Japan's Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba has urged the nominally civilian Burmese government to continue its reforms, saying Japan would do what it could to help Burma's

reconciliation

process and improve its economy. Mr Gemba spoke after meeting President Thein Sein and the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. For her part, Ms Suu Kyi said Japan's ongoing support was crucial.

"Our country is

bound and determined to

march towards the democratic goal. In doing so, I expect Japan to be at the forefront of friendly nations who will help us."

Two prominent South Korean women have met the man chosen as the next leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. South Korean officials said the country's former first lady and the chairman of Hyundai talked (about口误) with the leader for about 10 minutes after arriving in Pyongyang to pay their respects to his father Kim Jong-il.

Police here in London say [they] are investigating two stabbings on Oxford Street, one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe. In the first incident, an 18-year-old died when (where口误) he was attacked. The second stabbing was in another area of Oxford Street, and the victim is being treated in hospital.

A newspaper in Chile has been ordered to compensate 13 readers who suffered injuries when they followed a recipe it published. The recipe for churros - a sweet fried

pastry

snack - caused explosions that showered the cooks with hot oil, causing burns. Chile's Supreme Court ordered La Tercera newspaper to pay more than $160,000 to the victims. The court found that injury had been inevitable for anyone who followed the printed recipe correctly.