamic State militants.

The family of a journalist murdered by Islamic State militants says Steven Sotloff dedicated his life to portraying the suffering of people in war zones, but was “no hero”.

David Cameron has insisted Britain will refuse to pay ransoms to terrorists in return for the release of hostages, as Islamic State (IS) militants threaten a Briton’s life.

While Obama has been criticised for not having a strategy, his desire to build a coalition could prove to be the best policy, writes Jim Gaines.

President Barack Obama has that the United States will not be intimidated by Islamic State (IS) militants after the beheading of a second American journalist.

The White House has determined that a video showing the brutal killing of freelance journalist Steven Sotloff is authentic.

Welcome to your Wednesday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Islamic militants have posted a video online which claims to show the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff, who went missing in Syria last year.

An internet video has been released purporting to show the beheading of US reporter Steven Sotloff by the Islamic State group.

The Donegal man at the centre of an ebola scare did not die from the virus, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE).

After the execution of James Foley, the old framework in which reporters are generally tolerated may be coming to an end, writes Jack Shafer.

US special operations troops went on a secret mission to Syria this summer to rescue American hostages, including journalist James Foley.

US President Barack Obama has pledged to continue attacking the group responsible for the death of journalist James Foley, despite its threats to kill another American hostage.

American fighter jets and drones have conducted nearly a dozen airstrikes in Iraq since Tuesday, a US official said.

A grisly video shows Islamic State militants beheading American journalist James Foley, US officials said, in what the extremists called retribution for recent US airstrikes in Iraq.

American journalist James Foley, who went missing in Syria in November 2012, has reportedly been beheaded by the Islamic State, a militant group formerly known as ISIS.