MANILA - THE Philippine government confirmed late on Thursday the country's first case of swine flu, the health secretary Francisco Duque said.

Speaking at a press conference Duque said a Filipina who had arrived from the US with her family on May 18 was now in isolation at a Manila hospital.

MAGETAN (Indonesia) - INDONESIA promised Thursday to ground all of its C-130 Hercules planes if investigators determine that mechanical problems caused a crash the day before that killed 99 people.

The accident - which occurred in clear weather moments after pilots spoke with air traffic control - was the third involving a military aircraft in just two months. It also followed complaints that the air force could hardly afford spare parts for its aging fleet.

YANGON - AN AMERICAN who swam to the house of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi said that she seemed 'scared' of him, her trial heard Thursday as the junta again barred media and diplomats from the court.