LONDON - THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday his country's economy might not show positive growth until the final quarter of this year, later than forecast.

HANOI- VIETNAM protested against a bill signed into law in the Philippines, saying that it lays claim to parts of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, state media said on Friday.

MANILA - THE Philippines government agreed on Friday to consider changing a stalled peace agreement with Muslim separatists giving greater autonomy to a restive southern island.