Alabama passes bill banning abortion completely
In what can be termed the harshest anti-abortion law in the US, the Alabama Senate Tuesday passed a bill effectively banning the procedure. The bill was passed through a 25-6 vote, reported BBC.
Unlike anti-abortion laws in other US states, where the procedure is permitted until the first heartbeat can be heard (roughly during the first six weeks of pregnancy), the new bill puts a blanket ban. It doesn’t have provisions to allow the procedure for pregnancy caused by rape or incest.
Under the provisions of the bill, doctors found guilty of conducting abortions could be sentenced for ten years in prison.
The bill has already been passed by the House of Representatives (Lower House) and will now be sent to the state governor for approval.
If approved, the new law is likely to be challenged in the Supreme Court, given the 1973, Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalised abortions in the US.
Donald Trump asks for Federal Reserve’s support amid trade war
As the US-China trade war escalates, US President Donald Trump has asked the Federal Reserve to ease the monetary policy to provide stimulus to the economy, reported The Financial Times.
On Tuesday, Trump asked the Fed to follow China’s example and lower short-term interest rates.
“China will be pumping money into their system and probably reducing interest rates, as always, in order to make up for the business they are, and will be, losing. If the Federal Reserve ever did a ‘match’, it would be game over, we win! In any event, China wants a deal!” tweeted Trump.
China will be pumping money into their system and probably reducing interest rates, as always, in order to make up for the business they are, and will be, losing. If the Federal Reserve ever did a “match,” it would be game over, we win! In any event, China wants a deal!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 14, 2019
The unconventional statement, not unusual by Trump’s standards, seems to be suggesting a lot in a single tweet.
Not only does Trump anticipate that rising tariffs are likely to hurt the US economy, he thinks that if the central banks indulge in a match (of competitive policies), the US is likely to win.
Economists argue that this kind of competitive monetary policy might lead to disastrous consequences for the global economy.
However, the US president still expects a China-US deal to go through.
The Fed is unlikely to give into executive pressure, but it thinks that the tariffs would have a smaller impact on the economy than imagined, and that the prices remain too low for a rate cut.