Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade/World Leaders React
The Supreme Court ruled on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision that will lead to abortion bans in multiple states. Clinics in eight states – Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and West Virginia – stopped performing abortions after the decision was announced and 13 other states already have laws on the books to ban abortion in the event Roe was overturned. The Biden administration has warned that a decision overturning Roe would also threaten other high court decisions in favor of gay rights and contraception, two things mentioned by Justice Clarence Thomas in his concurring opinion; Thomas explicitly called on his colleagues to put same-sex marriage, gay sex, and contraception cases on the table to be reexamined. World leaders are speaking out about the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called the ruling a “major setback.” U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “I’ve got to tell you, I think it’s a big step backwards,” while the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, called Friday “One of the darkest days for women’s rights in my lifetime.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was clear on his stance as well, saying, “The news coming out of the United States is horrific. No government, politician, or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body.”
2 President Biden Signs Federal Gun Control Bill
President Joe Biden signed the first major federal gun control bill in three decades into law on Saturday. After signing the bill, Biden said, “God willing, it’s going to save a lot of lives.” The bill encourages states to pass “red flag” laws, closes a loophole that allowed those convicted of domestic abuse to purchase guns, and directs billions of dollars to mental health services. Biden took the opportunity to refer to the Supreme Court, saying it “has made some terrible decisions.” He was referring to the Thursday ruling that Americans have the right to carry handguns for self-defense, and of course to their Friday ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
3 Russian Missiles Strike Ukraine Capital Including Kindergarten
For the first time in weeks, explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Sunday, with Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President’s office, saying that missiles damaged an apartment building and a kindergarten. Deputy Mayor Mykola Povoroznyk said one person was killed and six wounded in the attack. Leaders from the G7 were gathered for a summit in Germany to discuss further sanctions against Russia, and President Biden said, “It’s more of their barbarism,” referring to Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine. These strikes were the first in Kyiv since early June and were carried out with four to six long-range missiles fired from Russian bombers.