A federal judge in Florida ruled today that a law banning certain surgical abortion procedures is unconstitutional and unenforceable. The law “has the unconstitutional purpose and effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking an abortion prior to the fetus attaining viability,” said U.S. District Judge Donald Graham in his decision. […]
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chief Federico Mayor called for international support to end human rights abuses by Afghanistan’s militant Taliban. He wants leaders to act rather than talk. “As the Taliban extend their grip of terror on the long-suffering country. . .it is time that the entire United Nations system and […]
Unsettled controversy between United Nations officials and the Taliban on the issue of security is making life even more difficult Afghan widows and orphans. On October 23, the UN and the Taliban signed a security agreement which stated that Taliban is responsible for the security of UN personnel. However, UN officials have not yet returned […]
Russian democratic reform leader Galina Starovoitova was buried today at the honorable Alexander Nevsky monastery in St. Petersburg. Russian reformers are still in shock after her murder, which took place last Friday outside of her apartment. Police suspect that a pair of killers is responsible, but have not identified the suspects. Starovoitova, Russia’s leading female […]
A new extensive study has shown that women business owners are now attempting to obtain bank credit for their firms with increased frequency. They are also receiving credit in greater amounts, and using it continually for business expansion. However, women still find more obstacles in obtaining credit than do men. The study was conducted over […]
The launch of a brand new cable channel for women was announced today. The Oxygen Channel, formed by Oprah Winfrey, Geraldine Laybourne, and Marcy Carsey will offer women a variety of programming starting January 1, 2000. Programming will differ depending on time of day. The morning block, called The Hive, will be talk-oriented, the mid-day […]
A controversial sexual abuse ruling was reversed by an appeals court Friday. The Illinois Appellate Court was to review the case of a father freed from charges of sexually abusing his children because of his Sicilian heritage. The court reversed the previous decision because they found the father’s behavior to be neither “innocent, accidental, or […]
Fearing that Asian women are tobacco companies’ next intended target, lung disease experts are urging the creation of anti-smoking campaigns designed to avoid a potential increase in smoking among that population. Currently, only about 4 to 8 percent of Asian women currently smoke, according to data presented at the Global Congress on Lung Health. This […]
Prince Charles, the future king of Britain, has joined in supporting the fight against breast cancer. The prince has pledged to support Breakthrough, Britain’s largest breast cancer research group. “We are over the moon,” says Breakthrough’s Delyth Morgan. “The most important thing about Charles joining us is that he is a man. It shows that […]
Two additional men are being sought after by the FBI for information on the murder of abortion provider Dr. Barnett Slepian. FBI officials have not said why they are seeking Ronald Stauber and Michael Gingrich, but have called on police authorities across the country to search for the two men. The October 23 murder of […]
Feminist author Taslima Nasreen was freed on bail after turning herself over to authorities in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she was wanted for “blaspheming Islam.” “I’m happy to be freed on bail, but my life is still at risk as the Muslim fundamentalists have threatened to kill me,” said Nasreen, 36. Nasreen was forced to flee […]
Women cadets at the Virginia Military Institute are being allowed on the school’s cheerleading squad for the first time this year. Previously, women from nearby colleges and men from VMI led cheers. Their presence on the squad has been met with much condemnation from male peers. “They shouldn’t be down there,” said cadet Jason Clough […]
A lawsuit against a Catholic hospital that allowed autopsies on two fetuses without parental consent was dismissed by a judge Friday. The hospital justified their move by declaring that the fetuses were not “persons” as defined by NJ law. The parents plan to appeal the case. The parents’ lawyer argued that St. Peter’s University Hospital […]
Peter Wallis, charged in a paternity suit by former girlfriend Kelli Rae Smith this summer, is suing his ex-girlfriend for getting pregnant. Wallis has charged Smith with “breach of contract” for allegedly breaking their agreement to avoid pregnancy by taking birth control pills. Smith denies that such an agreement existed and says that her pregnancy […]
A government study has revealed that nearly one in five women in the United States have been raped or faced an attempted rape at least once in their lives. Over half of the rape victims identified by the Justice and Health and Human Services departments reported that they were under the age of 17 when […]
The Taliban has declared Osama bin Laden innocent of all charges and a free man today. Bin Laden was indicted by a U.S. Court for the August 7 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania which killed 224 people. The U.S. has offered a $5 million reward for bin Laden’s capture. After a three […]
The booming economy and welfare-to work programs have contributed to a sharp decline in the number of people receiving welfare, which has declined by 31 percent in two years. The 3 million Americans who are still out of work are in desparate need of support, education and work experience. Vice President Gore will announce a […]
The USPS breast cancer postage stamp has successfully raised $3.6 million dollars for research since its introduction just three months ago. Close to 45 million stamps have been sold, allocating 8 cents per stamp for use in breast cancer research. Each stamp costs 40 cents and can be used for standard 32 cent first-class postage. […]
American Leaders of the Catholic Church are moving to increase their political activism by starting a new lobbying campaign against abortion and encouraging pro-choice candidates to change their stances on the issue. The campaign was approved by a vote taken during the semiannual meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops passing by a margin […]
Substantive health care information is now a phone call or a mouse click away. The U.S. Public Health Service has announced the launch of the National Women’s Health Information Center (NWHIC), which features a toll-free hotline (1-800-994-WOMAN) and a Web site www.4woman.gov. “This information center represents the federal government’s most comprehensive resource for women’s health,” […]
