Mideast Two teenage bystanders were killed as Palestinian security personnel clashed with Islamic militants in a bid to stop mounting violence unravelling a seven-month informal truce. Britain The link between the London bombings and Al-Qaeda has grew as it emerged that the explosives used in the British capital might be similar to those seen in earlier operations by the terror network. Iraq At least two people were killed and 15 wounded, including two US soldiers, as a series of insurgent attacks rocked Iraq, Iraqi and US officials said. Iran Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari is to head a large delegation to Iran on his first official visit to the former foe, an Iraqi official said. Thailand Thailand's cabinet has approved sweeping new powers for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to combat surging violence in the Muslim south. Kenya Kenya has launched a massive security operation in the northern region, where a massacre and reprisal attacks have left at least 77 people dead this week, officials said. Kenya An Italian Roman Catholic bishop was killed in an overnight attack in central Kenya, police and church officials said, as authorities investigated whether it was linked to inter-clan violence in the volatile north. China China could use nuclear weapons to retaliate against the United States if it attacked in any conflict over Taiwan, reports said citing a Chinese general. Indonesia Indonesia would withdraw its troops from Aceh if the rebels in the troubled province laid down their arms, Vice President Yusuf Kalla said. Turkey The captain of a Panamanian-registered cargo ship is missing after the vessel sank in the busy Bosphorus strait that divides Asia and Europe at Istanbul. Caribbean Hurricane Emily, the Atlantic's second big storm of the season, threatened more Caribbean islands after lashing Grenada, days after its predecessor Dennis carved a trail of death and destruction across the same region. AFPEntertainment A painful wait for millions of Harry Potter fans will end at midnight (2300 GMT) when the latest adventure in the boy wizard series goes on sale in a spectacular launch that looks set to break all publishing records.