Court reinstates most of abortion law

Court reinstates most of abortion law

AUSTIN, Texas

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that most of Texas’ tough new abortion restrictions can take effect immediately — a decision that means at least 12 clinics won’t be able to perform the procedure starting as soon as today.

A panel of judges at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans said the law requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital can take effect while a lawsuit challenging the restrictions moves forward. The panel issued the ruling three days after District Judge Lee Yeakel said the provision serves no medical purpose.

Asian nations angry over spy reports

SYDNEY

China and Southeast Asian governments demanded an explanation from the U.S. and its allies after media reports that American and Australian embassies in the region were being used as hubs for Washington’s secret electronic-data collection program.

The reports come amid an international outcry over allegations the U.S. has spied on the telephone communications of as many as 35 foreign leaders.

Police: Mayor seems to do drugs in video

TORONTO

Toronto police said Thursday they have obtained a video that appears to show Mayor Rob Ford smoking a crack pipe — a video that Ford had claimed didn’t exist and has been at the core of a scandal that has embarrassed and gripped Canada for months.

Police Chief Bill Blair said the video, recovered after being deleted from a computer hard drive, did not provide grounds to press charges. Ford, a populist mayor who repeatedly has made headlines for his bizarre behavior, vowed not to resign.

Speaking outside the door of his office, where visitors were free to check out the Halloween decorations, Ford said with a smile: “I have no reason to resign.”

Ford faced allegations in May that he had been caught on video puffing from a glass crack pipe. Two reporters with the Toronto Star said they saw the video, but it has not been released publicly. Ford maintained he does not smoke crack and that the video did not exist.

Associated Press