Repeal of RH law up to lawmakers: Palace

MANILA -- Members of the incoming 16th Congress are free to propose amendments or even repeal the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Law if they want to, Malacanang said Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made the comment following reported statement of the newly-proclaimed Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay) party-list group that its representatives would move to repeal the RH law.

Pacers beat James, Heat in Game 2 to bring 1-1 back home

MIAMI -- The Indiana Pacers finally clinched a victory to even their score at one all after the same tough fight against defending champion Miami Heat a couple of days ago.

The third seed in the Eastern conference outscored the Heat, 97-93, by forcing LeBron James to commit two turnovers in a row in the final minute.

17 children killed in Pakistan gas cylinder blast

ISLAMABAD — At least 17 children were burned to death in eastern Pakistan on Saturday when a faulty gas cylinder exploded on the bus taking them to school, police said.

Police officer Mohammed Rasheed said seven children were also injured in the explosion on the outskirts of the city of Gujrat.

11 killed in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA (Updated, 3:58 p.m.) -- At least seven Filipino marines and four Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in a clash Saturday as the military launched an offensive against al-Qaeda-linked gunmen who have been blamed for recent kidnappings and of trying to sabotage a road project in the island province of Sulu, military officials said Saturday.

Healthy gorilla born to 1st time parents at US zoo

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A baby gorilla has been born to first-time parents at an Ohio zoo.

The healthy 5-pound (2.2-kilogram) male gorilla arrived Thursday at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, joining 16 other gorillas there.

2 former sex slaves demand Japan mayor quit

OSAKA, Japan — Two Korean former sex slaves demanded the resignation of an outspoken Japanese mayor and canceled a meeting with him Friday for justifying Japan's wartime practice of forcing tens of thousands of Asian women into prostitution for its military.

Afghan Taliban attack aid group, 2 guards killed

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A Taliban suicide car bomber and five heavily armed gunmen attacked an international aid group's guest house in the Afghan capital on Friday, killing two guards and setting off an hours-long battle with security forces in an upscale Kabul neighborhood, authorities said.

The International Organization for Migration said four of its workers were wounded, including an Italian woman badly burned by a grenade at its quarters for international workers. Police said at least five attackers also died.

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- The Boy Scouts of America is throwing open its ranks to gay Scouts but not gay adult Scout leaders — a fiercely contested compromise that some warn could fracture the organization and lead to mass defections.

The Scouts on Thursday stressed that their organization of about 2.6 million boys and about 1 million adult leaders and volunteers would not condone sexual conduct by any Scout — gay or straight.

Obama's drone speech could improve Pakistan ties

ISLAMABAD -- President Barack Obama's decision to impose more restrictive rules governing U.S. drone strikes and his prediction that they will be used less could pave the way for better relations with the new government of key ally Pakistan, officials and analysts said Friday.

Obama fell short of Pakistani demands to announce an end to the attacks, but his landmark speech Thursday was seen as addressing some of Islamabad's main concerns over the covert CIA drone program targeting militants in the country's northwest tribal region along the Afghan border.

Madrid's Catholic Church says it needs exorcists

MADRID — The Catholic archdiocese in Madrid said it needs more exorcists to help some of its faithful cope with the devil.

An archdiocese spokeswoman said Friday that Madrid only has one exorcist priest and that it is considering a plan to train more. She spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with archdiocese policy.