PARIS, France – Google and French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi announced Monday, September 12, a new joint venture focused on diabetes care.

The tie up between the drug maker and Verily, the health subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet, will focus on treatments for people living with the chronic disease.

Details on what the company's products will look like – or when they will reach the market – were scant, but they will combine the drugmaker's clinical know-how with the tech company's background in analytics and mini devices, a joint statement said.

"As it will initially consist of connecting already existing products, we can expect the first innovations to arrive more quickly than if it was a pharmaceutical research program starting from scratch," the head of Sanofi's diabetes business Stefan Oelrich told Agence France-Presse.

The venture, called Onduo, will initially focus on type two diabetes, the more common form of the disease. The prevalence of type two diabetes is soaring globally as obesity rates also rise.

Eventually, Onduo plans to expand its business to type one diabetes, an autoimmune disorder that requires daily insulin, and eventually those at risk of developing the disease. 

Sanofi has invested $248 million in the venture, with Verily putting in an "equivalent" amount, according to Oelrich.

The new company will be based in the US town of Cambridge, near Boston, the epicenter of the global biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industries, where Sanofi already has a presence.

Verily was born out of Google's X lab and has previously partnered with other pharma giants, including Johnson & Johnson to develop surgical robots and in a bioelectronic venture with UK-based GlaxoSmithKline. – Rappler.com

JAKARTA, Indonesia (UPDATED) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said "go ahead" if Mary Jane Veloso "were to be executed," Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo disclosed to reporters on Monday, September 12.

Jokowi said that he and Duterte spoke about Veloso, the Philippine drug convict who is on death row in Indonesia, during Duterte's recent visit here.

"I have already spoken (to President Duterte) about Mary Jane's case. I said that Mary Jane brought 2.6 kilograms of heroin. And I also told him about the postponement of the execution. At that time, President Duterte said 'go ahead' if (Mary Jane) were to be executed," Jokowi told media after Eid prayers at the At-Tsauroh Mosque in Serang on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella later clarified Duterte's statements in a Monday afternoon press conference. "His actual statement and conversation with President Widodo went like this. He said, regarding Mary Jane Veloso he said, 'Follow your own laws, I will not interfere.' End of statement," Abella said. (READ: Duterte said he will not interfere with Indonesian laws - Palace)

In Indonesia, when asked about the ongoing legal process in the Philippines regarding Mary Jane's case, Jokowi said: "The legal process is up to the Attorney General. But that is what President Duterte said."

Jokowi did not mention Duterte appealing for Mary Jane's life when they met last Friday, September 9.

Previously, Duterte had said that he would plead for Mary Jane's life when he meets Jokowi on his working visit to Indonesia, but he also said he was ready accept Indonesia's decision either way.

"Well, I may just have to ask [Indonesian President Joko] Widodo in a most respectful and in very, very courteous way. And if my pleadings will fall on deaf ears, I am ready to accept it – for the simple reason I do not doubt the judicial system of Indonesia," he said.

Personal talks

While in Indonesia, Philippine officials told media that Mary Jane was not discussed at the tete-a-tete with ministers from the Philippines and Indonesia.

Upon arrival in Manila, however, Duterte said he did talk to Jokowi about Mary Jane but only between the two of them. He refused to discuss their conversation, saying that he was not at liberty to divulge details and would talk to Veloso's family first.

Veloso, a single mother of two from the Philippines, has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for allegedly smuggling drugs into the country. She has maintained her innocence, insisting she was an unknowing drug mule. 

Veloso was given a last-minute reprieve on April 29, 2015. 

That day, the 8 other drug trafficking convicts scheduled to be executed with her were put to death on a prison island.

Indonesian Attorney General HM Prasetyo said an exception was made for Veloso because her alleged recruiter surrendered, and Veloso may be able to testify on the case. Indonesia has said it would wait for the recruiter's trial to conclude in the Philippines before acting on Veloso's case, but emphasized she remains on death row.

Veloso appealed to Duterte last week for help in "getting justice."

"I’ve been suffering for so long here in Indonesia, suffering even though I am innocent. You are my only hope," she said in an audio recording.

"I’ve been in Indonesia for almost 7 years now, and I still haven’t been given justice. That’s all I ask from you - give me justice." – Rappler.com  

MANILA, Philippines – A former campaign staff of Ferdinand Marcos Jr in the May elections drew flak from netizens after he was linked to the Official Gazette’s Facebook update that was widely perceived as being “pro-Marcos.”

Marco Angelo Cabrera, who now works for the Official Gazette under the Presidential Communications Office, was called out on Facebook by lawyer Jesus Falcis for the PCO page’s commemorative post on the 99th birthday of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

The photo was captioned with bits about Marcos’ government service but initially left out the details about the Martial Law declaration in 1972 and his being ousted through the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986. The post has been updated since. (READ: Official Gazette under fire for Marcos photo caption) 

Falcis pointed out that Cabrera used to work for the son and namesake of the late strongman, as proven by another social media account under his name.

“The conflict of interest is so glaring and palpable. Multiple issues and events will require you to post on matters touching Ferdinand Marcos and his family – from the current issue on his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani to future commemorations of the declaration of Martial Law and the EDSA Revolution,” Falcis said.

{source} <iframe src="https://web.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Fjesusfalcis%2Fposts%2F10154244289918429&width=500" width="500" height="734" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>{/source} 

The Gazette post, which was edited a few times Sunday, has since inspired memes and parodies. (READ: #SuperficialGazette: Filipino netizens 'rewrite history')

Employment history

Cabrera responded to Falcis, saying that his bosses at PCO are well aware of his employment history, which he also disclosed on his Facebook page.  

“My bosses know of my previous work for former Senator Bongbong Marcos. I was accepted to work for them with the full knowledge of my previous employment. The reason for my two Facebook accounts is that I used the other one during my stint in the Senate and on the campaign trail,” Cabrera said.

He added: “I do not believe that my previous work for former Senator Marcos would have any conflict of interest insofar as my work is concerned since I follow the lead of my bosses.”

Cabrera initially posted his comment using the Official Gazette’s account. Netizens again faulted him for it.

“Although I have a certain level of control over the page (Facebook has several levels of control), ultimately, official posts must be approved by the admin. Unfortunately, I must have not switched to my personal account to comment again. I appreciate you in pointing this out,” Cabrera said.

Meanwhile, Cabrera said he will leave it to his superiors to respond on the the blunder on the Official Gazette’s Facebook page.

‘Agnostic’ gazette  

PCO Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III, who is managing the Official Gazette, did not confirm if Cabrera was the one who wrote the post about Marcos Sr.

Cualoping said he gave the final approval to the post. 

“I’ll have to check [because] there’s a team, there’s a team handling [the] Gazette,” Cualoping told Rappler. “There is a pool of researchers, there are editorial writers and we have a pool of consultants – historian consultants. And then I give the final approval.”

Cualoping said Cabrera fully disclosed to PCO his past stint with former Senator Marcos. 

"But just like in any offices, we hire on the merits of credentials as well, not because of political affiliations. Of course, political affiliations, yes. But he’s good. He’s brilliant," he said. 

On the blunder, Cualoping said he was just being “fair” when he approved the posting of the “agnostic” birthday card about Marcos – that it was devoid of political color.

“I was not thinking of the Marcos family when I gave the approval last night. It was really making it fair. We also did it for President [Ramon] Magsaysay, for President [Sergio] Osmeña, and we also did it for Senator Ninoy Aquino.” 

He also said: “From our government point of view, the Gazette point of view, it should be blind in terms of political colors. But if you want to look at it in the political perspective, then you can hear it from the Presidential Communications’ page, not the Gazette page.” – with a report from Pia Ranada/Rappler.com

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – The home province of former President Ferdinand Marcos goes all out as they remember his 99th birthday anniversary.

Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Imelda Marcos and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos lead the celebration.

Mara Cepeda reports.

MARA CEPEDA, REPORTING: It's a sea of red and white in Ilocos Norte as the province commemorates the 99th birthday of former President Ferdinand Marcos. 

His daughter Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos says despite the criticisms against Martial Law, Ilocanos still support the late strongman.

The day begins for the Marcoses with an emotional Mass at the Santa Monica Parish. Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Imelda says the Ilocanos kept them going since her husband’s death in 1989.

IMELDA MARCOS, ILOCOS NORTE REPRESENTATIVE: Yes, we miss him today, but I would like to thank each and everyone of you that in these 30 years that he has been away from us, the family knew Ilocanos were the ones who gave us strength and love that we were able to carry on.

Imee then leads a wreath-laying ceremony at the Marcos shrine in Sarrat, where he was born on September 11, 1917.

IMEE MARCOS, ILOCOS NORTE GOVERNOR: It’s a great celebration and for all of us, we recall my dad napaka-controversial. Sa Maynila, maraming salita, maraming hatol and they are vociferous and well-publicized. We in Ilocos Norte have a simpler message: one of unconditional love.

It's a great celebration and for all of us, we recall my dad is very controversial. In Manila, they say many things and have passed judgements on, and they are vociferous and well-publicized. We in Ilocos Norte have a simpler message: one of unconditional love – love for someone who was with us for so many years, love for someone who served long and well, love for someone who will remain alive in each one of our hearts for the service he gave, for the leadership he taught us, and for the sacrifice  that has marked public service and community here in Ilocos Norte throughout the decades.

The killings, torture, disappearances, media oppression, and corruption during Marcos' 21-year rule are why petitioners are asking to stop his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Imee is mum on the issue, but hopes for national unity.

IMEE MARCOS, ILOCOS NORTE GOVERNOR: Hindi ako maaaring magkomento sapagkat sub judice at alam mo na, ang ating mga abogado ay ayaw. Ang amin na lang, ipinagdadasal namin na magkaroon ng katapusan upang sa wakas magkaisa ang Pilipino tulad ng hangarin ng ating mahal na presidente, Apo Duterte. 

(I can't comment because of the sub judice rule and you know, our lawyers don't want us to speak on the matter. We're praying for this issue to be laid to rest so that Filipinos would be united just like what President Duterte wants.)

Thousands of Marcos loyalists join the festivities at the Imelda Cultural Center in the evening, where they lighted candles for the former president. 

The supporters are treated to a fireworks show and a boodle fight with the Marcoses. 

The Solid North provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan are the stronghold of the Marcos family.

The thousands of loyalists who are gathered here today only show that support for Marcos will remain strong in the years to come.

Mara Cepeda, Rappler, Ilocos Norte – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Former president Fidel Ramos denied he gave President Rodrigo Duterte a thick list of drug personalities.

His denial was in a postscript at the bottom of an opinion piece published in the Manila Bulletin on Saturday, September 10.

"POST-SCRIPT – DON'T BELIEVE THAT FVR VISITED MAYOR DU30 IN DAVAO CITY 4 TIMES AND GAVE THE MAYOR 'A THICK LIST OF DRUG LORDS.'  NO WAY!!!" reads the article.

Ramos was countering claims Duterte made himself during a speech in front of Filipinos based in Laos on September 5.

Malacañang's transcript and video of the speech show the President making these claims.

The official transcript, sent by the Presidential Communications Office, reads: "You know President Ramos went to Davao four times – three times po. Tapos iyong una wala siyang pinakita, basta sabi lang niya, 'you must run because it's about time that Mindanao would have its own President.' Iyon lang ang usapan limitado doon.

And you can ask him, buhay pa si Ramos eh. The second time, he was strongly urging me to run. Sabi niya, 'ikaw lang ang makapigil nito,' kung papaano. Then he showed me a list ng mga... nandoon na, mga general sa droga, pati iyong pulis ganoon kakapal. Hindi ko pa binitawan iyong iba, kasi bina-validate ko pa."

(You know President Ramos went to Davao 4 times – 3 times. The first time, he didn't show anything, he just said, 'You must run because it's about time that Mindanao has its own President.' The discussion was limited to that.

And you can ask him, Ramos is still alive. The second time, he was strongly urging me to run. He said, 'You are the only one who can stop this.' Then he showed me a list of...it's there, generals into drugs, even the police, this thick. I can't release the names of the others because I am still validating.)

On September 8, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza issued a statement denying Duterte ever made such claims.

"President Duterte categorically denied media reports claiming that former president Fidel Ramos was the original source of the so-called drug list...'To say that the source of the narcotics list came from President Ramos is a total fabrication,' President Duterte said,'" reads the statement sent to media.– Rappler.com 

BRASILIA, Brazil – Eduardo Cunha, Brazil's scandal-plagued former congressional speaker who spearheaded the drive to remove president Dilma Rousseff from office, could be stripped of his seat Monday, September 12, if his peers vote him out.

Cunha, who is often compared to the dark, manipulative hero Frank Underwood of the hit Netflix series "House of Cards," used his position as speaker of the lower house to put Rousseff on an unstoppable path to impeachment.

But the 58-year-old conservative lawmaker allied with Congress's Evangelical Christian wing resigned from his position as speaker in July amid swirling accusations of corruption linked to the huge state oil company Petrobras.

Cunha is being prosecuted for allegedly taking millions of dollars in bribes. 

On Monday, he will face the music in Congress for having "lied" to other lawmakers about his possession of secret Swiss bank accounts. Cunha denies all wrongdoing.

Cunha was first suspended in May, less than a month after lawmakers voted to open impeachment proceedings against Rousseff. 

Rousseff was definitively removed from office on August 31, and replaced by her center-right vice president Michel Temer.

Cunha has used a variety of stalling tactics to slow the proceedings that could lead to his ouster from Congress. Analysts say he will play his final card Monday by asking his peers to delay a vote on his fate until after October municipal elections.

He may also argue for a simple suspension, rather than the loss of his seat.

As a last resort, he could also ask that lawmakers allow him to keep the right to hold public office – a right Rousseff also kept after being stripped of her job, despite the country's constitution calling for lengthy bans.

But polls released over the weekend show that many of Cunha's onetime allies have deserted him.

The daily O Globo forecast that 297 lawmakers out of a total 513 will vote against Cunha – 40 more than the minimum required. About 20 of those are from his PMDB party, the biggest in Brazil and also Temer's party.

Rousseff, from the leftist Workers' Party, accused both Temer and Cunha of orchestrating a coup against her.

Thanks largely to Cunha's leadership, the lower house voted heavily in favor last year of opening an impeachment trial against Rousseff, on charges that she illegally manipulated government accounts. 

On April 17, the day Rousseff's impeachment trial was authorized, Cunha was the target of a barrage of insults in Congress from leftist deputies, who shouted "Gangster!" and "Putschist!" – Rappler.com

MINA, Saudi Arabia – Muslim pilgrims reached Mina on Monday, September 12, for the ritual stoning of the devil, the last major rite of the annual hajj and the scene of a devastating stampede last year.

A number of safety measures have been introduced to prevent a repeat of last year's tragedy, which killed around 2,300 people as they made their way to the Jamarat Bridge to perform the stoning.

The bridge is multi-story to accommodate the huge number of pilgrims – more than 1.8 million this year.

Pilgrims threw pebbles they had gathered in nearby Muzdalifah on Sunday evening, September 11, at walls representing the devil.

Saudi King Salman arrived in Mina on Sunday to ensure the pilgrims can "perform their rituals easily, conveniently and safely", the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

He was also briefed on preparations for the safe movement of pilgrims between Muzdalifah and Mina.

The stoning ritual is performed three times over the coming days.

The first comes at the start of Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, Islam's holiest, which is marked by more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide.

After the stoning, sheep are slaughtered and the meat distributed to needy Muslims, symbolizing Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Ishmael on the orders of God, who provided a lamb in the boy's place at the last moment.

The stoning ritual emulates the actions of Abraham in resisting the temptation to disobey.

Last year's stampede was the worst disaster in the pilgrimage's history.

Saudi Arabia has stuck by its initial death toll of 769, but figures compiled from officials in more than 30 countries gave a tally almost three times higher.

Authorities announced an investigation into the tragedy but no findings have ever been released.

Several new safety measures have been introduced this year.

Among these is the distribution of bracelets which store pilgrims' personal data. Roads have also been widened in the Jamarat area, newspapers reported.

Aerial photographs on Saudi television showed rivers of pilgrims flowing toward the Jamarat on multiple roads.

A security officer was shown monitoring the crowds on closed-circuit television screens.

Helicopters have been monitoring the flow of pilgrims, while police have been directing them on the ground to make sure there are no bottlenecks.

Pilgrims have told Agence France-Presse they feel safe and have noticed organizational improvements.

"The Saudis organize everything for us. We are truly at ease here," Youssef al-Mehri, 24, from Oman said with a prayer rug slung over his shoulder.

But the new safety measures adopted by Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia failed to satisfy Shiite Iran, which has angrily questioned the kingdom's custodianship of Islam's holiest places.

Iran lost the largest number of dead last year, at 464.

Its 64,000 pilgrims have been excluded from this year's hajj for the first time in decades after the regional rivals failed to agree on security and logistics.

Hundreds of thousands of Iranian faithful held an alternative pilgrimage to the Shiite holy city of Karbala in Iraq on Saturday, September 10.

Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that it had launched a new television channel to broadcast the hajj rituals in the Farsi language of Iran.

The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, which capable Muslims must perform at least once, marking the spiritual peak of their lives.

The pilgrims come from every corner of the globe. Indonesia – the most populous Muslim nation – has the largest contingent. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte said he does not want the presence of US Special Forces in Mindanao.

"Kaya 'yang mga special forces (Those special forces), they have to go. They have to go. In Mindanao, maraming mga puti doon (there are lots of white people there)," Duterte said during a speech in front of new appointees on Monday, September 12, in Malacañang Palace.

Duterte said this after presenting images of United States operations in Mindanao at the start of the 20th century in which American troops were bent on pacifying Moro rebels. The President showed images from a "US archive" of US soldiers violently killing Moro rebels. 

After mentioning the US "special forces," Duterte said he has long wanted to "review foreign policy."

"'Di ko lang masalita noon (I just couldn't say so) out of respect or I do not want a rift with America but they have to go," he added.

Deactivated

The Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) was a contingent of US troops, including Special Forces, that was set up to fight terrorism in the Philippines in 2002.

But it was deactivated in February 2015. Its mission was "to advise and assist Philippine security forces at the tactical, operational and strategic levels against violent extremist organizations throughout the southern Philippines," according to the US embassy.

A small group of US soldiers have stayed in the Philippines to help the Philippine military and police in their operations against the Abu Sayyaf and terrorists. Some of them, for example, had helped gather intelligence that led to the Mamasapano operation in 2015 against alleged Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, according to high-level government sources. The operation killed Marwan and 44 elite cops.

The US troops have a rotating presence in the region as part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) which the Philippine government signed with the US government. 

Duterte previously said he would implement the EDCA after the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality.

'It will get more tense'

Duterte also seemed to say that the presence of American soldiers in Mindanao would make the situation there more tense. Though no American soldier has been held captive by the Abu Sayyaf, Duterte seemed to say American soldiers would be prime hostage targets for the terrorist group.

"Mas lalong iinit. Pag makakita ng Amerikano, papatayin talaga 'yan. Kukuha ng ransom, papatayin. Even if you're black or white American, basta Amerikano," said Duterte.

(I didn't say anything before out of respect or I do not want a rift with American but they have to go. It will get more tense. If they see an American, they will really be killed. They will demand ransom, they will kill them. Even if you're black or white, as long as you're American.)

'No peace'

In another part of his speech, Duterte said the US' violent pacification in Mindanao continues to stir unrest in the southern island.

"Look at the bodies there. Paano tayo, paano mag-hold-up (How will things hold up). For as long as we stay with American, we will hever have peace in that land. We might as well give it up."

Duterte's statement on US soldiers comes after the President's participation at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit where regional security and anti-terrorism efforts were among the topics discussed.

During the summit, Duterte also came face-to-face with US President Barack Obama who had earlier been one of the subjects of his controversial rant against the US.

Duterte has never hesitated to express his disdain for Western imperialism. When he was Davao City mayor, he had rejected the presence of US troops in his city.

During the ASEAN Summit, Duterte also showed images of US' violent pacification campaign in Mindanao, a move that "shocked" and left silent a room of diplomats and regional leaders.– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella on Monday, September 12, clarified President Rodrigo Duterte's "actual" words to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the case of Mary Jane Veloso.

"His actual statement and conversation with President Widodo went like this. He said, regarding Mary Jane Veloso, he said, 'Follow your own laws, I will not interfere.' End of statement," Abella said in a press conference shortly after news broke out on Widodo's statements regarding his one-on-one with the Philippine president last Friday, September 9.

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: Presidential spox Abella on what <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentDuterte?src=hash">#PresidentDuterte</a> told Pres Widodo re Mary Jane Veloso <a href="https://twitter.com/rapplerdotcom">@rapplerdotcom</a> <a href="https://t.co/tszGRyuBNY">pic.twitter.com/tszGRyuBNY</a></p>&mdash; Pia Ranada (@piaranada) <a href="https://twitter.com/piaranada/status/775243271400411136">September 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

Here is what Widodo told reporters in Bahasa Indonesia after Eid prayers at the At-Tsauroh Mosque in Serang on Monday: "I have already spoken (to President Duterte) about Mary Jane's case. I said that Mary Jane brought 2.6 kilograms of heroin. And I also told him about the postponement of the execution. At that time, President Duterte said 'go ahead' if (Mary Jane) were to be executed."(READ: Jokowi: Duterte won't stop Mary Jane execution) 

Abella clarified that Duterte gave "no endorsement." He stressed: "There was none, no categorical statement, there was no endorsement. He simply said, follow your own laws," said the spokesman.

Duterte, according to Abella, does not believe he was misinterpreted by Widodo.

"He doesnt believe any of that sort. He was simply clarifying what he said," said Abella.

Asked if Duterte was surprised at the news of his "greenlighting" the execution, Abella said, "I don't know if he was surprised but he certainly had a very quick answer." 

Veloso, a single mother of two from the Philippines, has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for allegedly smuggling drugs into the country. She has maintained her innocence, insisting she was an unknowing drug mule.

Veloso was given a last-minute reprieve on April 29, 2015.

That day, the 8 other drug trafficking convicts scheduled to be executed with her were put to death on a prison island.

An exception was made for Veloso because her alleged recruiter surrendered, and Veloso may be able to testify on the case. Indonesia has said it would wait for the recruiter's trial to conclude in the Philippines before acting on Veloso's case, but emphasized she remains on death row.

Versions of what happened

Veloso appealed to Duterte for help in "getting justice."

Before his trip to Indonesia, Duterte had said he would plead for Veloso's life, but he also stressed he was ready to accept Indonesia's decision either way. (READ: Duterte on Mary Jane: I am ready to accept Indonesia's decision)

Shortly before Duterte returned to Manila from Jakarta, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr said the two leaders did not talk about Veloso. Indonesian minister of law and human rights Yasonna Laoly confirmed it at the time, saying "nothing at all was brought up about Mary Jane."

When Duterte was asked by media while he was in Indonesia if he did discuss the Veloso case with Jokowi, he was vague in his answer, only saying, "not for public consumption."

However, upon his arrival in Manila Friday evening, Duterte said he discussed Veloso with Jokowi. – Rappler.com

ISTANBUL, Turkey (UPDATED) – A car bomb exploded on Monday, September 12,  outside the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters in the eastern Turkish city of Van, wounding 48 people including two police officers, the local governor's office said.

Turkish officials have blamed the attack on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is listed as a terror group by Turkey and much of the international community. 

The attack took place near a police checkpoint outside the AKP offices in the heart of the bustling city, the local governor's office said in a statement.

"Forty-six civilians and two police officers were injured after a bomb-laden car... was blown up by members of the separatist terror organisation," it added, using a term to describe Kurdish militants.

Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, which comes on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha.

But Besir Atalay, an AKP lawmaker from Van, also pointed the finger of blame at the PKK, which is waging a bloody campaign against the Turkish state. 

"The terrorist organisation has targeted our party building and the AKP's presence in the past. This is one of their attacks," he added, in live comments on the private NTV television.

Witnesses said the force of the blast shattered the windows in the surrounding vicinity and the AKP's provincial offices sustained severe damage. 

Several ambulances rushed to the scene and television images showed water cannon being used to put out a fire caused by the explosion. 

'Mayors cannot back terror'

Van, a city with a mixed Kurdish and Turkish population on the shores of the lake of the same name, has generally been spared the worst of attacks like those seen in the nearby city of Diyarbakir.

The city is a popular tourist destination, particularly with Iranians who arrive from across the border in huge numbers to enjoy shopping and the relaxed atmosphere.

The blast came a day after the government announced the removal of 28 mayors, mainly over alleged links to the PKK in a move strongly denounced by pro-Kurdish parties.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended the suspension of 28 mayors, saying it was a long-overdue.

"You, as mayors and municipal councils, cannot stand up and support terrorist organisations," he told reporters after prayers outside an Istanbul mosque, shortly before the attack. 

"You do not have such authority." 

The government has stepped up its military campaign in the restive southeast to eradicate PKK militants, who have launched almost daily attacks since the rupture of a fragile ceasefire last year.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the PKK first took up arms in 1984, with the aim of carving out an independent state for Turkey's Kurdish minority.

Turkey has also launched an operation inside Syria to remove Islamic State (ISIS) group militants as well as Syrian Kurdish militia from its frontier.   – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Media were not allowed to air live any of President Rodrigo Duterte’s events on Monday, September 12, according to instructions by the Presidential Appointments office.

“For today’s activities, no live [coverage] as advised,” Palace reporters were told by Communications Assistant Secretary Queenie Rodulfo.

The instructions were communicated to reporters while Duterte’s first event of the day was ongoing. He was then attending the oath-taking of new government appointees. 

In the middle of the President’s speech, staff of the Media Accreditation and Relations Office (MARO) went around telling reporters they may record the speech but not air it live. Reporters were also not allowed to tweet details of the event live. 

Due to the late instructions, some reporters were still able to send some tweets out. 

A radio station was also able to air the speech live. 

The day before the event, reporters were told by Malacañang that the event was open for media coverage. 

In the advisory, there were no instructions limiting the coverage. Without such instructions, media assume they are allowed to live tweet or air the event live on television, radio, or on social media platforms, for instance, Facebook Live.

According to MARO staff, the instructions for limiting media coverage came from the Presidential Appointments office. As of posting, Assistant Secretary Lisette Marquez, head of the office, is yet to respond to Rappler’s questions on the matter.

But Rodulfo assured media, “this is not the protocol for all future PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] events.”

Duterte is set to have another event supposedly “open to media” at 6:30 pm on Monday. This event is the awarding ceremonies of the 2016 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos. 

As of updating, Malacañang has allowed media to air the event live. Media were told of the lifting of the restrictions minutes before the arrival of President Duterte.

The restrictions on media come after President Duterte said he is not harboring anger at journalists and even said it is their “sworn duty” to ask him questions. 

Previously, Duterte had claimed media had misinterpreted his rant against US President Barack Obama, making it appear he had called him a “son of a whore” during a speech.

Duterte insists he was not referring to the US president when he uttered the curse word. – Rappler.com

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria's President Bashar al-Assad vowed to retake all of Syria from "terrorists," hours before a truce brokered by Russia and the United States was due to take hold on Monday, September 12.

Speaking in Daraya, a former rebel stronghold recently surrendered to the government, Assad said "the Syrian state is determined to recover every area from the terrorists," state media reported.

"The armed forces are continuing their work, relentlessly and without hesitation, regardless of internal or external circumstances," he said. 

Assad made a rare public appearance to celebrate the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday in Daraya, where state media showed him attending prayers at the Saad Bin Moaz mosque. 

After years of government siege and fighting, its remaining residents and rebel fighters evacuated the town in late August under a deal with the regime, which has since retaken control.

"After 5 years, some people still haven't woken up from their fantasies," Assad said, referring to the anti-government protests that erupted in Syria in 2011.

"Some were betting on promises from foreign powers, which will result in nothing," he added. 

Assad was joined at the prayers by a number of members of his ruling Baath party, as well as several ministers and members of parliament.

The mufti, or Muslim cleric, presiding over the prayers, hailed Daraya as an example for Syria, which has been ravaged by conflict since 2011.

"Daraya is living proof for all Syrians that the only option available to you is reconciliation and abandoning fighting," said Adnan al-Afiyuni, mufti for Damascus province.

Rebel fighters said they had been forced to agree the deal with the government after the siege created a humanitarian crisis for Daraya's remaining residents.

But the government has touted the deal, and other similar agreements, as the best way to achieve local ceasefires and end the violence.

More than 290,000 people have been killed and over half the population displaced since the conflict began. – Rappler.com

VIENNA, Austria – Austria's government was forced Monday, September 12, to announce an embarrassing postponement of its October 2 presidential election because of glue failing to stick on postal votes.

"The defective vote envelopes have glue on the top edge and on the side. These come unstuck and the flap can still be easily opened and closed even after 20-25 minutes," Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said.

"We are going to request that parliament approves a postponement of the election," he told reporters. Possible new dates are November 27 – his preferred option – or December 4, he said.

The announcement is a further blow to Austria's image, a wealthy and advanced Western democracy and EU member, and for the government of Chancellor Christian Kern.

Austria has been without a president since July 8 when Heinz Fischer stepped down. He was replaced on an interim basis by the speaker of parliament and two deputy speakers.

The last election result from May was annulled after Austria's highest court in July upheld claims of procedural irregularities made by the narrowly defeated far-right.

This was also because of problems with the 700,000 postal votes cast, although these included votes being counted too early, or by officials without the authority to do so.

Islam 'has no place'

In the May election, Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) narrowly lost by just 31,000 votes to independent ecologist Alexander Van der Bellen.

If he wins this time, Hofer would become Europe's first far-right head of state since 1945 after losing by just 31,000 votes in May. 

In common with other populist parties around Europe, the FPOe has stoked concerns about record entry into Europe last year of more than a million migrants to increase support.

The role of Austria's president is largely ceremonial but not entirely. He or she can in theory sack the government – something that Hofer has in the past threatened he will do.

The 45-year-old has sought to portray himself as the friendly and moderate face of the FPOe, focusing not on immigration but on issues like EU trade deals and wanting more Swiss-style "direct democracy".

But he has also said Islam "has no place" in Austria and opposes gay marriage. Van der Bellen has also accused him of wanting Austria to follow Britain out of the European Union.

'System on the blink'

Pushing the election back poses legal problems, however, and the government is considering drawing up special legislation or even changing the constitution to allow it to happen.

Another question is whether to update the voter register as, since the last election, tens of thousands of voters have died, while a similar number have turned 16 and can now vote, media reports said. 

Expert Thomas Hofer said that it was unclear which candidate the "highly embarrassing" postponement would help, but that further ahead the far-right could well profit.

"Trust in democratic institutions was already low, and this will do further damage," he told Agence France-Presse. 

"In the longer term, this will help the FPOe, which has always argued that the system is on the blink."

Indeed, Hofer has jumped on the problems with the election as proof that Austria needs to be shaken up. 

"We just want our country back," Hofer said in a Facebook video. – Rappler.com

CANBERRA, Australia – An American amateur investigator handed possible debris from missing flight MH370 to Australian officials Monday, September 12, and said several pieces were blackened by flames, raising the prospect of a flash fire onboard.

Mystery has surrounded the fate of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 since it disappeared on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 passengers and crew on a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

The Boeing 777 is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean after inexplicably veering off course, but its final resting place has not been found despite an intense underwater search off Australia's far west coast.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which is coordinating the search, said Blaine Gibson had handed over unspecified debris on Monday.

"We are seeking advice from the Malaysian authorities regarding how they would like to proceed," an ATSB spokesman told Agence France-Presse.

Gibson, a lawyer from Seattle who has travelled the world trying to solve the MH370 mystery, told local reporters the debris which had washed up in Madagascar included what appeared to be an internal panel.

He has handed his findings to authorities in the past and said he had brought the recently found pieces to Australia for forensic investigation.

'Signs of melting'

"The top layer of paint has been singed, scorched black," he told Channel 7 of one piece. "It also shows some signs of melting... as you see when something is exposed to fire.

"It appears to be from the interior of the plane but not the main cabin, perhaps the cargo hold, perhaps the avionics bay."

Gibson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the pieces could be a "real game changer" if they were found to belong to MH370.

"One of the theories is that there was a fire on the plane," he said, adding that there was as yet no evidence to support this theory.

Gibson has said he is paying his own travel costs and searching for the missing aircraft "just out of personal interest".

The debris was handed over as eight relatives of those onboard the flight had a private visit with ATSB officials.

The relatives from China, Malaysia and Indonesia had earlier been shown around one of the search vessels in Western Australia.

Canberra has been leading the massive search for MH370 within the 120,000-square-kilometer (46,000-square-mile) search zone set to be fully scoured by December.

But the underwater hunt has so far failed to find a single piece of debris from the plane, fueling speculation that the crash site may be outside the current search zone.

The zone was defined under the "most likely" scenario that no one was at the controls as the plane ran out of fuel.

The first piece of debris found from MH370 – a two-meter wing part known as a flaperon – washed up on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion in July 2015.

Since then a range of debris linked to the flight has been found along western Indian Ocean shorelines. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Forty-three presidential appointees took their oath in the company of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, September 12.

Among them are University of the Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero de Vera III, who took his oath as a commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he was an adviser to then presidential candidate Grace Poe. 

Communications Assistant Secretaries Ramon Cualoping III and Queenie Rodulfo also took their oaths on this day. Joseph Lawrence Garcia, who used to be Davao City Information Officer when Duterte was mayor, was sworn in as a Communications Assistant Secretary.

PAGASA Acting Administrator Vicente Malano is sworn in as PAGASA Administrator.

Alexander Balutan, who was previously set to head the Bureau of Corrections, was sworn in as a chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.  

The new appointees are:

• Cherie Lei Santos - Assistant Secretary, Department of Transportation (DOTr)
• Lino Dabi - Assistant Secretary, DOTr
• Datu Abul Khayr Alonto - Chairperson, Mindanao Development Authority
• Adelino Sitoy - Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs
• Roland Bondoc - Assistant Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration, Office of the President (OP)
• Jennifer Joy C. Ong - Assistant Secretary, OP
• Erwin Enad - Assistant Secretary, OP
• Jose Jorge Corpuz - Chairman and Member, Board of Directors, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
• Alexander Balutan - General Manager and Member, Board of Directors (PCSO)
• Loreta Ata - Member, Board of Directors, PCSO
• Kelvin Lester Lee - Assistant Secretary, Office of the Executive Secretary
• Amable Aguiluz V - Special Envoy of the President ot the Gulf Cooperation Council 
• Gertrudo De Leon - Undersecretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
• Agnes Joyce Bailen - Undersecretary, DBM
• Vicente Malano - Administrator, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, under Department of Science and Technology
• Marcos Risonar Jr - Undersecretary, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
• Sylvia Mallari - Undersecretary, DAR
• Luis Meinrado Pañgulayan - Undersecretary, DAR
• David Erro - Undersecretary, DAR
• Teresita Vistro - Assistant Secretary, DAR
• Elmer Distor - Assistant Secretary, DAR
• Milagros Isabel Cristobal - Assistant Secretary, DAR
• Thomas Orbos - General Manager, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
• Julia Catherine Nebrija - Assistant General Manager, MMDA
• Michelle Angelica Go - Assistant Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
• Antonio Kho Jr - Undersecretary, Department of Justice
• Virginia Orogo - Undersecretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development
• Prospero De Vera III - Commissioner, Commission on Higher Education
• George Apacible - Undersecretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)
• Noel Puyat - Undersecretary, PCOO
• Enrique Tandan III - Undersecretary, PCOO
• Kissinger Reyes - Assistant Secretary, PCOO
• Rachel Queenie Rodulfo - Assistant Secretary, PCOO
• Joseph Lawrence Garcia - Assistant Secretary, PCOO
• Ramon Cualoping III - Assistant Secretary, PCOO
• Ana Maria Banaag - Assistant Secretary, PCOO
• Michel Kristian Ablan - Assistant Secretary, PCOO
• Nabil Tan - Undersecretary, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
• Diosita Andot - Undersecretary, OPAPP
• Ronald Flores - Undersecretary, OPAPP
• Rolando Asuncion - Assistant Secretary, OPAPP
• Ma. Cecilia Papa - Assistant Secretary, OPAPP
• Ariel Cayanan - Undersecretary, Department of Agriculture

– Rappler.com

SEOUL, South Korea – Severe flooding in a North Korean border region has killed at least 133 people with another 395 missing and thousands of homes swept away, the UN says, after Pyongyang reported "great hardship" in the area.

Some 107,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the area along the Tumen River, the world body said in a statement received Monday, September 12, which cited Pyongyang government figures.

The North's official media has described the downpour which led to the floods near the northeastern border with China and Russia as the worst for decades, and said it brought severe hardship to residents.

It says a nationwide mass-mobilization 200-day labor campaign intended to bolster the economy has been redirected to assist the flood victims.

The impoverished nation is vulnerable to natural disasters, especially floods, due partly to deforestation and poor infrastructure.

At least 169 people were killed by a massive rainstorm in the summer of 2012.

Major state resources are swallowed up by a missile and nuclear weapons program which Pyongyang says is essential to deter US aggression.

More than 35,500 houses have been hit by the latest floods, with 69 percent of them completely destroyed, and 8,700 public buildings have been damaged, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement dated Sunday.

Around 16,000 hectares (39,540 acres) of farmland have been inundated and at least 140,000 people urgently need help, it said.

OCHA said a group made up of UN agencies, international NGOs, the international Red Cross and the North's Red Cross had visited parts of the flood-stricken region last week to assess needs.

It said aid agencies have released material from stockpiles in the North such as food and shelter. 

UNICEF said its staff were part of the joint UN, NGO and government rapid assessment team. It said a truck carrying emergency supplies including oral rehydration salts, medical kits, vitamin supplements and water purification tablets left Pyongyang on September 5 on its way to the affected areas, and that further supplies were on the way. 

The North's government was working urgently to reopen roads and was distributing relief goods and building materials. The priority was to rebuild 20,000 homes by early October, before the bitter Korean winter sets in.

From floods to 'fairyland'

The North has trumpeted the role of its ruling Workers' Party in responding to the disaster in North Hamgyong province.

The aim is "to turn the area into the fairyland in the era of the Workers' Party within this year by dint of army-people great unity, harmonious whole", said party newspaper Rodong Sinmun on Monday.

"The party regards the work for taking care of the people's life in a responsible way as the most important affair and duty and has steadily created legendary stories about love for the people," it added.

Much of North Korea is hilly or mountainous but slopes have long been stripped bare for fuel or turned into terraced ricefields. This allows rainwater to flow downhill unchecked.

A series of floods and droughts was partially responsible for a famine that killed hundreds of thousands between 1994-98, with economic mismanagement and the loss of Soviet support exacerbating the situation.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said in April that North Korea's chronic food shortages were expected to worsen, given the tight food supplies last year and this year when "most households were already estimated to have poor or borderline food consumption levels".

The United Nations Security Council is planning fresh sanctions on the nation after it staged its fifth nuclear weapons test Friday. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – It’s disgusting yet something not surprising from the President.

Neophyte Senator Leila De Lima on Monday, September 12, slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for allegedly giving a go signal to the execution of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row in Indonesia. (READ: The story of Mary Jane Veloso, in her own words)

The President’s act, while deplorable, is nothing new, with the senator citing the present government policy on extrajudicial killings in the country.

“But then again, magtataka pa ba tayo, e sa mismong bansa natin araw araw mahigit kwarenta katao na ang napapatay nang walang paglilitis. So ano pa ang kwenta nga naman talaga ng buhay ng isa pang Mary Jane Veloso,” De Lima said.

(But then again, are we surprised? In our own country, more than 40 people are killed without any trial everyday. So what is the worth of another life, the life of Mary Jane Veloso)

“Mapa judicial o extra-judicial execution, yan na ang polisiya ng gobyerno. Nakakalungkot. Nakakaiyak. Nakakahindik,” she added.

(Judicial or extrajudicial executions, that is now the policy of the government. It's saddening. It makes me cry. It's shocking in a disgusting way.)

Calling the remark “disgusting,” De Lima said it is heartbreaking for no less than the President to easily “throw away” all government efforts in saving Veloso’s life. As President, it is well within Duterte’s power to hold off the execution, De Lima said.

“I am sad and heartbroken that the President will throw away all our efforts to save a life just like that, when it is still in his power to request for the holding off of the execution,” De Lima said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, for his part, shared the same dismay over the reported statement of the Philippine president.

“This is hearbreaking. I am at a loss for words to describe how it has come to this,” Pangilinan said.

'All efforts have come to nothing'

With Duterte’s apparent go signal to the Indonesian government, the senator claimed that the administration is no longer keen on saving the life of Veloso.

"This means he will no longer intercede, and that saving Veloso's life is no longer the policy of the President," De Lima said.

Unlike the present government, De Lima said the Aquino administration prioritized saving Veloso’s life.

“The fate of Mary Jane and saving her life has been important to us in the Aquino Administration,” she said.

The DOJ under her, she said, provided the Indonesian government the legal basis to delay the execution using the “mutual cooperation treaty between the 2 countries on the prosecution of crimes” and by catching Veloso’s recruiters.

The apparent new policy, De Lima said, erases and downplays past efforts.

“Now it appears all our efforts have come to nothing, because the President is a firm believer in the death penalty and the punishment of those convicted of drug trafficking, and these personal beliefs are now our government's foreign policy insofar as the fate of Veloso is concerned,” she said.

Former president Benigno Aquino III supposedly broke protocol in April 2015 when he directly talked with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi for a last-minute appeal to save the Filipina on death row.

Aquino requested Indonesia to turn Veloso into a state witness so it could pin down a drug trafficking syndicate, which allegedly includes Veloso's recruiters.

Malacanang should clarify the matter

Indonesian President Joko Widodo told reporters in Bahasa Indonesia on Monday: "I have already spoken (to President Duterte) about Mary Jane's case. I said that Mary Jane brought 2.6 kilograms of heroin. And I also told him about the postponement of the execution. At that time, President Duterte said 'go ahead' if (Mary Jane) were to be executed."(READ: Jokowi: Duterte won't stop Mary Jane execution)

But Malacañang denied such statement, saying Duterte only said he would "not interfere" with Indonesia’s laws. 

With the confusing statements, De Lima and Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV asked the Palace to clarify the matter immediately.

“There is still much confusion in this, as Secretary Yasay has said that as a result of the meeting of the two Presidents, the execution has been held off indefinitely. Malacanang should clarify what actually happened,” De Lima said.

“We hope the DFA can clarify the matter asap, not just for the public who are faced with contradicting statements but more so for Mary Jane’s family and loved ones,” Aquino told Rappler in a text message.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, however, believes that Duterte was only misinterpreted.

“Taken out of context, I’m sure. President Duterte already issued a statement saying he never said anything like that,” Sotto told Rappler.

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Juan Miguel Zubiri, for their part, refused to comment on the issue, saying they have yet to hear the whole story.– Rappler.com

WASHINGTON, DC, USA – Donald Trump said on Monday, September 12, he hopes his Democratic White House rival Hillary Clinton recovers from pneumonia and announced he would be releasing details of his own health soon.

The Republican presidential nominee was unusually subdued in his first public comments on the news that Clinton has pneumonia, a diagnosis revealed by her campaign after she fell sick at a 9/11 memorial ceremony Sunday and had to leave abruptly.

"Something is going on but I just hope she gets well and gets back on the trail, and we'll be seeing her at the debate," he said in a phone interview with Fox News.

The 70-year-old real estate magnate said he had a physical last week and will release the details once test results are back.

"I think they are going to be good. I feel great but when the numbers come in, I'll be releasing very, very specific numbers," he said.

So far, Trump has only released a brief letter from his physician that was light on details but said if elected, he would be "the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency."

Two US media outlets reported early Monday that Trump's campaign staffers had been ordered to be respectful about Clinton's illness and not post anything on the topic on social media.

Any violation of the order could result in termination, CNN said, citing unnamed Trump campaign sources.

Bloomberg reported a similar story, quoting "people familiar with the planning."

Trump, known for his relentless and personal attacks, had promoted the idea in recent weeks that his 68-year-old Democratic opponent has serious health problems affecting her fitness to lead.

The internet is awash with unsubstantiated claims that Clinton may have a brain tumor, Parkinson's or dementia.

Clinton was forced to cancel a California fundraising trip on Monday and Tuesday, barely eight weeks from Election Day.

The first presidential debate is scheduled for September 26. – Rappler.com

LONDON, United Kingdom –  Britain's former prime minister David Cameron on Monday, September 12, resigned his seat in the House of Commons, nearly 3 months after losing an EU referendum in which he had campaigned to stay in the bloc.

Cameron stepped down as prime minister in June, hours after Britain voted to leave the European Union, and handed over the reins of power to his successor Theresa May in July.

"In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as prime minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue (as a member of parliament)... without the risk of becoming a diversion," Cameron said in a statement Monday.

"I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership," the 49-year-old said, adding: "I now look forward to a life outside Westminster".

The former premier has faced sharp criticism in the wake of his surprise referendum defeat from critics who accused him of recklessness in holding it in the first place.

Cameron announced his intention to hold the vote in 2013 in what was seen at Westminster as an attempt to placate eurosceptic opponents in the centre-right Conservative party.

His resignation from parliament less than 3 months after stepping down is unusually quick. Former prime ministers have typically retained their seats for a number of years after leaving office.

'A life outside Westminster'

Cameron, had been MP for Witney in the rural county of Oxfordshire, northwest of London, since 2001.

He said he would continue to live there. 

At the time of his resignation as prime minister, he insisted he was "keen to continue" as a constituency MP and intended to seek re-election at the next general election, due in 2020. 

Cameron is not known to have taken on any other roles since stepping down. His media appearances since have been in pictures of him holidaying with his family. 

"Obviously I’m going to have to start to build a life outside Westminster," he was quoted as saying by ITV in an interview.

"I'm only 49 and I hope I can still contribute in terms of public service and contribute to our country," he said.

His decision was welcomed by allies.

Former foreign secretary William Hague wrote on Twitter: "Right decision by David Cameron to leave Commons - former Prime Ministers are either accused of doing too little or being a distraction."

Cameron's decision to quit will trigger an obscure parliamentary procedure, because lawmakers are technically not able to resign.

Cameron will be named as either the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead and a by-election to pick his successor will be held. – Rappler.com

PARIS, France – Scientists said on Monday, Sepember 12, they had found a suitable animal model for testing new Zika drugs -- a monkey whose offspring suffers brain damage similar to human foetuses exposed to the virus.

One monkey, a pregnant pigtail macaque, was infected with Zika on day 119 of gestation -- equivalent to about 28 weeks of a normal 40-week human pregnancy, a team of US-based researchers reported.

While the animal never developed symptoms, the brain of its fetus stopped growing – the first time this was observed in a lab animal, they wrote in the journal Nature Medicine.

"We were shocked when we saw the first MRI of the foetal brain 10 days after viral inoculation," said paediatrics professor Lakshmi Rajagopal of the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, who co-authored the study.

"We had not predicted that such a large area of the foetal brain would be damaged so quickly."

The study also produced the first direct evidence of Zika virus crossing the placenta into the developing brain late in pregnancy, its authors said.

Zika is a virus spread mainly by mosquitoes, but in rare cases via sex.

In most people, including pregnant women, it is benign with mild or no symptoms.

But in an outbreak that started mid-2015, it has been linked to a form of severe brain damage called microcephaly which causes the heads of foetuses to be abnormally small, killing some and disabling others.

It likewise causes rare, adult-onset neurological problems such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which can result in paralysis and death.

More than 1.5 million people have been infected with Zika, mainly in Brazil, and more than 1,600 babies have been born with abnormally small heads and brains since last year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

There is no cure or vaccine for Zika, and a suitable animal model had been lacking for testing potential therapies.

Model monkey

Unlike mice, gestation in macaques closely resembles that of humans in many respects.

"This is the first animal model that is sufficiently close to human pregnancy that we can feel confident that a successful therapy will also work in humans," co-author Kristina Adams Waldorf, also of UW, told AFP.

"This discovery is critical to accelerating research towards finding a vaccine or therapy that will completely prevent infection of the mother and also protect the foetus from foetal brain injury," she said by email.

The speed at which the virus moved in on the foetus, said the authors, made it clear that prevention, not cure, was the way to go. 

By the time a pregnant women becomes aware she is infected – if she notices at all – her baby's brain may already be damaged.

In the macaque, the foetal brain stopped growing 3 weeks after infection, said the authors. 

Had it survived, the foetus would have developed microcephaly in one more month.

"This is likely similar to the late-onset microcephaly that is being reported now in some infants in Brazil that are born with a normal head size, but then the head no longer grows and meets criteria for microcephaly after several months," said Adams Waldorf.

Mosquitoes are spreading the virus in seventy countries and territories, mainly the Americas and Caribbean, according to the WHO. Twelve countries have reported sexual transmission.

Cases of microcephaly or other central nervous system malformations in babies have been recorded in 20 countries. 

Tests with other macaques are ongoing, the researchers said, also at earlier stages of gestation. – Rappler.com