S'pore tracing over 100 air passengers
S'pore tracing over 100 air passengers
SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities tried on Thursday to track down more than 100 people who arrived on three flights carrying passengers later diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) symptoms, prompting renewed fears of the virus spreading in the community at large.
Two weeks ago, an outbreak of SARS at the country's largest wholesale vegetable market prompted officials to close down the facility and impose a mass home quarantine. At least 12 people were infected from the market outbreak.
Overall, the disease has infected 201 in Singapore, and killed 25.
Health ministry spokeswoman Bey Mui Leng said on Thursday that officials were searching for passengers who arrived on flights from Shanghai, Jakarta and Hong Kong earlier this month. Each flight was carrying a passenger who either had SARS or showed symptoms of the disease.
A passenger on an April 22 Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta was diagnosed with SARS four days after returning to Singapore. His mother was diagnosed with the disease that same day. --AP
;DPA;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-Philippines-crash 15 people killed in truck accident in the southern Philippines JP/11/ASEAN
15 people killed in truck accident
PHILIPPINES: Fifteen people were killed on Thursday when the truck they were riding in slammed into an electric post in the southern Philippine town of Gingoog, police said.
The accident occurred along a highway in Medina town in Misamis Oriental province, 795 kilometers south of Manila, according to Chief Insp. Antonio Madlos.
Madlos said initial investigation showed that the driver, who was among the fatalities, was drunk.
Three other people were seriously injured in the accident, which caused the truck to overturn, pinning most of the fatalities. Others were thrown out of it on impact, he added. --DPA
;AFP;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-Myanmar-Japan Japan ex-PM holds talks with Myanmar military leader JP/11/ASEAN
Japan ex-PM holds talks with Myanmar leader
MYANMAR: Former Japanese prime minister Yoshiro Mori concluded a three-day visit to Myanmar on Thursday during which he held a rare lengthy meeting with military ruler Sr. Gen. Than Shwe, officials and diplomatic sources said.
Japan is the biggest aid donor to Myanmar and Mori, who resigned as premier in 2001 but remains as a legislator, led an 11-member team to the Southeast Asian state to discuss economic ties and other bilateral issues.
He also confirmed Mori's one-hour meeting Wednesday night with Than Shwe, the length of which strongly suggests the discussions went far beyond the typical visit paid to the general.
Mori also held talks with Gen. Khin Nyunt, the number three in the ruling State Peace and Development Council and chief of military intelligence, as well as foreign minister Win Aung, government sources said.
In February Japan's overseas aid agency JICA said it planned to spend about US$20 million in Myanmar in the fiscal year beginning last month despite a reduction in its overall budget. --AFP
;AFP;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-Philippines-Moro Six dead, 16 wounded in attacks by Philippines Muslim separatists JP/11/ASEAN
Six dead, 16 wounded in MILF attacks
PHILIPPINES: At least five soldiers and a civilian were killed and 16 people wounded in attacks by Moro separatists in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, the military said on Thursday.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas on Wednesday attacked a residential compound near the town of Datu Piang, leaving a civilian dead and four others wounded.
Later the same day, they attacked the military in the town of Pikit, wounding one soldier before retreating.
On Tuesday, troops of the 29th Infantry Battalion clashed with some 100 MILF guerrillas near the town of Munai also in Mindanao, the military's southern command said.
Eid Kabalu, an MILF spokesman, said the attacks were part of operations against military forces allegedly encroaching into rebel-held areas. --AFP