Indiana first US state to okay abortion ban

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Indiana on Friday (Saturday in Manila) became the first American state to approve abortion restrictions since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, with its Republican governor quickly signing a near-total ban on the procedure shortly after lawmakers approved it.

The ban, which takes effect on September 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions would be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10 weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed.