British forces on a major operation in Afghanistan say they have encountered little resistance from the Taliban.

Troops are moving into a large swathe of territory in Helmand province that had been a stronghold for insurgents.

More than British 700 soldiers from the Light Dragoons and 2 Mercian are taking part in the third wave of Operation Panther"s Claw.

They are trying to clear a large area of land of insurgents and install Afghan government rule.

North Korea has tested two short-range missiles, South Korean media report, as concern mounts in the region that a long-range test could be days away.

It test-fired other similar missiles earlier this week and has incurred fresh UN sanctions since holding a second underground nuclear test in May.

The latest missiles were fired from a base near Wonsan into the Sea of Japan, South Korea"s defence ministry said.

They are believed to be Scuds with a range of 500km (312 miles).

A top Latin American diplomat has arrived in Honduras to demand the restoration of the ousted president.

Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the Organization of American States, says he will do all he can to end the impasse in the Central American state.

But he earlier acknowledged that it would be difficult to persuade the interim government to take back ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is set to hold a second meeting with Burma"s top military leaders.

Mr Ban has asked to meet jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and says he is awaiting a reply while he remains in the country.

In his first meeting with General Than Shwe, Mr Ban asked for the release of all Burma"s political prisoners.

British diplomats are trying to establish whether Iran intends to act on its threats to prosecute staff from the UK"s embassy in Tehran.

On Friday, a top cleric said some staff members would be tried for inciting protests over Iran"s disputed election.

Iran says the UK is trying to undermine the Islamic regime by fomenting discontent - a charge Britain denies.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband says he is "deeply concerned" and has asked for talks with his Iranian counterpart.

Kenya and the International Criminal Court have agreed on a new deadline to set up a special tribunal to try the ringleaders of post-election violence.

Kenyan ministers promised to establish the tribunal by July 2010 and in the meantime provide the ICC with the details of their investigations.

An ICC spokesman said ministers also promised to refer the case to the ICC if they failed to establish a tribunal.

About 1,500 people were killed in violence following the 2007 elections.

Twelve alleged Muslim radicals who were mostly arrested in Serbia"s southern region of Sandzak have been jailed for plotting attacks on an imam and others.

Their alleged leader, Senad Ramovic, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for terrorist offenses and illegal possession of arms and explosives.

Eleven defendants got terms ranging from eight years to six months, two were acquitted and one faces retrial.

All pleaded not guilty when their trial opened in Belgrade in January 2008.

Most of the 15 defendants were arrested near Novi Pazar, Sandzak"s main town, in 2007.

An underground youth culture in Japan which makes a rebellious fashion statement against traditional rules on eastern beauty, is taking hold on Britain"s youth.

Manba involves devotees wearing dark tans, white make-up around their eyes and hair that is often a combination of neon colours.

British teenagers like 18-year-olds Eilish and Declan got caught up in manba after an interest in Japanese culture led them to start researching on the internet, where they came across the style.