Manila  - Diving and retrieval operations inside a capsized ferry in the Philippines were halted on Friday after it was found that the vessel was carrying a shipment of hazardous chemicals.

Manila  - Two people were wounded in escalating clashes between Muslim rebels and government troops in the southern Philippines, a military official said Friday.

Manila  - Share prices on the Philippine Stock Exchange declined 2.19 per cent on Friday on Wall Street's plunge overnight and worries over record oil prices.

Manila  - The death toll from Typhoon Fengshen in the Philippines has risen to 622 with nearly 1,000 people still missing, mostly from the sinking of a passenger ferry, officials said Thursday.

Manila - Fierce fighting erupted Wednesday between government soldiers and Muslim secessionist rebels in the southern Philippines, killing one guerrilla, a military spokesman said.

Manila  - Rescue and relief efforts intensified on Monday in the the aftermath of Typhoon Fengshen, which caused massive destruction in a large part of the Philippines and left at least 186 people