Supreme Court takes up first big abortion case of Trump era
AP, Washington
The Supreme Court is taking up the first major abortion case of the Trump era, an election-year look at a Louisiana dispute that could reveal how willing the more conservative court is to roll back abortion rights.
The outcome could have huge consequences at a time when several states have passed laws, being challenged in the courts, that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, as early as six weeks.
Egypt executes top militant extradited from Libya
Reuters, Cairo
Top Egyptian militant suspect Hisham al-Ashmawy was executed on Wednesday following his conviction over several high-profile attacks, the country’s military spokesman said.
Ashmawy, a former Egyptian special forces officer, led the Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, Egypt’s most active militant group, before it pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2014.
Serbia’s President calls general election for April 26
Reuters, Belgrade
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday called a general election for April 26, a vote seen as important for his Serbian Progressive Party to cement its hold on power.
“I wish a lot of success to all participants and a democratic atmosphere on election day,” Vucic said after signing the decree in his office in Belgrade.
Ukraine PM resigns after six months
AFP, Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Oleksiy Goncharuk has resigned after six months in the job and will be replaced by one of his deputies, according to members of parliament.
Goncharuk had offered to quit in January after a leaked recording emerged of him questioning President Volodymyr Zelensky’s grasp of economics, only for the head of state to refuse his resignation.
Although government officials did not confirm that Goncharuk was stepping down, MPs from Zelensky’s party said his departure was announced during a meeting with the president and that a parlimentary vote to approve it would be held on Wednesday.
