Georgia Supreme Court reinstates six-week abortion ban / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
-
Helicopters battle wildfire threatening Ecuador's capital
-
Balogun returns as Monaco beat Lens to continue strong Ligue 1 start
-
Brentford batter Chelsea to undo Alonso's promising start
-
'Pause' on overt repression in Venezuela, but reforms still needed: HRW
-
Kane hits Bundesliga century as Bayern rout Union
-
Global stocks mixed as yen falls despite Bank of Japan rate hike
-
Trump says CNN, MS NOW, Politico banned from White House
-
Cuba hit with seventh major blackout of the year
-
Hushing and hedging: US companies retreat on climate
-
Murray out with concussion so Wentz will start for Vikings
-
Springboks to face Fiji before 2027 Rugby World Cup
-
UN chief 'deeply regrets' US visa refusal to Abbas for annual meeting
-
Nigeria miners struggled to breathe in cell before 37 died: survivors
-
England quick Carse to face no charges over alleged nightclub assault
-
McIlroy on the charge at PGA Championship as Reed withdraws
-
Mancini brings nine newcomers into the first squad of his Italy comeback
-
McIlroy on the charge at PGA Championship
-
Czechs level Davis Cup tie against USA as South Korea eye Finals
-
Crisis-wracked Volkswagen warns of 10-bn-euro hit to profits
-
New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain after naming first squad
-
Costa Rica's Grynspan tops third informal poll for UN chief: diplomat
-
California governor signs order to explore AI 'kill switch'
-
Stock markets retreat after central bank rate hikes
-
Head leads run spree as Australia win Zimbabwe ODI series
-
Russia labels director of Cannes Grand Prix winner a 'foreign agent'
-
In-form Raphinha wants to finish career at Barcelona
-
Macron warns of Russian 'hybrid' threat after meeting presidential hopefuls
-
Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman
-
UN holds third informal poll for new chief
-
Carrick confident Man Utd can 'work through' tough time
-
Kulusevski return can spark Spurs: De Zerbi
-
Mbappe ends Nike partnership to join Swiss brand On
-
Shakira to cap off world tour with Madrid 12-gig run
-
Liverpool boss Iraola puts Bournemouth love affair on hold
-
Isolated Syrian-Druze city blames Damascus for shortages
-
'A disaster' if Man City do not win says Maresca after flawless start
-
Isolated Syrian-Druze city shortages
-
Kerry James Marshall: American 'blackness' painter celebrated in Europe
-
Dutch drop Depay for Germany match in Xavi's first pick
-
Spain coach De la Fuente offers 'full support' to people of Ceuta
-
Ronaldo named in Portugal squad for Nations League
-
Russia seizes assets of Nestle, French firms over West's Ukraine support
-
Stock markets diverge after central bank rate hikes
-
England can build on World Cup 'spirit', says Tuchel
-
Anti-Assad music star makes triumphant return to Syria
-
UNESCO can be 'moderator' in AI debate: chief to AFP
-
In-form Fernandez included in Spain Nations League squad
-
Infantino 'must go', says German FA vice-president
-
Arteta buries hatchet with Hurzeler ahead of Brighton clash
-
Russia seizes assets of Nestle, French firms
Georgia Supreme Court reinstates six-week abortion ban
The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday reinstated a law in the US state prohibiting abortions for women who are more than six weeks pregnant, one week after it was struck down by a lower court.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled last week that Georgia's so-called "heartbeat" abortion law is unconstitutional.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican, appealed the ruling and the Georgia Supreme Court on Monday put it on hold while the appeal is being heard.
Georgia's law bans abortions after an embryo's cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually around six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant.
It was passed by the Republican-dominated state legislature in 2019 and went into effect in 2022 after the US Supreme Court struck down the nationwide right to the procedure.
The Supreme Court's abortion ruling unleashed a wave of restrictions in nearly two dozen of the 50 US states, and abortion rights have become a key issue in the November presidential election between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.
McBurney's ruling would have once again allowed abortions in Georgia up until fetal viability, which is around 22 weeks of pregnancy.
"Liberty in Georgia includes... the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices," the judge said.
"That power is not, however, unlimited," he added. "When a fetus growing inside a woman reaches viability, when society can assume care and responsibility for that separate life, then -- and only then -- may society intervene."
Monica Simpson, executive director of the group which brought the case challenging the six-week abortion ban, the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, denounced the Georgia Supreme Court's decision as "unconscionable."
"Every minute this harmful six-week abortion ban is in place, Georgians suffer," Simpson said in a statement. "Denying our community members the lifesaving care they deserve jeopardizes their lives, safety, and health -- all for the sake of power and control over our bodies."
R.Kloeti--VB
