MANILA, Philippines -- Premature quintuplets -- reportedly the first ever born alive in the Philippines -- were precariously clinging to life Monday, doctors said. Lorita Barrera, 27, of Cavite gave birth to the five babies via Caesarean section Sunday in Manila, The Philippine Star reported. She said she and her husband Gary had expected quadruplets, based on her ultrasound results, the Philippine network ABS-CBN reported. The babies were placed in incubators, with at least three of them ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- More than 1,300 scientists Monday called on two U.S. departments to overturn the Bush administration's last-minute rule changes to the Endangered Species Act. In a letter to the Commerce and Interior departments, the Union of Concerned Scientists said the changes weakened the act's scientific foundation. The regulations of concern allow federal agencies to decide for themselves if their projects would threaten imperiled species, the organization said in a news release. Previously, federal agencies were ... [full story]

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka says although major combat operations have ended, troops were still sweeping a corner of the country to end the Tamil Tiger insurgency. In turn, the rebels say they may be confined to a tiny area on the island's northeast coast, but will not surrender in their fight for their own ethnic homeland, the Voice of America reported. The rebels also say airstrikes by the government are ongoing. The VOA said the ... [full story]

NEW YORK -- A convicted Seattle al-Qaida sympathizer will be the star witness in the trial of an Islamic militant who claims to have killed dozens, prosecutors say. One-time Seattle hustler and Muslim convert James Ujaama, who pleaded guilty in 2006 to providing aid in the form of computers, cash and fighters to the Taliban government of Afghanistan, is expected to take the stand in New York this week in the terrorism trial of Lebanese-born Swede ... [full story]

LEEDS, England -- Two British teenagers were sent to locked facilities for leading a brutal attack on a 15-year-old who was tortured and dumped in a shallow grave. The victim survived the attack. But the judge who sentenced his tormentors was told that he continues to have flashbacks, The Daily Mail reported. Prosecutors at a hearing Friday in Leeds Crown Court said that the ringleaders, a girl then aged 14 and a boy, 13, joined by two ... [full story]

HAMPTON, Va. -- Hampton University students weren't notified of a shooting on the Hampton, Va., campus until hours later because the gunman was in custody, officials said. Some students and parents criticized HU President William Harvey because text message alerts about the early Sunday incident, in which a dorm monitor and a pizza delivery driver were allegedly shot and injured by a former student, didn't go out until 3 a.m., several hours after the incident, The ... [full story]

NAPLES, Fla. -- Alligator Alley, the interstate that slices across the Florida Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp, remained closed Monday because of a wildfire. The fire has burned more than 22,000 acres on the western edge of the Big Cypress National Preserve, The Miami Herald reported. Larry Perez, a National Parks Service spokesman, said that Alligator Alley, I-75, is likely to be closed part of Tuesday as well. The blaze was only 20 percent contained Monday. Alligator Alley ... [full story]

MEXICO CITY -- The death toll in Mexico blamed on the contagious swine-flu virus has reached at least 149, Mexican officials said Monday. Nearly 2,000 people reportedly have been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms in and around Mexico City, the epicenter of the growing outbreak. Officials in Mexico City declared the highest state of alert for efforts to contain the spreading illness. A spokesman for the city government, Marcel Ebrard, said many business would be closed and ... [full story]

MEXICO CITY -- The flu virus in Mexico City had to be identified in a Canadian laboratory because Mexico lacked the facilities, President Felipe Calderon said.. Mexican health officials accused of moving too slowly to contain the outbreak had to wait for confirmation Thursday from the Canadian lab before issuing more restrictive measures, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. Health officials reported a small increase in flu deaths Wednesday but said there was no sign of an ... [full story]

DETROIT -- Experts say a growing number of U.S. residents are turning to foster-care adoptions in lieu of more expensive private adoptions. Edward Woods of the Michigan Department of Human Services said compared with the 65 foster parent licenses handed out in the state in November, a total of 122 of the required adoption licenses were given out in January, USA Today said Monday. Arizona Adoption & Foster Care in Mason, Ariz., currently has 79 approved foster-care ... [full story]