Japan's defence minister has ordered missile units to intercept a rocket expected to be launched by North Korea next month if it flies over Japan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of being the most irresponsible country in the world and said sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme “haven’t worked.”

Japanese prime minister Yoshihiko Noda replaced five members of his Cabinet today in a bid to win more co-operation from the opposition to raise the sales tax and rein in the country’s bulging fiscal deficit.