Police have apologised to the families of three London girls who flew to Turkey to join Isis (Islamic State) in Syria after it emerged that officers failed to alert them that a schoolfriend of the trio had left to join the militants.

The Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has announced it is joining Isis by apparently releasing an audio statement swearing allegiance.

John Key says new claims around intelligence collection are wrong - but he won't say why.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says the GCSB has broken the law by spying on New Zealand citizens in Pacific nations.

New Zealand's electronic surveillance agency has dramatically expanded its spying operations since John Key came to power.

Jihadi John's father has disowned his terrorist son in an emotional outburst, calling him "a dog, an animal and a terrorist".

Fighting began in the key central Iraqi city of Tikrit, birthplace of the former dictator Saddam Hussein, as government forces and Shia militia launched a major assault to displace Isis jihadists.

The Independent reveals how information obtained by torture helped thwart a plot to bring down two airliners over the US 17 minutes before the bombs detonated.

"Jihadi John" was able to flee the scrutiny of the security services despite being a member of a terrorist cell known to have links to the failed 21/7 attacks on London in 2005.

Teacher says Isis terrorist revealed as Mohammed Emwazi was involved in a number of fights in his first year at high school but he was "lovely, lovely boy".

New Zealand troops are preparing for a two-year tour in Iraq to help the fight against Islamic State. This is what they are up against.

The unmasking of Isis militant "Jihadi John" as a Londoner who had repeatedly been questioned by security services has sent shock waves through Britain.

Soldiers may be excused from going to train Iraqi forces in fight against Isis, for personal reasons. The Defence Force says it is part of being a "good employer".

Many times over the years we've been aware that people in a foreign country are going through hell, John Roughan writes.

Asim Qureshi has caused outrage by saying the murderer Jihadi John was 'beautiful' adding that he 'wouldn't hurt a fly'.

The Isis executioner known as 'Jihadi John' was today named as a graduate from London who was able to flee to Syria despite being on a terror watch list.

Edmund Burke once said political decisions often involve a choice between intolerable and disagreeable options.

Australia is working to stop young women leaving the country to become "jihadi brides" for Isis.

The enemy is no longer on a singular battlefield, the enemy is in every major town and city on the planet, writes Mike Hosking. So in sending the troops in, the purpose is what?

Prime Minister John Key has defended his angry counter-attack in Parliament after Opposition parties' criticised the decision to send troops to the Middle East.

NZ soldiers training Iraqi troops near Baghdad will not be taking a "them-and-us" view of the Iraqis but a partnership approach.

No New Zealand government should commit troops to a war zone without a clear awareness of the ramifications. In the case of the fight against the Islamic State.

The deployment of 106 Defence Force personnel to a military base in Iraq will include just 16 trainers, the New Zealand Defence Force chief confirmed yesterday.

Lieutenant General Tim Keating, says New Zealand troops deployed to Iraq will have force protection for self defence and and all forces will be armed.

Sending troops to Iraq not unethical but duplicity, anger and hatred in Middle East may crush New Zealand's efforts, writes law professor Alexander Gillespie.

The headteacher of the school attended by three British schoolgirls who are believed to have flown to Turkey to join Isis in Syria reiterated yesterday that police have no evidence the missing pupils had been radicalised there.