SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea test-fired two Scud missiles on Saturday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said, raising the stakes in its military moves and further stoking regional tensions already high due to its nuclear test in May. If the report is accurate, the launch would mark an escalation by the reclusive North, which has fired several non-ballistic, short-range missile since the May 25 nuclear test. Reclusive North Korea is barred by United Nations resolutions from firing ballistic missiles such as the Scud. "North Korea fired two missiles, which appeared ...

Brigadier General Larry Nicholson demonstrated the more open approach he wants to see among the new US troops sent to southern Afghanistan by going shopping for melons. Nicholson, commander of the 4,000 Marines deployed on Thursday in the mainly Taliban-held Helmand River valley, headed to Garmsir district centre to visit a bazaar selling fruit, vegetables and meat. The day after launching Operation Khanjar -- intended to establish international and Afghan government control in the region -- he was keen to show how the Marines must interact with locals to defeat ...

Two US legal firms announced Friday that they have filed a class action suit against a London-based insurer on behalf of the Mexican victims of fraudulent financier Allen Stanford. The lawsuit was filed by the Strasburger & Price and Castillo Snyder law firms before a court in Houston and targets Willis Group Holdings -- an insurer headquartered in London, with offices around the world. Also named in the suit are the Willis office in Colorado, insurance company Bowen, Miclette & Britt, and two unidentified individuals. The suit accuses Willis Group ...