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Supreme Court Decision Allows Emergency Abortions in Idaho
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant development for abortion rights, the Supreme Court has dismissed an abortion case from Idaho, allowing women to receive emergency abortions despite the state’s near-total ban. This decision provides a temporary victory for abortion rights supporters.
The justices did not address the central issue of the case, which involved a federal law requiring hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment to any patient with an “emergency medical condition.” Idaho argued that this federal law cannot override its stringent abortion ban, which includes an exception only for the life—but not the health—of the mother. The Biden administration opposed this view and filed a lawsuit.
In a 6-3 vote, three conservative justices joined all three liberal justices to dismiss the case, deeming it “improvidently granted.” This decision temporarily shields doctors from prosecution if they determine that an abortion is the best treatment for a patient in a medical emergency.
However, the court’s avoidance of the case’s substance leaves the possibility for future challenges to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized the dismissal, arguing that the court had “shirked its duty to resolve a pressing legal issue.”
“The conflict between state and federal law still exists—in real life,” Justice Jackson stated, referencing Idaho’s strict abortion ban. “There is simply no good reason not to resolve this conflict now.” Her sentiments were echoed by leading abortion rights activists who believe the court’s decision leaves women vulnerable.
In Idaho, abortion is banned throughout pregnancy except in cases of rape, incest, some nonviable pregnancies, and when “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” Doctors who violate this law face prison time, hefty fines, and the loss of their medical licenses.
Court documents revealed that 678 Idaho doctors claimed the ban had already harmed women who were denied care while suffering from severe pregnancy complications. Conversely, anti-abortion activists argue that doctors have misinterpreted the law, which they assert allows for life-threatening situations.
The Supreme Court’s decision, while offering temporary relief, does not fully resolve the ongoing conflict between state and federal law regarding abortion rights in Idaho and potentially other states.
Ukraine has confirmed an agreement with the United States on a minerals deal, calling it a “positive outcome” with “good amendments,” though officials have yet to disclose further details.
Media reports suggest that Washington has dropped an initial demand for a $500 billion share in potential revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources. However, the deal does not appear to include the firm security guarantees that Kyiv had sought.
US President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington this week to finalize the agreement. The development follows a series of tense exchanges between the two leaders.
While Trump did not explicitly confirm the deal’s finalization, he stated that in return, Ukraine would get “the right to fight on.” Acknowledging Ukraine’s resilience, he added, “Without the United States and its money and its military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short period of time.”
When asked whether US military support for Ukraine would continue, Trump indicated that assistance might persist “until we have a deal with Russia,” stressing the need for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict. He also suggested that any future peace deal would require “some form of peacekeeping” acceptable to all parties involved.
Ukraine possesses vast deposits of critical minerals such as lithium and titanium, alongside substantial reserves of coal, gas, oil, and uranium—resources valued in the billions. Trump has framed the agreement as one that will allow the US to recoup more than it has spent on supporting Ukraine. However, final details of the deal reportedly remain under negotiation.
Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a video surfaced showing them making violent antisemitic remarks, including threats to harm Israeli patients. The incident, which allegedly took place at a hospital in Sydney, has sparked outrage and is now under police investigation.
New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the two individuals had been stood down immediately and would never work in the state’s healthcare system again. Authorities are conducting a thorough review of hospital records to ensure no patients were harmed, though a rapid preliminary check found nothing unusual.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as “sickening and shameful,” emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australia. His comments come just days after the country passed stricter hate crime laws in response to a surge in antisemitic incidents.
The video, shared online by Israeli content creator Max Veifer, appears to have been recorded in a hospital setting. In the footage, a man claiming to be a doctor tells Veifer he has “beautiful eyes” but adds, “I’m sorry you’re Israeli,” before making a throat-slitting gesture and stating he sends Israelis to “Jahannam” (an Islamic concept of hell). A woman later appears on screen, saying she refuses to treat Israelis and will “kill them” instead.
Despite the video being edited with emojis and censoring certain comments, authorities have not questioned its authenticity. NSW Police stated they have identified the individuals involved and are investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued.
Albanese vowed that anyone found guilty of committing hate crimes will “face the full force of our laws.” Park echoed this sentiment, apologizing to the Jewish community and reassuring them that NSW hospitals remain committed to providing “first-class” healthcare to all patients, regardless of background.
Coca-Cola has warned that it may have to increase the use of plastic bottles in the U.S. if President Donald Trump’s new tariffs make aluminium cans too expensive. The announcement was made by Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey during a call with investors.
Trump’s recent order imposes a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the U.S., a move expected to raise costs for canned food and beverage manufacturers. Quincey acknowledged that Coca-Cola could shift more emphasis to PET plastic bottles to manage affordability.
“If aluminium cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles,” he said, while noting that packaging costs are only a small fraction of the company’s overall expenses.
This shift comes shortly after Coca-Cola scaled back its sustainability goal of using 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030, adjusting the target to 35-40% by 2035. The beverage giant has been under pressure from environmental groups, which have labeled it the world’s “top global plastic polluter” for six years in a row.
Aluminium cans, despite being pricier, are far more recyclable than plastic bottles. The U.S. imports nearly half of its aluminium, according to the United States Geological Survey, making the tariffs a significant factor in production costs. Unlike in 2018, when some can-makers received exemptions from similar tariffs, Trump has now ruled out any exceptions for products or countries.
In a separate move, Trump also signed an executive order rolling back efforts to replace plastic straws with paper alternatives in government facilities—undoing a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden, who had called plastic pollution a “crisis.”
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