this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk 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 to a woman's �*right to choose�*. president biden has strongly condemned the decision. the condemned the decision. court literally taking ame back the court literally taking america back 150 years.— back 150 years. that is a sad day for the country _ back 150 years. that is a sad day for the country but _ back 150 years. that is a sad day

for the country but it _ back 150 years. that is a sad day for the country but it does - back 150 years. that is a sad day for the country but it does not i back 150 years. that is a sad day - for the country but it does not mean the fight is over. but senior republicans, including former vice president mike pence and mitch mcconnell welcome the ruling. fifty years of a legally—enshrined right to abortion in the united states has been brought to an end — after the country's supreme court decided to overturn its landmark ruling made in 1973. it means tens of millions of women across the us do not have their right to an abortion guaranteed by the constitution — and individual us states are now legally entitled to ban the procedure. 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. our north america editor sarah smith is at the supreme court for us now. 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. even the president is powerless to change the ruling. with this decision, the conservative

majority of the supreme court shows how extreme it is, how far removed they are from the majority of this country. they have made the united states and outlier among developed nations in the world. but this decision must not be the final word. abortion rights have been fought over four decades. in a landmark ruling, the supreme court legalised abortions. in 1973, the supreme court ruled in a test case of roe versus wade that women must have access to abortion across america, a decision totally reversed today. it is my profound honour to be the first president in history to attend the march for life. as president, donald trump

deliberately appointed three pro—life justices to the court, making the ruling possible. he said that god made the decision. in fact, it was six of the ninejudges. by a vote of 63, the court affirmed that the power to protect unborn life is returned to the people and their elected representatives. the people have won a victory. # jesus loves the little children...# anti—abortion activists view today's victory as 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. and sarah told us more about what might happen next. well, already several states have enacted immediate bans on abortion, and more will follow in the days and weeks to come. you heard president biden saying he thinks this is a sad day for america. even though he and the democrats control the white house and both houses of congress, there is nothing they can do about

the supreme court ruling. and the democrats don't have enough votes in the senate to be able to pass a new law that would guarantee abortion rights. so, for now, president biden says what he can do is try to make sure that women who want abortions but live in states that have banned the procedure are able to travel to other places where the termination can still be performed, places like new york state, which now says it is a safe haven for women seeking the procedure. this really radical decision that has come from this very conservative supreme court is not necessarily going to stop here. we heard one of thejustices today making it clear that he thinks that the court should now revisit some other progressive rulings, the ones that guarantee things like access to abortion, or legalise same six marriage, it is possible they could look at these and the in—built conservative majority could overturn them. there could be significant and sweeping change coming to america. for more i'm joined by attorney

kenneth belkin in new york. when we look at the next stages of where we are with this, of course, we have got those 13 states already passing the so—called trigger laws automatically outlawing abortion with the court's ruling. how many other states and how quickly will they follow in that direction? weill. they follow in that direction? well, it is hard to — they follow in that direction? well, it is hard to say. _ they follow in that direction? well, it is hard to say. you _ they follow in that direction? well, it is hard to say. you have - they follow in that direction? well, it is hard to say. you have got - they follow in that direction? -ii it is hard to say. you have got the trigger law states going immediately into effect but other state legislators will need to convene. they will need to debate, they will need to analyse it if it is going to benefit them politically, because thatis benefit them politically, because that is what they do. they are elected officials and they want to get elected and they will have to come to their own conclusion but as of right now it seems largely relegated to the states. as you said, there's no clear majority in the federal legislature to enact a federal right to abortion law. the

president, is there anything that joe biden can do? i have had this idea of getting more supreme judges but that is something that is very unlikely to happen. but that is something that is very unlikely to happen. is but that is something that is very unlikely to happen. is that but that is something that is very unlikely to happen. is that a possibility? president biden on the campaign trail did advocate for a packing of the court adding additionaljustices. there is nothing to preclude him from doing that should you be able to get the votes in the senate and the house. so he could potentially do that, then? help us to unpacked what you have just said. you then? help us to unpacked what you have just said-— have just said. you could if he hypothetically _ have just said. you could if he hypothetically had _ have just said. you could if he hypothetically had the - have just said. you could if he hypothetically had the votes l have just said. you could if he - hypothetically had the votes which he does not have the votes. he will need a super majority to break the filibuster. the need a super ma'ority to break the filibuster. , , �* filibuster. the filibuster. and in terms this _ filibuster. the filibuster. and in terms this decision, _ filibuster. the filibuster. and in terms this decision, are - filibuster. the filibuster. and in terms this decision, are we - filibuster. the filibuster. and in - terms this decision, are we looking now, is it fair to say that we're looking at a very politicised supreme court? i

looking at a very politicised supreme court?— looking at a very politicised sureme court? ~' ,, , supreme court? i think the supreme court, ou supreme court? i think the supreme court. you know. — supreme court? i think the supreme court, you know, they— supreme court? i think the supreme court, you know, they are _ supreme court? i think the supreme court, you know, they are trying - supreme court? i think the supreme court, you know, they are trying to l court, you know, they are trying to take an original approach to the constitution and they are looking at what is written in the constitution in the plaintext and that is the land to which they interpret it and they made a decision that, you know, some would say legally is correct evenif some would say legally is correct even if it is not my personal policy preference. i am even if it is not my personal policy preference. iam pro—choice even if it is not my personal policy preference. i am pro—choice but the court's is not to write law but to interpret laws that our legislators write and say if they meet constitutional scrutiny. if they are constitutional scrutiny. if they are constitutional under a system. so when you are talking about an original list approach, just, again, appreciated that for an international audience and we are watching this very closely but helps to understand what you mean by that. so the argument put forth in the decision is that nowhere in the constitution, is there a veteran a right to abortion. is there a right to free speech, to be free from

unlawful government search and seizure and various other rights. freedom to practice religion. there is no strictly speaking, you know, explicit right to an abortion and if you look in the decision that says if you look at the history of abortion in the united states, even if we were to imply a right by combining other rights to vote on this right to abortion, abortion and the united states, according to this opinion, has a long history of actually being criminalised and not being permitted so it is hard. the court does not want to write more, essentially. i read into the constitution that is not explicitly written into it. that is the heart of this decision.— written into it. that is the heart of this decision. what about rights to same-sex _ of this decision. what about rights to same-sex marriage, _ of this decision. what about rights to same-sex marriage, to - of this decision. what about rights to same-sex marriage, to getting| to same—sex marriage, to getting contraception. how could that possibly be impacted? by what we have seen? 50. possibly be impacted? by what we have seen?— possibly be impacted? by what we have seen? ., ., , have seen? so, the same legal theory known as substantive _ have seen? so, the same legal theory known as substantive due _ have seen? so, the same legal theory known as substantive due process - known as substantive due process which is the legal theory by which,

essentially, the abortion bite was created by the court combines a number of constitutional amendments to give other rights. the right to purchase contraception. the right for same—sex marriage. it is under that same legal theory and they are calling into question the legal theory of substantive due process by which various other rights of the mad into the constitution so think it is a fair assumption to say that this court, especially in clarence thomas's concurring opinion, signalling very heavily that they need to take a look at all substantive due process cases. 50 substantive due process cases. so certainly we will be watching this very, very closely in terms of the other implications, consequences of this decision. for the time being, thank you for talking us through all of that. . ~ thank you for talking us through all of that. ., ~ , ., ., thank you for talking us through all of that. ., ~' , ., ., ., thank you for having me. the supreme court ruling has been condemned by leading democrats. the former president, barack obama, called it an attack on essential freedoms. vice president kamala harris has

also expressed her concern. this is a health care crisis. because understand, millions of women in america will go to bed tonight without access to the health care and reproductive care that they had this morning. without access to the same health care or reproductive health care that their mothers and grandmothers had for 50 years. this is the first time in the history of our nation that a constitutional right has been taken from the people of america. the right has been taken from the people of america. . , of america. the vice president with her reaction — of america. the vice president with her reaction a _ of america. the vice president with her reaction a little _ of america. the vice president with her reaction a little bit _ of america. the vice president with her reaction a little bit earlier- of america. the vice president with her reaction a little bit earlier i - her reaction a little bit earlier i spoke to... madeline page is ceo of alliance of pro—life students,

she welcomed the ruling. i was really pleased to see rowe v wade being overturned. it is a very extreme abortion law. it allowed abortion up to buy for any reason which brings it in line with just a handful of countries. about six or seven which includes china and north korea. so this overturning brings us backin korea. so this overturning brings us back in line with a lot of europe and also the science as well which has developed massively over the past 50 years since the law came into place. past 50 years since the law came into place-— past 50 years since the law came into lace. , . , ,., into place. given the arguments you ut into place. given the arguments you put forward. — into place. given the arguments you put forward. why — into place. given the arguments you put forward, why are _ into place. given the arguments you put forward, why are we _ into place. given the arguments you put forward, why are we seeing - into place. given the arguments you| put forward, why are we seeing such a very emotive reaction in the united states. why have so many people really upset about this decision? {iii people really upset about this decision? .., , , ., people really upset about this decision? , , ., , decision? of course it is a very emotional _ decision? of course it is a very emotional topic. _ decision? of course it is a very emotional topic. women - decision? of course it is a very emotional topic. women don't| decision? of course it is a very - emotional topic. women don't want to feel that our autonomy has been limited and that we can do what we want to do with our bodies. but i

think it is very easy to forget what we're talking about when we talk about abortion and we are talking about abortion and we are talking about an unborn human baby whose life is being ended through this procedure. and so i think it is very easy tojust procedure. and so i think it is very easy to just focus on the women in front of us and that is important but we also need to think about what is actually going on and what we're really doing when we talk about abortion. but really doing when we talk about abortion. �* , ., abortion. but if we focusing on the women in front _ abortion. but if we focusing on the women in front of— abortion. but if we focusing on the women in front of us, _ abortion. but if we focusing on the women in front of us, as _ abortion. but if we focusing on the women in front of us, as you - abortion. but if we focusing on the women in front of us, as you say, | women in front of us, as you say, the women that will continue to have abortions and feel that they have to have the abortions and end up having illegal abortions, their lives are potentially at risk. how do you balance that? if the market is really hard. i don't think there is an easy answer but i do think we need to be careful about the issue that we are addressing so for many of these women who are coming forward with severe financial problems, with very unhealthy or even abusive relationship the abortion itself are not going to solve those problems and actually, we see in the uk, and i'm not sure

about the us, but certainly in the uk women having repeat abortions quite frequently. but i think that shows that really the abortion doesn't solve the issue and instead we need better social care, for example, to give that economic support to help the women get out of the relationship that she is on. things like that, rather than to say, well, have an abortion and things will be ok because that is just not the case. but ijust wonder, just to pressure a little bit on that, i don't think any woman has an abortionjust bit on that, i don't think any woman has an abortion just for the sake of it. ithink has an abortion just for the sake of it. i think this is a very difficult decision and women takes, family takes, relationship partnership, whatever the circumstances. it is not contraception. this is a big life decision.— not contraception. this is a big life decision. yes, no, they don't want him — life decision. yes, no, they don't want him by _ life decision. yes, no, they don't want him by that _ life decision. yes, no, they don't want him by that women - life decision. yes, no, they don't want him by that women go - life decision. yes, no, they don't - want him by that women go skipping into an abortion clinic. it is a very difficult decision to make but when we look at the numbers of abortions, you know, there are 9.5

million abortions in the uk since her 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 are women is doing that and yes, she may be taking that decision very seriously but it also because she ultimately feels that she has choice? i think that is what ifind quite concerning is she has choice? i think that is what i find quite concerning is that the pro—choice opera abortion movement use that terminology of pro—choice but i don't know of many women feel that they are making a true choice. i think many women feel that actually, that was the only option that they had available to them. that was the only way out that they could see because we weren't giving them the other things that would be possible for them. she them the other things that would be possible for them.— possible for them. she is the ceo of alliance of pro _ possible for them. she is the ceo of alliance of pro life _ possible for them. she is the ceo of alliance of pro life students - alliance of pro life students speaking to me giving her

perspective on this decision. she welcomed the ruling, as we heard. somebody who does not welcome the ruling is... somebody who does not welcome the ruling is... caroline duble, avow texas: unapologetic abortion advocacy abortion is and always has been a reality of our human reproductive lives. this decision is completely devastating and i would completely disagree with the previous commentators perspective that this is somehow mis—characterising how americans feel about abortion. the vast majority of americans, even in taxes and even in the so—called bad state support abortion access and didn't want to see this decision today. i didn't want to see this decision toda . ., ., , ., today. i wonder, though, when you hear and we _ today. i wonder, though, when you hear and we absolutely _ today. i wonder, though, when you hear and we absolutely understand| hear and we absolutely understand that there are strong arguments on both sides but when you hear the anti—abortion campaigners talk about reasonable limitation on abortion given, thanks to this decision now ljy given, thanks to this decision now by the supreme court, is it a

reasonable assessment? absolutely not. there reasonable assessment? absolutely not- there are _ reasonable assessment? absolutely not. there are no _ reasonable assessment? absolutely not. there are no reasonable - not. there are no reasonable limitations on abortion. the only people who are qualified to decide when a medical procedure should or happen are doctors and their patients together in consultation with their own personal circumstances. so any political or legal restriction on medical that is completely safe, completely normal, and completely standard in medical practice around the world, it is completely unreasonable and just intended to hurt women who need access to this care. 50 intended to hurt women who need access to this care.— access to this care. so why such a strenath access to this care. so why such a strength of _ access to this care. so why such a strength of feeling? _ access to this care. so why such a strength of feeling? why - access to this care. so why such a strength of feeling? why are - access to this care. so why such a strength of feeling? why are we | strength of feeling? why are we hearing the anti—abortion campaigners described this as a decision that empowers the people? that sends the decisions back to the state level? why are they making that argument?—

state level? why are they making that aruument? ., , , , , . that argument? from my perspective, the vet feel and _ that argument? from my perspective, the vet feel and the _ that argument? from my perspective, the vet feel and the rhetoric _ that argument? from my perspective, the vet feel and the rhetoric from - the vet feel and the rhetoric from the vet feel and the rhetoric from the anti—abortion extremists in our country is about control and really just enforcing limitations on women and lgbt to people in this country and lgbt to people in this country and it is really about taking away bodily autonomy from people who are trying to exercise that. iloathed bodily autonomy from people who are trying to exercise that.— trying to exercise that. what about when ou trying to exercise that. what about when you talk— trying to exercise that. what about when you talk about, _ trying to exercise that. what about when you talk about, when - trying to exercise that. what about when you talk about, when you - trying to exercise that. what about. when you talk about, when you hear about the anti—abortion campaigners talk that it is still possible to get abortions in those places that pass legislation and, yes, of course, that means travelling to those places and of course there is the concern about what would happen to women who can't afford to travel and we had preston biden talking about the means, the potential means that his edwin administration be helping those women but there is a choice there. helping those women but there is a choice there-—

choice there. when you take away abortion access _ choice there. when you take away abortion access from _ choice there. when you take away abortion access from 26 _ choice there. when you take away abortion access from 26 out - choice there. when you take away abortion access from 26 out of. choice there. when you take away abortion access from 26 out of 50| abortion access from 26 out of 50 states you are taking away a choice from over half of the country so there is no choice there. the vast majority people cannot afford to give the childcare, transportation and time off work it would take to get out of their state for some time is up to three four days to access the care that they need so this is a falsehood and it is a total farce. a short time ago i spoke to our washington correspondent nomia iqbal. i began by asking her about the atmosphere outside the us supreme court. it has been six hours and that ruling came down from the supreme court. overturning roe v wade and the protesters keep coming and there has been probably a thousand people sat outside the supreme court, stood outside the supreme court. at the start of when that ruling came in there are many anti—abortion protesters. they were celebrating, playing music. they have largely peeled off and it is now largely pro—choice vote testers. i have to

say, it is not an aggressive mood. it is people just holding speeches, chanting, saying that this not the end, that they are going to continue fighting and tourists are coming here as well her taking in the moment given that it is such a seminal moment in america. and whilst we have been standing here, just over the last six hours we have seen states banning abortion bit by bit. they are automatically banning it now that roe v wade has been overturned. these are 13 so—called trigger states which have moved to ban it so ijust want trigger states which have moved to ban it so i just want to let you know a few of them that we know have now moved to do that. missouri, the governor has announced a total ban on abortion. north dakota, south dakota and the plains of america, the governor has announced they are working on it today. north dakota, immediate bundled up south dakota. in tennessee it is going to be 30 days until the ban comes in. taxes, 30 days as well and in wyoming it is

expected in five days a ban will take effect already we are seeing the effects of roe v wade being overturned. we will see this cascade of laws across america, this patchwork of laws when you have states that will ban abortions, states that will ban abortions, states that will protect abortion rights in those that will be somewhere in between but they won't... the straight but not ban it outright. just to add, 26 dates in total in the end will buy an abortion. that isjust total in the end will buy an abortion. that is just a little over half of the country. just focusing in on you are talking about those trigger states. in on you are talking about those triggerstates. help in on you are talking about those trigger states. help us to understand what that means, technically when you talk about this trigger states that will already ban abortions. so you have about 13 trigger states and they are mainly in the south. so think of taxes, tennessee, arkansas and mississippi. those are the states where the case

that toppled roe v wade originated from. they have restricted abortion access over the years. in taxes, for example, just only recently they are banned abortion at six weeks was at the logic behind it was the heartbeat bill. that is when a foetus is viable. it is worth adding that scientists have never agreed when a they have already moved is usually restricted. and now that roe v wade is overturned, it has got rid of that constitutional right that a woman has where she can have an on abortion up to 2a weeks. so none of the states could have a ban abortion outright before because of that constitutional right that women have but now that has gone, states are free to do what they want. the court has had to the states, you decide what you decide what you want to do and so these 13 states which we already know how these trigger laws in place which they put on the pictures waiting to be made constitutional, as soon as raby was overturned they have now unleashed those laws. we will focus in on those laws. we will focus in on those dates. we will focus in on those dates.

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 had been dreading. but the expectation didn't make the court's decision any less devastating. abortion is murder! it's just been upheld. outside, they had to turn women away. this isn't a country that i ever thought i would know. i thought that this country would still care about people, would still care about women. inside, they had to come to terms with the fact that the care

they provided here is now a criminal offence... i don't think there's a waiting period there, but it's about a five and a half hour drive. 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. i now 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 but there is nothing i can do, you have to find somewhere else to go. i can give them information and help them try but it is heartbreaking. this place saved my life, literally. for more than ten years dr willie parker has travelled here from another state because the restrictive laws and threat of violence or financial ruin has long been too great for local doctors to carry out abortions here themselves. i feel angry in a way that anyone who is deeply invested 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. i put that to the woman who fought back tears ofjoy as she signed arkansas's almost total ban of abortion into law. it makes no exception for rape or incest, a termination can only take place now in the case of maternal medical emergency. i don't know if that doctor has any facts to base that hypothetical answer on. we don't have any information to base that conclusion, that this doctor has come up with. and hopefully this law that we are putting in place specifically says to save the life of a mother. for the anti—abortion protesters outside the clinic, this is a good day.

we will not fully celebrate until abortion is eradicated fully from our land, until family planning services for example are closed down and do 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 passed the protesters every day to provide the care they did here. along with those of millions of others across the united states. sophie long, bbc news, little rock, arkansas. our north america correspondent anthony zurcher offered some context on this historic ruling, in the blink of an eye, almost, in more than 20 states, trigger laws, pre—existing bans on abortion that predate roe v wade are going to start going into effect and in certain states they are going into

effect in places like arkansas like we just out there and missouri. abortion, as of the supreme court was back within our moments afterwards became illegal. in taxes that recover goes into effect on 30 days but they had another abortion ban on the books, having been struck down by the court, which is now going to go into effect so what you are seeing now is instantly millions of americans, millions of women are no longer going to be able to get legal abortions in the states and if they want abortion, will have to look at travelling across state lines to get them. the abortion cases, roe v wade and planned parenthood in 1992, applauding the abortion protections, they rested on this idea of due process in the 14th amendment to the us constitution that there were certain things that americans, citizens, were guaranteed of their life, liberty and property etc. now, other supreme court precedent vested on that similar idea of due process rights would

have the right to contraception, striking down other laws, the right to marriage. the concern among some legal scholars is undercutting the principles behind roe v wade and planned parenthood case reduces the strength of those decisions and if you look at one of the concurring opinions in this place byjustice clarence thomas. he said that those cases deciding, those issues should be looked at in the new light based on this decision. even if others in the majority said they should not be concerned, there will be concern and other rights could be in jeopardy.

this is bbc news. i'm kasia madera. the latest headlines. the us supreme court has ended the constitutional right to have an abortion. it means the landmark roe v wade ruling, dating back nearly 50 years, has been overturned. the final opinion, was written byjustice alito the final opinion was written byjustice alito and issued on friday. the historicjudgement is set to transform abortion rights in america, with individual states now able to ban or crowds were gathered outside the court when the ruling emerged, but president biden has been strongly critical. back in britain, and boris johnson insists he'll carry on as prime minister, despite two devastating by—election defeats — one to labour and the other to the liberal democrats. the prime minister has also been hit by the resignation of conservative chairman oliver durden from the cabinet. ukrainian troops have been ordered to withdraw in severodonetsk, in the east of the country. that's according to the governor of luhansk. he said it didn't make sense for soldiers to remain

in destroyed positions.