![Louisiana lawmakers vote to restrict abortion pill](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/ed/67/fc/Louisiana-lawmakers-vote-to-restric-446470.jpg)
-
Mbappe rules out representing France at Olympics
-
Koeman says Dutch 'lucky' to get away with missed chances
-
Ireland recover to set Pakistan target of 107 to win in Florida
-
'I'm against extremes and divisive ideas', says Mbappe
-
Serbia could mine lithium as early as 2028: FT
-
Grand welcome for China's Li in Canberra ahead of tricky talks
-
Sparkling Plenty arrives late to land French Oaks
-
Raducanu beaten by Boulter in all British semi at Nottingham
-
Police shoot man with axe ahead of Hamburg Euros match
-
Ukraine driven at Euros by 'extra motivation' of war at home
-
'In seventh heaven', says Swede freed in Iran prisoner swap
-
England begin Euro 2024 quest, Dutch edge Poland
-
DeChambeau takes three-stroke lead into US Open final round
-
World leaders back just peace for Ukraine, eye eventual Russia talks
-
'We did it' - Ferrari win second successive Le Mans 24 Hours race
-
Weghorst snatches winner for Netherlands against Poland
-
Ferrari win second successive Le Mans 24 Hours race
-
Hundreds gather in Kyiv for war-shrouded Pride march
-
Andy Murray named for fifth Olympics
-
Late call-up Can wants Euro glory after Champions League blow
-
Pope appeals for halt to DR Congo violence
-
England begin quest to deliver on great expectations at Euro 2024
-
Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia crowned Australian Open badminton champion
-
Israel announces daily Gaza 'pause' for aid deliveries
-
UK 'guinea pig' for election security before landmark votes
-
Hajj pilgrims 'stone the devil' as Muslims mark Eid al-Adha
-
Titmus and McKeown carry Australian Olympic swim hopes in bid to topple US
-
Senegalese eye elegance for Eid at half the price
-
Israel's 'economic war' chokes occupied West Bank
-
Chinese Premier Li toasts warming trade ties in Australia
-
Australia sink brave Scots at T20 World Cup, England advance
-
Oilers rout Panthers to keep NHL Stanley Cup alive
-
Trump boasts of cognitive test, then flubs doctor's name
-
China to replace Australia's popular giant pandas
-
Gaza tests historic bond between UK Muslims and Labour
-
UK election picks over 14 years of Conservative rule
-
Scotland 180-5 against Australia in T20 World Cup
-
Pavon tries to snap 117-year French drought with US Open win
-
Foreign-born pandas join China's efforts to boost wild population
-
Shunned by West, Russian army deserters live in fear
-
Gretchen Walsh sets 100m fly world record at US Olympic swimming trials
-
Biden holds LA fundraiser as Trump courts Michigan
-
Chinese Premier Li touts trade in rare Australia visit
-
Gretchen Walsh sets 100m butterfly world record at US Olympic swimming trials
-
DeChambeau leads US Open by three after birdie spree
-
Young Chiefs forward Sititi touted for All Blacks call-up
-
Aussie Kim moves clear at LPGA Meijer Classic
-
Italy begin Euro 2024 title defence with win as Spain start in style
-
England stay alive in T20 World Cup with rain-hit win over Namibia
-
La Rochelle set up Top 14 semi-final against Toulouse
![Louisiana lawmakers vote to restrict abortion pill](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/ed/67/fc/Louisiana-lawmakers-vote-to-restric-446470.jpg)
Louisiana lawmakers vote to restrict abortion pill
Republican lawmakers in the southern US state of Louisiana gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would criminalize possession of abortion pills without a prescription.
The legislation, passed 29-7 by the state senate and 64-29 in the state house, is the first in the country to classify the drugs as controlled and dangerous substances.
It is expected to be signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry.
The bill, which comes as abortion rights are being hotly debated ahead of November's presidential election, reclassifies mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly used for abortions, as Schedule IV drugs -- putting them on a par with Valium and Xanax.
Possession of the medication without a prescription would be punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Authorized medical practitioners would be exempt from prosecution, as would pregnant women if they had the medication for their own use.
Medication abortion accounted for 63 percent of the abortions in the United States last year, up from 53 percent in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the Louisiana law in a post on X on Tuesday after it was passed by the state House, calling it "absolutely unconscionable."
"Let's be clear: Donald Trump did this," added Harris, who has previously criticized Trump for boasting of his role in appointing the Supreme Court justices who reversed Roe v Wade, the landmark ruling that enshrined the constitutional right to abortion for half a century.
Some 20 states have banned or restricted abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
Abortion is banned in conservative Louisiana with only very limited exceptions in cases of risk to the mother's life or fetuses with fatal abnormalities.
Democrats believe abortion rights could be a key campaign issue in November's election, which is expected to pit President Joe Biden against Trump.
Trump told Time magazine in April he had "pretty strong views" on women's access to mifepristone and would share his opinions within a week of the interview, but never did so.
The conservative-majority Supreme Court heard an abortion pill case in March and appeared poised to reject restrictions imposed by a lower court on the drug.
A ruling in the case is expected by the end of June.
G.Schulte--BTB