LEBANESE troops have intensified their assault on the perimeter of a Palestinian refugee camp, demanding the surrender of Islamist militants inside.

A helicopter fired two missiles into Nahr alBared camp, backing up machine gun and cannon fire that had reportedly destroyed the militants' sniper posts.

Five soldiers have died since the latest assault began on Friday.

The 13-day confrontation between troops and militants has killed more than 100 people, many of them civilians.

No assault charges for Hugh Grant ACTOR Hugh Grant will not be charged over claims he threw a tub of baked beans at a photographer, the Crown Prosecution Service in Britian said.

The star will also not be prosecuted in connection with allegations that he kicked the same photographer.

The incidents were alleged to have taken place near Mr Grant's west London home in April.

Ian Whittaker said he was attempting to get pictures of Grant's former partner, Liz Hurley, who lives nearby.

Grant, 46, was arrested over the assault allegation.

First man enters Big Brother house

BIG Brother's first male housemate of the latest series has entered the Channel 4 reality TV show.

Model and music producer Zak Lichman . . .known as Ziggy . . . used to be a member of boy band Northern Line.

The 26-year-old Londoner joins the 11 women in the house since Wednesday who include a member of the Women's Institute and a former lap-dancer.

According to bookmakers Ladbrokes, Welsh nanny Laura is the favourite to win the show and the �100,000 prize.

Chinese vicepremier dies

CHINESE vice-premier Huang Ju, one of the most senior leaders in China, has died aged 68 in Beijing, the official Xinhua news agency has reported.

Huang was in charge of financial and economic policymaking in the Politburo, China's highest decision-making body.

He had not attended official functions since March 2006, when it was announced he was ill, reportedly with cancer.

An official obituary described him as a "longtested and faithful Communist fighter" and an "outstanding leader".