- Women ride Pakistan's economic crisis into the workplace
- Wallabies 'fell of cliff' in loss to Pumas, says coach Schmidt
- Child abuse scandals hang over pope's East Timor visit
- Biden team, end in sight, keeps hope on Gaza truce despite setbacks
- Sabalenka dedicates US Open to family 'who never gave up' on dream
- Venezuela takes diplomatic jab at Brazil in spat over election
- Multiple people shot along highway in US state of Kentucky
- In Papua New Guinea, Pope holds mass 'at the edge of the world'
- Hewett stays positive for wheelchair tennis despite agonising defeat
- Three things on US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka
- Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
- USA slump to first home defeat against Canada in 67 years
- Argentina hand Australia record 67-27 loss in Rugby Championship
- England impress on Carsley bow, Germany, Dutch hit five
- AFP photographer wins top prize for Gaza coverage
- No Love for Packers for three weeks after ligament sprain: reports
- Pedro Almodovar: chronicler of modern Spain crowned in Venice
- Trump sounds dark tone at rally, Harris 'ready' for debate
- Wirtz and Musiala dazzle to kick-start new Germany era
- Chinese teenager takes 7th gold of Paris Paralympics
- England interim boss Carsley 'respects' divided opinions over anthem
- Neuville moves to the front in the Acropolis Rally
- Garfield, Pugh charm Toronto in new romance 'We Live in Time'
- 21 boys confirmed dead in Kenya school inferno
- Over 100,000 protest in France against new prime minister
- Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination
- Green leads Australia to T20 series sweep of Scotland
- Nigeria, Cameroon win afer chaotic AFCON build-ups
- Nicole Kidman: A-lister, cinematic chameleon, wins in Venice
- 'I had to prove myself', says Kolisi after win against All Blacks
- Almodovar wins top prize at Venice film festival
- Grealish savours England redemption after 'worst summer'
- Carsley makes flying start as England interim boss in win over Ireland
- Springboks close on Rugby Championship with storming win over All Blacks
- Sri Lanka's De Silva and Kamindu Mendis defy England in third Test
- Farrell's Racing lose on opening day of Top 14
- Dunbar takes second Vuelta stage as Roglic closes in on victory
- Fritz eyes US Open glory to end 21 years of American hurt
- Thousands protest in France against new prime minister
- Trump to hold rally in swing state, Harris preps for debate
- Stone at the double as Sri Lanka collapse against England in third Test
- French tennis player takes legal action over online abuse
- Italy backs Kyiv's 'legitimate defence' as Zelensky presses allies
- The Body Shop rescued from administration after deal
- Smoke and screams: The horror of Kenya's school dorm inferno
- MotoGP leader Martin roars to victory in San Marino sprint
- Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer begins Dublin visit
- Ma Lin turns brutal encounter with bear into glorious Paralympic career
- Flintoff appointed England Lions head coach
- Sri Lanka hit back as Pope falls during England collapse in second Test
Florida passes abortion ban at 15 weeks of pregnancy
Following similar moves by Republican-led states across America, Florida's legislature has passed a ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with only limited exceptions.
The law, passed by Florida's Senate on Thursday, shortens the time allowed for abortions from 24 weeks of pregnancy to 15 weeks, with exceptions only for life-threatening risks to the mother or if the fetus has a fatal anomaly.
Democrats in the Florida legislature were unsuccessful in attempts to add amendments that would allow exceptions of rape or incest.
The law had already passed the Florida House of Representatives, so it now only needs the governor's signature.
Governor Ron DeSantis, a staunchly conservative Republican, has said he supports the bill.
President Joe Biden called the law "dangerous" in a tweet and said it "will severely restrict women’s access to reproductive health care."
Advocates fear that the Florida law will reduce the availability of abortions in the entire southeast United States, as many people travel there due to restrictions in neighboring states.
"My Administration will not stand for the continued erosion of women’s constitutional rights," the president, himself a devout Catholic, added.
Stephanie Fraim, the CEO of a Florida branch of the Planned Parenthood abortion rights organization, called the bill "cruel and careless," in a statement.
"Floridians want the freedom to make their own private medical decisions, not to be told what to do by politicians," she added.
The Florida law is similar to one in the nearby southern state of Mississippi, which is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court.
Anti-abortion advocates hope the Supreme Court, which now has six conservative justices to only three liberals, will rule in favor of the Mississippi law.
In its decision, which should be published by the end of June, the court could decide to reinterpret or thrown out the landmark 1973 ruling in "Roe v. Wade," which provided a constitutional right to abortion.
Another abortion law being challenged in the Supreme Court is from the southern state of Texas, which created a ban on abortions at the time a heartbeat is detected -- usually around six weeks into a pregnancy, often before women even know they are pregnant.
While the Texas bill sets a much stricter ban than Mississippi or Florida, it also includes novel enforcement provisions, which the court might use to dodge more controversial abortion questions.
A.Seabra--PC