In brief: Philippines reports deal with rebels

Manila, Philippines – Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said today that his government has reached a preliminary peace agreement with the nation’s largest Muslim rebel group in a major breakthrough toward ending a decades-long insurgency in the country’s south.

Aquino described the deal in a nationally televised announcement as a “framework agreement” – a road map for establishing a new autonomous region to be administered by minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation’s south.

It follows marathon negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Malaysia, which is brokering the talks.

The agreement is expected to be signed in a few days in the capital, Manila, officials said. It spells out the general principles on major issues, including the extent of power, revenues and territory of the Muslim region.

If all goes well, a final peace deal could be reached by 2016, when Aquino’s six-year term ends, according to the officials.

UK official discusses limits on abortion

London – Britain’s new health secretary has said he favors reducing the limit for women to have abortions from 24 weeks of pregnancy to 12, reigniting a divisive political debate and sparking criticism from women’s rights activists Saturday.

Jeremy Hunt, who took up the job just a few weeks ago, said that after studying unspecified evidence he believed that 12 weeks was “the right point.” In an interview with the Times newspaper published Saturday, he said: “It is just my view about that incredibly difficult question about the moment that we should deem life to start.”

The remarks, coming just before the annual Conservative Party conference, immediately stirred up debate and drew criticism from pro-abortion rights campaigners and some health professionals. Abortion is an increasingly sensitive political issue in Britain.

Abortion is legal in England, Wales and Scotland up until 24 weeks of gestation, although 91 percent of terminations last year were carried out before 13 weeks. Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland except when the mother’s life is in danger or there is a serious threat to her health.