this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the us supreme court ends the constitutional right to have an abortion. it means the landmark roe v. wade ruling, dating back nearly 50 years, has been overturned. the historicjudgement will transform abortion rights in america, with individual states now able to ban or restrict the procedure. critics say the ruling is a major set—back in a woman's �*right to choose�*. president biden has strongly condemned the decision. the court literally taking america back 150 years. this is a sad day for the country in my view. but it doesn't mean the fight is over.

but senior republicans, including former vice president mike pence and mitch mcconnell welcome the ruling. millions of women across the united states have lost their constitutional right to abortion, after a ruling of historic significance by the country's supreme court. it has overturned a 50 year law that legalised abortion nationwide — and it now means that individual us states are legally able to ban it. up to half of america's 50 states are expected to do so — and 13 have already passed so—called trigger laws — which automatically outlaw abortion with the court's ruling. president biden has said it was a sad day for the court and for the country. 0ur north america editor sarah smith reports now on an issue — and a decision — which has polarised the united states.

this is a huge, historic moment for america. as they hear the news from the court, there isjubilation from anti—abortionists. life won today! "life won today," they chant, celebrating a victory after almost 50 years. i have seen the devastation that abortion has wrought on our country, on the communal level and then a personal level, and this is so vindicating to know that we can now take tangible steps to lessen the violence of abortion in our country. ten years ago, did you ever| imagine this would happen? i imagined it a lot, but i still... people told me it was impossible, that we would never see this kind of victory, and now i know that victory is not only possible, it happened. so we are going to work out of this momentum, we are going to keep going, we're going to keep fighting, and we're going to build a better world.

fury from those campaigning to keep the guaranteed right to abortion, promising to fight back. it's not the will of the people, and this country's supposed to run off of the will of the people. i'm 21, and i'm terrified! we have a lot of work to do to make that happen, but we will never give up. it's 50 years since there was last a significant decision on abortion rights in america. it might be another 50. it might be 50 more, sure. but we're not going to stop. it doesn't matter. it doesn't matter what they say. again, abortions will continue, theyjust won't be legal, and women will die from botched abortions. it's obvious this ruling is not going to end the arguments over abortion in america. in fact, it will inflame them. in this deeply polarised society, abortion is already one of the most divisive issues. today's ruling means individual states can make their own laws on abortion. there are 13 states that have

so—called trigger laws in place which will now lead to an immediate abortion ban. another 13 will move quickly to ban or severely limit access, says a pro—choice group. it estimates 36 million women of reproductive age will live in states without abortion access. the hypocrisy is raging, but the harm is endless. what this means two women is such an insult, it's a slap what this what this means to women is such an insult, it's a slap in the face to women about using their own judgment to make their own decisions about their reproductive freedom. the political impact could be felt in elections in november. pro—choice democrats hope women will turn out for them in large numbers. # jesus loves the little children... anti—abortion activists view today's victory is merely a first step. they will now take their campaigns to every state which allows terminations, trying to get abortion banned in the whole

of the united states. president biden has condemned the ruling as extremist, saying the supreme court had removed rights from americans in a way it had never done before, and taken the country back a century and a half. today, the supreme court of the united states expressly took away a constitutional right of the american people that it had already recognised. it didn't limit it — they simply took it away. that's never been done to a right so important to so many americans, but they did it. it's a sad day for the court and for the country. now, with roe gone, let's be very clear — the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk. i believe roe v wade was a correct

decision as a matter of constitutional law and application of a fundamental right to privacy and liberty in matters of family and personal autonomy. it was a decision on a complex matter that drew a a careful balance it was a decision on a complex matter that drew a careful balance between a woman's right to choose early in her pregnancy and the state's ability to regulate later in her pregnancy. a decision with broad national consensus that most americans of faith and backgrounds found acceptable, and that had been the law of the land for most of the lifetime of americans today. i will do all in my power to protect a women's right in states where they will face the consequences of today's decision. while the court's decision cast a large shadow over large swaths of the land, many states in this country still recognise a woman's right to choose, so if a woman lives in a state that restricts abortion,

the supreme court's decision does not prevent her from travelling from her home state to the state that allows it. it does not prevent a doctor in that state, in that state, from treating her. as the attorney general has made clear, women must remain free to travel safely to another state to seek care they need, and my administration will defend that bedrock right. nomia iqbal is outside the supreme court. both sides feeling strongly about this divisive issue. it’s both sides feeling strongly about this divisive issue.— both sides feeling strongly about this divisive issue. it's been about six hours since _ this divisive issue. it's been about six hours since that _ this divisive issue. it's been about six hours since that ruling - this divisive issue. it's been about six hours since that ruling came . six hours since that ruling came down by the supreme court.

0verturning roe v wade and the protesters keep coming. this probably about a thousand people set outside the supreme court instead of the supreme court at the start of anti—abortion protesters were celebrating and playing music that they largely left and it's mainly pro—choice protesters and to say, it's not an aggressive mood, it's just people holding speeches, chanting, saying that this is not the end they will continue fighting and other tourists are coming in as well for taking in the moment given that such a seminal moment in america and whilst we've been standing care of last six hours, we've been seeing states banning abortion bit by bit, automatically banning it now that roe v wade is been overturned, these are the trigger states that have moved to ban it. the few that we know have

moved to do that in missouri, the governor has announced a total ban on abortion, north dakota, south dakota, the plains of america and in north dakota, immediate ban in south dakota, in tennessee, it's going be 30 days into the ban comes in and in texas, 30 days as well in wyoming, is expected in five days' time that the band will take effect so already we are seeing the effects of roe v wade being overturned and we are going to see this cascade of loss across america, this patchwork of laws we have states are ban abortions, states will protect abortions, states will protect abortion rights and there are some that want and restrict abortion but i bet it out right, but there are 26 states in total that will ban abortion and that is just half of the country. abortion and that is 'ust half of the countrvh abortion and that is 'ust half of the count . , ., ., ~ the country. focusing and talking about the trigger _ the country. focusing and talking about the trigger states, - the country. focusing and talking about the trigger states, what i the country. focusing and talking i about the trigger states, what does that mean, technically you talk

about this trigger states that are still already banning abortions. 13 still already banning abortions. 175 trigger states and their many in the south and so, think of texas, tennessee, arkansas and mississippi. those of the states were they have toppled roe v wade originated from. they are hugely restricted abortion access over the years and in texas, the band abortion six weeks, the logic behind it was, the heartbeat bill where they thought it was with adding, scientists never agreed when the foetus is viable. but they have already moved to hugely restricted and now, now the review wade is overturned, it's gotten rid of the constitutional right that a woman has where she can have an abortion from 2a weeks. none of the states could ban abortion due to that

constitutional right that women had and not that that right is gone, states are free to do what they want and the court has said you decide which you want to do and so, these 13 states that we already know have these laws in place have put on their books, just waiting as soon as review wade was overturned, they have now unleashed those laws. imilli have now unleashed those laws. will be focusing on those 13 trigger states in just a be focusing on those 13 trigger states injust a moment but be focusing on those 13 trigger states in just a moment but talking about the mood there behind you, it is not shocked, we knew that trafton leek was implying was what we now see is what is happening but still, given that just a see is what is happening but still, given thatjust a few see is what is happening but still, given that just a few years see is what is happening but still, given thatjust a few years ago, this decision would potentially not have been made and i wonder how witnessing all of this, how the us is coming to terms with this historic event. i

is coming to terms with this historic event.— historic event. i spoke to a 19-year-old _ historic event. i spoke to a 19-year-old student - historic event. i spoke to a 19-year-old student from | historic event. i spoke to a - 19-year-old student from texas and 19—year—old student from texas and she actually electrified pro—choice groups when she made his speech at her high school graduation lamenting her high school graduation lamenting her decision to restrict abortion and she has been here this morning and she has been here this morning and she has been here this morning and she said to me and asked of that very question, they knew this was coming and some of this draught opinion and was expecting it but is still shocked that it happened and i think a lot of pro—choice groups that have been coming here every day since that leak happened which is about early may and may the 3rd, i think there was a hope that perhaps the justices would change course and they would see the strength of feeling outside the supreme court if he looked at the national polls that saw the vast majority of americans do want roe v wade to stay in place and perhaps it would change their minds. at the time of the leak, the court which is now investigating how

that leak, there are very firm about it and said they are not influenced by public opinion. we have summing it up is although there is expectation we knew this ruling is probably going to happen there's a real sense of shock given to pro—choice groups is what would come next if you look at the appeals of the supreme courtjustice clarence thomas suggested that something such as gay marriage, like the right to contraception could also potentially be under threat.— contraception could also potentially be under threat. thank you very much for brinuain be under threat. thank you very much for bringing updates _ be under threat. thank you very much for bringing updatesjust _ be under threat. thank you very much for bringing updatesjust outside - for bringing updates just outside the supreme court on this historic day. there are 13 us states which have laws in place to impose an immediate ban on abortion — now that roe versus wade has been overturned by the supreme court. one of them is arkansas. sophie long reports from an abortion clinic in the state capital, little rock, just a warning her report contains some distressing detail.

it was exactly the ruling they'd been dreading. when the decision was delivered, it extinguished their final flickers of hope. 0utside, they had to turn women away. abortion is murder. it's just been upheld. inside, they had to deal with the realisation that the care they provided here is now a criminal offence... i don't think there's a waiting period there, but it is about a five—and—a—half— hour drive. ..and tell people they can no longer help. i'd say it's like having to turn women away, like... it sucks. jennifer thompson first came here as a patient. she says her abortion saved her life, and the care she received here inspired her to train

so she could do the same for others. and now i have to tell them, i'm sorry, but there's nothing i can do for you. i'm sorry that your boyfriend beats you every day and that he rapes you all the time. there's nothing i can do. you're going to have to find somewhere else to go. i mean, i can give them information to help them try, but it's heartbreaking, man. like, you know, this place saved my life, literally, and to not be able to provide anybody else with that when i know what this place is capable of, it's heartbreaking, man. for more than ten years, dr willie parker has travelled here from another state because the restrictive laws and the threat of violence or financial ruin has long been too great for local doctors to carry out abortions here themselves. i feel angry in the way that anybody who is deeply vested in human rights should feel angry and outraged and indignant, any time they are witnessing injustice. we will come to recognise the full cost of criminalising abortion when we start to see the bump

in the rise in maternal mortality and morbidity, suffering and death related to conditions that are unique to pregnancy. for the anti—abortion protesters outside, this is a good day. it will be a day of celebration for me, though we will not fully celebrate until abortion is eradicated fully from our land, until little rock family planning services, for example, is closed down, and does not reopen, then we can celebrate for sure. they will continue their fight, but the supreme court's ruling will fundamentally change the course of the lives of all the women who pass the protesters every day to provide the care they did here. sophie long, bbc news, little rock, arkansas. monitoring the reaction from the

united states, an awful lot of reaction from both sides of this issue. were going to talk to david cohen now. let's go now to david s cohen. he's a professor of law at drexel university and joins me now from philadelphia. this is a hugely emotive issue order your perspective, just phyllis and on the reaction that you've seeing thus far. ., , ., ., , ., ., thus far. people are devastated and very concerned _ thus far. people are devastated and very concerned of— thus far. people are devastated and very concerned of what _ thus far. people are devastated and very concerned of what this - thus far. people are devastated and very concerned of what this means. very concerned of what this means for women's health and autonomy in future in this country. as you have been saying, half of this country, abortion will remain legal and people will be able to get the care they need and want but then half of they need and want but then half of the country, especially for people who don't have the resources to travel, we are talking long distances as your segmentjust said, this is going to be devastating, this is going to be devastating, this will change the course of their

life and their families too. might make your impreza and biotin talk about how the administration will travel in large distances, how is that even going to work? i think we need to see more detail from the biden administration and i was encouraged by his comments and tweets and in the past few minutes, they are encouraging as a general matter but where the rubber hits the road will be what matters. we need to see details of how it will protect people travelling and another thing he mentioned, the abortion pills, get into the hands of as many people who want them. when it comes to abortion, physical abortion but the abortion pills, how is that covered under this decision to overturn roe v wade? irate

is that covered under this decision to overturn roe v wade?- is that covered under this decision to overturn roe v wade? we are not auoin to to overturn roe v wade? we are not going to go _ to overturn roe v wade? we are not going to go back— to overturn roe v wade? we are not going to go back to _ to overturn roe v wade? we are not going to go back to the _ to overturn roe v wade? we are not going to go back to the road - to overturn roe v wade? we are not going to go back to the road before l going to go back to the road before 1973 here in the united states because technology is very different in a lot of different ways. in the pills are one way it is very different. even in states where abortions are banned, people are going to be able to get pills. some of that is going to be because they are dealing with pharmacies and doctors in europe or india were going to be able to mail them pills, it might be illegal, but the people who are doing the mailing are not going to be caught up in the texas criminal law, and they will be able to get the pills and so, a lot of patients, even if they cannot travel, or going to be able to get pills through the internet and other means. but not everyone because it takes technology and savvy to do so and they may be some were caught up in some criminal investigations as a result and so, it is not a perfect solution, but it will be a big change from the pre—1973 years. in

change from the pre—1973 years. in terms of even getting them through the mail, for example, like the postmaster, the post mail delivery person, nobody could potentially get legal repercussions in delivering these pills? the legal repercussions in delivering these pills?— legal repercussions in delivering these ills? , ., ., these pills? the pills are not going to come in on _ these pills? the pills are not going to come in on the _ these pills? the pills are not going to come in on the lips _ these pills? the pills are not going to come in on the lips and - these pills? the pills are not going to come in on the lips and say - to come in on the lips and say abortion pills inside. they'rejust going to come into a package that looks like any other package that someone may get through the mail. so, it would take a state or local prosecutor having a warrant to be able to search the mail and find out what's inside and that's not going to be the case for most people. there may be someone who raises suspicion in some way that i think we will see a small number of scary prosecutions or investigations of people, but i think most people who try to get pills will be able to if they have the money in the resources because, people don't know what's inside other peoples mail.-

because, people don't know what's inside other peoples mail. thank you for clarifying — inside other peoples mail. thank you for clarifying that _ inside other peoples mail. thank you for clarifying that for _ inside other peoples mail. thank you for clarifying that for us _ inside other peoples mail. thank you for clarifying that for us and - inside other peoples mail. thank you for clarifying that for us and for- for clarifying that for us and for women who do potentially travel somewhere else, to a different state, to access abortion facilities, what happens to them upon their return? i facilities, what happens to them upon their return?— upon their return? i think that, most of them _ upon their return? i think that, most of them are _ upon their return? i think that, most of them are going - upon their return? i think that, most of them are going to - upon their return? i think that, most of them are going to be l upon their return? i think that, i most of them are going to be able upon their return? i think that, - most of them are going to be able to travel without any problems but i think we are going to see some instances of aggressive local anti—abortion prosecutor and may be even very anti—abortion state trying to say that you cannot travel out of state to get an abortion in the medical after the patient they may go after the patient�*s helpers, someone who drives them or maybe someone who drives them or maybe someone who drives them or maybe someone who funds them if there are a nonprofit that provides the money and resources to travel that they were going to see something attacked from anti—abortion legislatures and prosecutors as well. from anti-abortion legislatures and prosecutors as well.—

from anti-abortion legislatures and prosecutors as well. thank you very much professor _ prosecutors as well. thank you very much professor from _ prosecutors as well. thank you very much professor from the _ prosecutors as well. thank you very much professor from the university| much professorfrom the university speaking to in philadelphia, really good to talk us through that, thank you. there are lots of reaction. we have a life page on the website never look at that and more about the trigger states, those 13 triggers states that the law has kicked in since the supreme court decision abortion they now illegal. talk us through your initial reaction to this big story. this big change of the united states. i change of the united states. i was really pleased _ change of the united states. i was really pleased to _ change of the united states. i was really pleased to see _ change of the united states. i was really pleased to see roe - change of the united states. i —" really pleased to see roe versus wade be overturned, it's very extreme abortion law and is allowed abortion up to birth for any reason which brings them in line with a handful of countries or seven, which

includes china and north korea. so, this overturning actually really brings them back in line with a lot of europe and also, in line with science as developed massively over the last 50 years since the law for skim to play. the last 50 years since the law for skim to play-— the last 50 years since the law for skim to play. given the arguments that ou skim to play. given the arguments that you put _ skim to play. given the arguments that you put forward, _ skim to play. given the arguments that you put forward, why - skim to play. given the arguments that you put forward, why are - skim to play. given the arguments that you put forward, why are we i that you put forward, why are we seeing such a very emotive reaction in the united states? why are so many people really upset about this decision? it many people really upset about this decision? , , ., ., ., decision? it is very emotional to - ic. decision? it is very emotional topic. women _ decision? it is very emotional topic. women do not - decision? it is very emotional topic. women do not want i decision? it is very emotional topic. women do not want to | decision? it is very emotional- topic. women do not want to feel like our autonomy as being limited in that we cannot do what we want to do with our bodies. but i think it's very easy to forget what were talking about when we talk about abortion and we are talking about an unborn human baby whose life is being ended through this procedure and, i think it's very easy to just focus on the woman in front of us and that is important, possibly to think about what's actually going on

and what were really doing what we talk about abortion.— talk about abortion. before talking about the woman _ talk about abortion. before talking about the woman in _ talk about abortion. before talking about the woman in front - talk about abortion. before talking about the woman in front of- talk about abortion. before talking about the woman in front of us - talk about abortion. before talking about the woman in front of us as | about the woman in front of us as you say, the women that will continue to have abortions that feel they have to have the abortions that ended up having a legal abortions, their lives potentially at risk, how do you balance that? it’s their lives potentially at risk, how do you balance that?— do you balance that? it's really hard i do you balance that? it's really hard i don't — do you balance that? it's really hard i don't think— do you balance that? it's really hard i don't think there's - do you balance that? it's really hard i don't think there's an . do you balance that? it's really l hard i don't think there's an easy answer but i do think we need to be careful about the issue we are addressing and so for me these women are coming forward with severe financial problems and may be very unhealthy or abusive relationships, the abortion itself isn't going to solve those problems and actually as we see in the uk, am not sure about the us, but certainly in the uk, women having repeat abortions quite frequently and i think that shows really that the abortions do not solve the issue and that we need social care, for example to give economic supports to get out of the relationship that she is in and things like that, rather than just

say, have an abortion and things to be ok because that's just not the case. i be ok because that's 'ust not the case. ., �* ~ ., , ., ., ., case. i don't think any woman has an abortion just — case. i don't think any woman has an abortion just for _ case. i don't think any woman has an abortion just for the _ case. i don't think any woman has an abortion just for the sake _ case. i don't think any woman has an abortion just for the sake of - case. i don't think any woman has an abortion just for the sake of it. - case. i don't think any woman has an abortion just for the sake of it. i - abortion just for the sake of it. i think that is a very difficult decision that a woman takes. a family takes, relationship, partnership, whatever the circumstances. it is not contraception, this is a big life decision. �* ., �* ., ., , , decision. and i don't want to imply that a woman _ decision. and i don't want to imply that a woman goes _ decision. and i don't want to imply that a woman goes skipping - decision. and i don't want to imply that a woman goes skipping into . decision. and i don't want to imply| that a woman goes skipping into an abortion clinic, absolutely not. it's very difficult decision to make. but, we look at the numbers of abortions, there was 9.5 million abortions, there was 9.5 million abortions in the uk since our law started about 5k years ago and that, for me, is an exceptionally high number. 9.5 million and so, i think we really need to look at all of the reasons behind why a woman is to me that yes, she may be taking that

decision very seriously but also because ultimately, she feels like she has no choice. and ifeel quite concerning is that the pro—abortion movement use the terminology of pro—choice but i do not know if many women feel like they are making a true choice. ifeel women feel like they are making a true choice. i feel many women say that was the only option that they had available to them and those the only way out the could see because we were not giving them the other things that would be possible for them. , , . things that would be possible for them. , ' . . , ., , them. extremely difficult decisions to take. them. extremely difficult decisions to take- from _ them. extremely difficult decisions to take. from the _ them. extremely difficult decisions to take. from the alliance - them. extremely difficult decisions to take. from the alliance of- to take. from the alliance of pro—life students, we appreciate your views. a lot of reaction coming in and a lot of comments on the websites that we have a lot more detail as well because as we know, there are two sides to the story. the uk prime minister borisjohnson,

has also been commenting on the us supreme court's decision. he described it as a "big step backwards". this is not our court, it is anotherjurisdiction but clearly it has massive impacts on peoples thinking around the world. i have to tell you, i think it is a big step backwards. i have always believed in a woman's right to choose and i stick to that view and that's why the uk has the law is that it does and actually, if you look, we recently took steps to make sure that those laws were enforced throughout the whole of the uk. i'm joined now by markjoseph stern, senior writer at online magazine slate. you have been covering the us courts for nearly ten years now. in terms of how this decision was made, people are saying there shocked by

it but knew this was the direction that they're going to go into. intern; that they're going to go into. very predictable _ that they're going to go into. - predictable because of the leak from may but also because of the addition of two justices, brett kavanagh and tony barrett who replaced more progressive justices and donald trump appointed everyjustice to the supreme court with a guarantee that they would overrule roe versus wade in a course that's exactly what they did. so, there is some surprise among americans who have not been paying a lot of attention. but those of us were keyed into the cord and judicial politics in this country, it's been about 2018 and since 2020 when justice it's been about 2018 and since 2020 whenjustice ginsburg died that this decision was coming down the pipeline and it was really more of a question of when, rather than if.

lets drill in on the courtjustices in the supreme courtjudges. brett cavanaugh, tell us about his influence that he's had in this. he: replaced anthony kennedy had been the swing foot for a long time justice kennedy was very conservative on many issues but a centrist on abortion, he voted to uphold roe v wade. brett cavanaugh lay uphold roe v wade. brett cavanaugh by contrast really auditioned for the supreme court by going out giving speeches criticising roe v wade. he had not appeared on donald trumps very first short list for potential supreme court nominees and after that, potential supreme court nominees and afterthat, he potential supreme court nominees and after that, he gives them speeches bashing roe v wade is a legitimate and then appeared on donald trump's next short list and he got the nomination in 2018 to replace kennedy. and when he was nominated,

he made it sound like he would adhere to roe v wade as a viewer is adhere to roe v wade as a viewer is a more moderate or pro—choice justice, today, he passed a crucial vote allowing up to around 26 states to allow —— ban abortion altogether. -- ban abortion altogether. quite a motive we — -- ban abortion altogether. quite a motive we today, _ -- ban abortion altogether. quite a motive we today, passionately - -- ban abortion altogether. quite a. motive we today, passionately today and talk about the privacy of the stick of this, help us understand what that means he's talking about this being detrimental to the privacy of women. so when abortion is outlawed, every uterus is a potential crime scene. even before today, we were already seeing prosecutors investigating women who had miscarriages in a red state. we were already seeing a and pharmacists refused to provide treatment to miss carriage placements —— miscarriage patient,

because that is the same