Taipei - The World Health Organization (WHO) is allowing Taiwan to attend its annual assembly as an observer, marking progress in Taipei's fight to end its international isolation, a Taiwan official said Wednesday. Health Minister Yeh Chin-chuan told parliament that the WHO has invited Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), which is to open May 18 in Geneva, as an observer.

The invitation was issued by WHO Secretary General Margaret Chan Tuesday, apparently because of improved ties between Taiwan and China.

Phnom Penh - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday called on South-East Asian leaders to hold an emergency meeting to agree on a regional strategy to stem the spread of swine flu. "We need to have an emergency meeting of ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) to address this deadly disease as soon as possible," he told a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh.

The premier called on ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan to organize the meeting and invite health ministers from all member countries.

Taipei - Taiwan Wednesday celebrated its first victory in its fight to rejoin international organizations after it was allowed to re-join the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer. The breakthrough is regarded as the result of improved Taipei-Beijing ties and pressure from the United States, Japan, the European Union and Taiwan's 23 diplomatic allies and may pave the way for Taiwan's return to other international organizations.

WHO Secretary-General Margaret Chan invited Taiwan's health minister Yeh Chin-chuan to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly (WHA), opening in Geneva on May 18.

Taipei - The World Health Organization (WHO) has allowed Taiwan to attend its annual assembly as an observer, marking another score in Taipei's fight to end its international isolation, a Taiwan of

Taipei - Women in a southern Taiwan village are turning bras into face masks amid a shortage of the masks in shops after a swine-flu alert was declared, a news reports said Tuesday. Many women in Houbi in Tainan County are sitting before sewing machines to churn out colorful face masks made by cutting a bra in two and sewing elastic bands on each cup, the ERA cable television channel said.

Taiwan, which has yet to report a case of swine flu, issued an alert against the virus Sunday, setting off frantic buying of face masks.

Taipei - Taiwan on Tuesday was put on full alert against a possible swine flu outbreak by forming a command centre and ordering on-board inspection of passengers from North America before they disembark their planes. The Department of Health also instructed all cities and counties to set up their own centres to monitor possible cases.