Elisia Yeo

While the premier has revealed little about his intentions, observers are on the lookout for major changes.

Preparations are underway to change from diesel to biofuel by 2008, including negotiations with petroleum companies over manufacturing the fuel.

Economists say investors' fears will be alleviated if there are signs that regional governments are cooperating more actively to combat the haze.

Abdullah Ahamad Badawi vows to punish the Malaysian owners of plantations in Indonesia whose clearance methods were blamed for sending a choking haze across the country.

Jakarta responds to the tensions by pledging to take firm action against those responsible for the hundreds of fires raging on Sumatra, where farmers use fire to clear land.

Northport, one of three port facilities at Port Klang, suspended its operations late today due to the poor conditions.

His advisers say that if Keadilan established a majority with the support of its allies in the next general election, it can appoint an interim prime minister until Anwar's ban expired and he contested a by-election.

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail hopes the law suit would deter authorities from mistreating prisoners.

Although no formal motions on corruption are expected to be passed at the meeting which begins Thursday, all eyes will be on the assembly for genuine signs of support for Abdullah's anti-corruption campaign.

Top priority is being given to small-scale domestic farms, a feature of villages across Asia, where animals live in close proximity to humans.

There is much that experts still don't know about the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza - exactly how humans contract it from infected poultry, and why so many of its victims are healthy youngsters.

Halal toothpaste, face cream, floor cleaner, paint brushes and beauty products are some of the products that Malaysia aims to export to other Muslim countries through its halal distribution hub.

The global plan, written by the FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, calls for US$102 million to fight the disease in animals over the next three years.

Although the avian influenza virus has not mutated to become easily spread among people, the risk of a pandemic is not receding, says WHO's Dr Shigeru Omi.

Federal Territories minister Isa Samad, also a vice president of the main ruling party Umno, is the biggest scalp so far in the drive launched after Abdullah came to power in 2003.

The prime minister welcomes a new preferential trading system to be signed by some of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference OIC members this year as an initiative to kick-start the process.

Finance ministers and business leaders from the Muslim world will meet in Kuala Lumpur this week to devise ways to lift their countries out of poverty by unleashing their untapped economic potential.

The major turnaround was welcomed by employers who have lost hundreds of millions of ringgit since a crackdown on illegal migrants resulted in a serious labour crunch.