BBC News, with Joe Mcaintash.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry says several Arab countries have offtered to take part in air strikes against Islamic State militants but any such action would be subject to approval from Iraqi government. Mr. Kerry said he was extremely encouraged by promises received of military assistance against Islamic State.

We have countries in this region, countries outside of this region, in addition to the United States, all of whom are prepared to engage military assistance in actual strikes and that is what requires. And, we also have a growing number of people who are prepared to do all the other things. People should not think about this effort just in terms of strikes. That alone is not going to resolve this challenge.

Britain says it will do whatever is necessary to destroy the Islamic State Jihadists who murdered the British hostage David Haines. The Prime Minister David Cameron said they are not Muslims but monsters who must be brought to justice. The militants released a video apparently showing beheading of David Haines, an aid worker kidnapped in Syria 18 months ago.

Queen Elizabeth has made her first public comment on the Scotish referendum on independence from the United Kingdom. She said she hoped people would think carefully about the future when they cast their ballots on Thursday. The BBC's Peter Hams says the remark may please those who opposed Scotish independence but royal officials say it doesn't breach the Queen's constitutional impartiality.

What is striking about this comment by the Queen is that it was uttered all. When a well-wisher in the crowd outside the church joked that they were going to mention it in the Independence Referendum, the 88-year-old monarch, a veteran of countless divisive political issues, could have taken their lead and chatted about weather. Instead, she replied, I hope people will think very carefully about the future. This wasn't a slip of tongue by the head of the State of United Kingdom, rather a reflection of how seriously she like many others views the significance of Thursday's vote.

Exit polls in Sweden’s general elections suggest the coalition led by the center left Social Democrat is likely to oust the center right government that’s been in office for 8 years. Large Behumger reports from Stockholm.

A win for the Social Democrats on the coalition of parties on the left would be a return to form for Sweden. The country's had a Social Democrat prime minister for 60 of the past 80 years. The Conservative-led government of Fred Reinfeldt has spent the past 8 years introducing tax cuts which the left says it wants to roll back. You know that just spend more on welfare.

The new government will not enjoy parliamentary majority however, leaving them dependent on the far-right and de-imigration Sweden Democrats who, according to Exit Polls, gain more than 10% of the total vote.

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Fighting has continued in the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire agreed more than a week ago. The authorities in the city which is a stronghold of pro-Russia separatists say there's been several civilian casualties.

Correspondents in Donetsk say the fighting appears to be concentrated on the area near the airport which is under the control of the Ukrainian army.

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has strongly condemned the increasing anti-Semitism in her country. She was speaking at a rally at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin attended by several thousand people under the banner stand up, hatred of Jews, never again. The president of World Jewish Congress Ronald S. Lauder who was also at the rally expressed disappointment of the recent rise of anti-Semitic attacks in the country.

Since 1945, Germany has been one of the most responsible countries on the earth. The world looks to Germany for political,for economic and for more leadership. But something has changed. This summer, all that progress of the last 70 years has been darkened by the rising tide of anti-Semitism.

Construction has begun on a giant observation tower in the heart of the Amazon Basin to monitor climate change. The Amazon tall tower observatory is expected to rise 325m from the ground and will gather data on green house gases, aerosol particles and the weather.

A bizarre battle has broken up between 2 South Korean manufacturing giants over washing machines. Samsung has accused its rival LG of deliberatly destroying some of its devices by breaking off their doors at a big trade show in Germany this month.LG said it was an accident and blamed weak hinges. The German police were called in. Prosecutors for both companies are investigating.

BBC News.