MANILA - THE Philippines confirmed a swine flu outbreak in a rural northern village on Monday as the country's infection tally neared 200, while Thailand reported its largest single-day jump in infections.
JAKARTA - INDONESIA may experience more severe forest fires this year because of an extended dry season, officials said on Monday, raising the prospect of choking smoke blowing across neighbouring states.
As well as being unhealthy, the smog can cause major economic disruption costing the tourism, transport and farming sectors billions of dollars.
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN police on Monday fired several rounds of tear gas to break up a noisy protest held by Iranians residing here against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial election victory.
Earlier more than 200 people gathered at the city's United Nations building to hand over a protest note demanding the world body nullify elections the Iranian opposition allege was rigged.
MANILA - FIGHTING across oil and gas-rich marshlands in the southern Philippines has escalated with members of the country's largest Muslim rebel group reinforcing rogue guerrillas, an army field commander said on Monday.
