UNITED STATES: A ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant, took effect in Florida today.

The law allows terminations to save a woman’s life, as well as in cases involving rape and incest, but reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist Dr Leah Roberts warned that health workers would still be prevented from performing an abortion on a non-viable pregnancy that they know may become deadly until it actually does.

HAITI: The newly installed transitional council has chosen a little-known former sports minister as the new prime minister on Tuesday as it tries to establish a stable government amid stifling violence.

In a surprise move, Fritz Belizaire was appointed on Tuesday to replace interim prime minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, gaining the support of four of the seven voting members on the nine-member panel but with others saying they were unfamiliar with Mr Belizaire.

Heavy gunfire was reported in the capital Port-au-Prince during the council’s meeting.

SOUTH KOREA: The government is considering sharing advanced military technology with Britain, the United States and Australia through the Aukus partnership, according to Defence Minister Shin Won Sik.

Mr Shin said that the possibility had been discussed during two days of meetings between South Korea and Australia’s defence and foreign ministers that ended in Melbourne today.

The United States and Britain agreed in 2021 to provide Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus agreement, which is directed against China.

RUSSIA: An exhibition of Western military equipment captured during fighting in Ukraine opened in Moscow today.

Organised by the Defence Ministry, the display features over 30 pieces of heavy equipment, including armoured vehicles make in the United States, Germany and France.

“This exhibition will be interesting to all those who still believe in mythical ‘Western values’ or fail to notice an aggression unleashed by Nato against Russia and our people,” said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.