Britain Will Never Give In To Terrorism - Cameron

David Cameron tells Sky News that Britain will not pay ransoms for kidnapped British hostages

British PM David Cameron has condemned the "sickening and brutal" murder of US journalist Steven Sotloff by a man he said appears to be British. The PM told the Commons the ordeal of a British hostage understood to be held by the same group of Islamic State (IS) militants was "unimaginable".

In a video showing the purported murder of Mr Sotloff, the killer showed the hostage, described as British. Mr Cameron said: "This country will never give in to terrorism. Our opposition to ISIL (Islamic State) will continue at home and abroad.

"It makes no distinction between cultures, countries and religions. There is no way to appease it; the only way to defeat it is to stand firm and to send a very straightforward message. A country like ours will not be cowed by these barbaric killers. If they think we will weaken in the face of their threats, they are wrong; it will have the opposite effect."

Rising tensions in Ukraine as NATO ships arrive in Lithuania

A group of NATO ships has arrived in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda to “ensure regional security,” the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense has said. Russia has already voiced its concern over the “unprecedented” buildup of NATO forces in the region.

The group is composed of 4 minesweeping ships from Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Estonia as well as one supply vessel. The ships will take part in intensive military drills, stopping off at various ports in the region. They will also participate in operation “Open Sprit” deactivating underwater explosives.