Former President Donald Trump's stance on abortion rights is now drawing some harsh criticism from members of his own party, including his former vice president. Mike Pence is calling Trump's failure to support a nationwide ban on abortion "a slap in the face" to pro-life advocates.

Washington

Former President Donald Trump's position on abortion rights has prompted severe criticism from within the Republican Party, notably from his former Vice President, Mike Pence. Pence has publicly criticized Trump for not backing a nationwide ban on abortion, describing this lack of support as "a slap in the face" to advocates of the pro-life movement.

This disagreement highlights a significant division within the party concerning the highly contentious issue of abortion rights. Pence's denouncement of Trump's stance indicates a clear ideological rift, emphasizing the ongoing debate and differing viewpoints on abortion among top Republican figures.
 


Pence calls Trump's stance on abortion 'a slap in the face'

Donald Trump's announcement Monday that he favors letting states regulate abortion is drawing fire even from fellow Republicans, including his former vice president. Mike Pence calls Trump's failure to support a nationwide ban on abortion, quote, a slap in the face to abortion opponents who supported him in the last two presidential elections. Pence, an adversary to Trump since they left office in 2021 of January, said that the presumptive Republican nominee is seeking to, quote, marginalize the cause of life and that Americans who oppose legal abortion won't support his position. Meantime, Senator Lindsey Graham, normally a very loyal ally to Trump, also criticized the former president's abortion stance and took a shot from Trump in return. Graham said Trump made a mistake by advocating for a state-by-state approach that would leave a patchwork of abortion regulations around the country, quote, it's about the child, not geography. Despite Graham's mild criticism, Trump responded with a series of posts on his truth social network that made clear he did not welcome Graham's feedback. Trump wrote, quote, I blame myself for Lindsey Graham because the only reason he won in the great safe South Carolina is because I endorsed him.

Bonza, the Australian airline that commenced operations in January last year, has initiated a significant step by deploying the first of its 737 fleet to Hawaii from Sunshine Coast Airport.

Council of the City of Sydney

Seized Bonza jets flown to Hawaii

A 45-year-old man has been arrested after a 39-year-old woman was stabbed in a gym car park in Sydney's inner south on Wednesday afternoon. The alleged attacker was the subject of an AVO order put in place last month to protect the woman.

Alexandria

Man arrested over gym car park stabbing

U.S. President Joe Biden has warned it will halt weapons shipments to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders an invasion of Rafah — one of the last refuges for more than a million Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel-Gaza War

Biden warns U.S. withholding weapons if Israel invades Rafah

Russia has launched more than 70 missiles and drones in one of its largest barrages against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The attacks were directed at facilities in Kyiv and six other cities. Moscow continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the hope of denting industry and public appetite for fighting back against its invasion.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia targets Ukraine energy infrastructure in barrage of attacks

Five asylum seekers have been detained after arriving on Saibai Island, just off the northern tip of Australia in the Torres Strait, originating from West Africa. Traveling approximately 14,000km using forged documents, their journey included stops in Indonesia and PNG.

Cape York

Asylum seekers arrive on boat from PNG

April was the eleventh consecutive month to break its own heat record, the European Union climate monitor Copernicus said, while ocean temperatures have been off the charts for even longer.

Brussels

Climate Crisis

Hottest April on record extends global temperature streak

The death toll continues to rise in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande Do Sul, in the wake of torrential rains and floods. At least 138 people have died and thousands lack water and electricity as floodwaters inundate entire towns.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

‘Desperate’ rescues under way as Brazil floods kill hundreds

The grief-stricken parents of murdered Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson have spoken for the first time since the pair were killed in Mexico. In an emotional statement on a San Diego beach, Debra and Martin Robinson confirmed they had identified their sons bodies, and are now planning to bring them home.

San Diego

Parents of Australian brothers open up on heartbreak

A 39-year-old woman has been stabbed in the carpark of the Crunch Fitness gym in Alexandria, Sydney's inner-south. Witnesses say the woman ran into the gym bleeding from her face. Police say it is a suspected domestic violence incident.

Manhunt underway after woman stabbed in Sydney gym carpark

As Israeli tanks roll through the southern Gaza city of Rafah after rejecting Hamas's ceasefire offer, the country's leaders are facing increasing pressure from both inside and out to reach a deal to stop the fighting.

Rafah

Israel rejects Hamas truce offer, takes control of Rafah crossing

Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, outlining the salacious details of her alleged sexual encounter with the former U.S. president and the payments she says she received for her silence.

New York

Stormy Daniels delivers explosive testimony in Trump hush money trial

Millions of people have cast their ballots in India’s third of a seven-phase general election. It took place in eleven states and union territories. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a third term, cast his vote in Ahmedabad.

Gujarat

Millions vote in third phase of India's national elections

Ukraine says it thwarted a Russian plot to assassinate senior Ukrainian political and military figures, including President Volodymyr Zelensky. Two Ukrainian security officials were arrested for their links to Russia's Federal Security Service, which had aimed to carry out high-profile killings ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration.

Ukraine says it foiled Russian attempt to assassinate Zelenskyy

A spokesperson for the Chinese Communist Party has deflected blame for an altercation between a Chinese military jet and an Australian Seahawk Helicopter in waters off South Korea, claiming the helicopter was flying 'too close' to Chinese territorial waters.

Beijing

China blames Australia for mid-air military incident

President Vladimir Putin was sworn in for a new six-year term on Tuesday (May 7) at a Kremlin ceremony, boycotted by the U.S. and other Western countries, at which he said he was potentially open to nuclear talks with the West.

Moscow

Putin starts new six-year term with challenge to West

The Israeli military said it had taken operational control of the Palestinian side of Gaza's southern Rafah Crossing, which borders Egypt, and that special forces were scanning the area.

Israel claims control of Rafah crossing

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops based near Ukraine, the defence ministry said Monday.

Putin orders nuclear drills near Ukraine

Australian and Chinese relations are strained following an incident involving military forces from both countries. During a routine operation in the Yellow Sea, within international waters, an Australian helicopter faced an aggressive manoeuver by a Chinese military jet.

Australia hits out at China over helicopter incident

Interest rates will remain unchanged after the Reserve Bank of Australia decided to keep the cash rate at 4.35%, a figure that has held steady since November. It comes amidst the ongoing struggle with rising costs of living pressures.

RBA keeps interest rates on hold

Israel has launched new airstrikes in Rafah, warning 100,000 people there to flee to a designated safe area ahead of an expected ground operation. The strikes came after Hamas agreed to a mediated ceasefire proposal but Israel did not.

Hamas accepts mediated ceasefire deal; Israel doesn't

The bodies of Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson have been formally identified after their grieving family arrived in Mexico. Authorities have arrested four people in connection with the alleged murders.

Baja California

Grieving family arrives in Mexico to identify brothers' remains

The Defence Minister has condemned the conduct of a Chinese fighter jet, which launched flares near an Australian Seahawk helicopter. The incident occurred over international waters in the Yellow Sea off the coast of South Korea.

Seoul

Chinese fighter jet detonates flares near Australian helicopter

Israel's military has carried out airstrikes in Rafah, residents said, hours after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate parts of the southern Gaza city where more than a million people uprooted by the war have been sheltering.

Jerusalem

Israel strikes Rafah after evacuation order, residents say

Chinese President Xi Jinping awoke in Paris on Monday on his first visit to the region in five years, with trade and Russia's war with Ukraine on the agenda in talks with France's Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

Paris

China's Xi Jinping pays state visit to France

Israel has ordered civilians in Rafah to move towards Khan Younis, in the clearest sign yet that a military operation is imminent. A ceasefire in Gaza looks as distant as ever with Hamas refusing to lay down arms unless there is a complete cessation of the war. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would go it alone if necessary, even in the face of criticism from its Western allies.

Israeli army orders Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah

The bodies Australian brothers, Jake and Callum Robinson have been identified by authorities in Baja California, Mexico. It comes as their grieving parents arrive in the country.

Brothers identified as victims of Mexico robbery

Qantas has been ordered to compensate passengers following revelations that it sold tickets on thousands of flights that had already been cancelled. The airline has agreed to pay a $100 million fine and $20 million in compensation to affected passengers.

Mascot

Qantas ordered to pay compensation over 'ghost flight' scandal

A former detective is facing allegations of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman whose case he was initially assigned to investigate. Accused of exploiting his authority, Glenn Coleman, 55, has been charged with 10 offences,

Penrith

Police officer accused of assaulting rape victim

The death toll from heavy rains that have caused flooding in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to at least 78, local authorities said, with more than 115,000 people displaced.

Death toll rises in record-breaking Brazil floods

China's President Xi Jinping has arrived in France for a rare visit with President Emmanuel Macron. They are set to discuss trade, amid growing tension between Europe and China over an imbalance between China's exports and European imports.