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Weeks before the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade last year, Oklahoma’s Republican governor vowed to “outlaw” abortion in the state entirely, and pledged to sign any legislation that promised to do just that. Governor Kevin Stitt signed several anti-abortion bills into law, including a measure that outlaws abortion at roughly six weeks of pregnancy, and another banning all abortions with exceptions only to save the patient’s life in a medical emergency or if the pregnancy is the result of rape, sexual assault or incest that has been reported to law enforcement. On 31 May, the highest court in the state struck down both of them. But abortion access remains out of reach for most patients in the state, after that same court upheld a far-reaching abortion ban from more than 100 years ago earlier this year. A state law from 1910 makes it a felony punishable up to five years in prison for anyone to perform or help someone seek an abortion unless to save the patient’s life. “This ruling, while providing clarity in emergency situations, does not change the landscape of care significantly,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement. Oklahoma was the first state in the US to successfully outlaw abortion despite a constitutional right to abortion care that was affirmed by Roe v Wade. But in March, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that the state’s constitution “creates an inherent right of a pregnant woman to terminate a pregnancy when necessary to preserve her life,” though the court declined to weigh in on whether the constitution protects abortion access in other circumstances. The court also ruled that doctors should be able to use their own medical judgment to determine whether to provide an abortion when a patient’s life is at risk “due to the pregnancy itself or due to a medical condition that the woman is either currently suffering from or likely to suffer from during the pregnancy.” But it also preserved the 1910 law, a 113-year-old ban on abortion care that threatens providers with prison. The court’s decision on 31 May reaffirmed its decision recognising a right to abortion care in life-threatening cases, and struck down two the overlapping bans. In the months after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which struck down a constitutional right to abortion care, clinics in Oklahoma have been forced to close, and patients have traveled thousands of miles for legal abortion care in a region surrounded by states where abortion is severely restricted or effectively outlawed. Even in cases of emergencies, there appears to be no hospital in Oklahoma that provides “clear, consistent policies for emergency obstetric care to pregnant patients,” according to an April report from Physicians for Human Rights, Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Oklahoma hospitals “offered opaque, contradictory, and incorrect information about abortion availability and approval processes in obstetric emergencies, as well as little reassurance that clinicians’ medical judgment and pregnant patients’ needs would be prioritized,” according to the report. Only two out of 24 hospitals described providing legal support for providers in such situations, and representatives for three hospitals claimed their facilities do not provide abortions at all, the report found. Abortion rights advocates welcomed the court’s decision on 31 May, which abortion rights advocates said will at least allow doctors to clearly rely on their own medical judgment to provide care when a patient’s life is in jeopardy. “After months of uncertainty and chaos, Oklahomans should finally be able to access the life-saving care they need in their home state,” according to Dr Alan Braid, an abortion provider and plaintiff in the case challenging the overlapping abortion bans. “Heartbreakingly, we were forced to close our Tulsa clinic due to Oklahoma’s abortion bans, but I will continue to serve patients in the region at clinics in Illinois and New Mexico,” he added. “While we are relieved the court upheld the right to abortion in medical emergencies, this does not diminish the fact that care remains out of reach for the majority of Oklahomans,” according to Ms Wales. Following the state Supreme Court decision on 31 May, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond clarified that “except for certain circumstances outlined in that statute, abortion is still unlawful in the state of Oklahoma” because of the 1910 law. Governor Stitt accused the court of using “activism to create a right to an abortion in Oklahoma.” “This court has once more over-involved itself in the state’s democratic process, and has interceded to undo legislation created by the will of the people,” he said in a statement. Within the last year, more than a dozen states – including most of the entire US South – have outlawed abortion care for most pregnancies. Read More ACLU sues Nebraska over combined law targeting abortion and gender-affirming care: ‘Egregious overreach’ South Carolina judge halts six-week abortion ban as state Supreme Court set to review new law Doctor who provided abortion care to 10-year-old rape survivor reprimanded in case that drew national scrutiny Anti-abortion laws harm patients facing dangerous and life-threatening complications, report finds

Harrison Ford has spoken candidly about how his successful Hollywood career has impacted his role as a father. The Indiana Jones star, 80, revealed some of his parenting regrets in a new cover story with Esquire published on 31 May. Speaking about his family, Ford admitted that he would “probably be a better parent” if he had a “less successful” career. “I can tell you this. If I’d been less successful, I’d probably be a better parent,” the Star Wars alum shared. He went on to reference a viral quote from his February interview with the Hollywood Reporter, in which he stated: “I know who the f*** I am.” “I accept my flaws and my failures – I don’t accept them, I own them,” he continued. “And certainly the more constant gardener is the better parent, and I’ve been out of town, up my own ass, for most of my life.” Harrison Ford is a father to five children. He shares sons Benjamin, 56, and Willard, 54, with his first wife, Mary Marquardt. He also has son Malcolm, 35, and daughter Georgia, 31, from his second marriage to Melissa Mathison; and his 22-year-old son Liam, whom he adopted after he married his current wife, Calista Flockhart. The couple have been married for 13 years ever since they first met at the Golden Globe Awards in 2002 when Ford was 60 years old, 22 years older than Flockhart at the time. He proposed to the Ally McBeal star in 2009 and they were married one year later. Ford and Flockhart recently celebrated Liam’s graduation from Amherst College in Massachusetts over the weekend. Ford was seen dressed in a black suit with a pale blue shirt and no tie, while the Supergirl star wore a white lace dress and a cream cardigan. Although Harrison Ford has kept most of his family life private, the action star previously spoke about being a father to his then nine-year-old son in an interview with The Independent. “I’ve got five kids in total, so it’s not my first rodeo,” he said in 2010. “Yeah, obviously I’m getting older but I don’t relate to it very much. It doesn’t interest me as something to dwell on.” “I have a nine-year-old kid at home. I feel like the father of a nine-year-old kid. My older children have taught me a lot about parenting. My first child was born when I was 25. I reckon I’m a little better at it now.” Read More Al Pacino, 83, ‘expecting his fourth child’ with 29-year-old girlfriend Harrison Ford and wife Calista Flockhart attend son Liam’s graduation Harrison Ford lovingly admires wife Calista Flockhart in ‘adorable’ viral photo: ‘Couple goals’

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An agreement to raise the debt ceiling would expand the age bracket for eligibility for food assistance, adding a punitive and unnecessary barrier for poor Americans with only negligible savings for the federal government, advocacy groups have warned. Most Americans with low or no incomes who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) must comply with certain work requirements to be eligible to receive funds to help pay for groceries. But under a deal struck between President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, adults up to age 54 would be required to show proof of work. Republican lawmakers have pushed for years to expand those work requirements, but anti-poverty advocacy groups and progressives have argued that adding any such limitations to critical aid will only deepen hunger and poverty in the US, pointing to Congress’ own research showing that work requirements don’t appear to have any measurable effect on employment. “SNAP is a symptom of shortcomings in the economy,” Luis Guardia, president of the Food Research & Action Center, said in a statement. “Cutting off food for people unless they document sufficient hours of work does not improve their chances to secure family-sustaining wages, but does increase their food hardship.” In simple terms, a congressional vote to raise the debt ceiling would allow the US Department of Treasury to continue borrowing money to pay the country’s bills. But Republican lawmakers have leveraged the often routine though critical vote process to advance their agenda, as the nation stares down an imminent deadline that risks putting the US in default. “While we all recognize the catastrophic impact of a default, we are deeply disappointed that this deal includes cuts that further harm people experiencing hunger and poverty,” said Lisa Davis, senior vice president of Share Our Strength and its No Kid Hungry campaign. “As a whole, the punitive and ineffective SNAP changes included in this bill will save the US very little money,” she added. “They will also do nothing to remove barriers to make employment more attainable or available for those they impact. Nor are they based on evidence or experience. Instead, they are born from and rely on pervasive myths and misperceptions about SNAP and the people who benefit from the program and stand only to restrict food assistance for some Americans.” Republicans hold a fragile majority in the House of Representatives, where Mr McCarthy is relying on a slim margin of support from a far-right caucus that argues the cuts don’t go far enough. Meanwhile, progressive lawmakers – frustrated with the GOP’s “hostage crisis” process for negotiating a debt deal – strenuously object to stiffening work requirements and cuts to aid programs on which millions of Americans rely. Democratic US Rep Pramila Jayapal, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, will not support the debt plan, pointing to members who are “deeply, deeply concerned” about the proposals and the way in which Republicans threatened to steer the US into default to get GOP concessions. On a call with reporters on 30 May, Ms Jayapal compared Republicans’ threats on the debt limit to the party’s attempts to undermine the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. “We cannot have these constitutional obligations, including the very clear mandate to pay the country’s debts, as well as of course to ratify an election of a president that was voted upon by the democratic process ... taken hostage,” she said. The Biden administration has touted some new proposals in the deal as a victory: Military veterans, young people who have aged out of foster care, and people experiencing homelessness would be exempt from the SNAP work requirements. But “burdensome reporting requirements and bureaucratic red tape leave little confidence that this will outweigh the harmful expansion of these requirements for others in this category,” Ms Davis said in a statement. The nation’s largest food assistance program supported more than 42 million people in February, according to the latest data from the US Department of Agriculture. More than 65 per cent of SNAP recipients are in families with children, 36 per cent are in families with members who are older or disabled adults, and 41 per cent are in families that work, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. SNAP requires “able-bodied adults” without dependents to work or join job training programs for at least 80 hours a month to receive more than three months of benefits over three years. “SNAP’s primary objective is to help people put food on the table; any attempt to turn it into an employment program – particularly when extensive research shows that work requirements actually make it much harder, not easier, for people to find and keep jobs – runs contrary to the program’s mission and intent,” said Eric Mitchell, executive director of the Alliance to End Hunger. “In a time when food insecurity is rising and food prices remain high, we should be expanding our nation’s social safety net, not restricting it,” he added. The maximum monthly SNAP benefit for an individual is $281, “which makes the 80-hour work program route effectively the same as a job that pays $3.51 per hour,” or less than half the federal minimum hourly wage of $7.25, People Policy Project’s Matt Bruenig noted. Progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups have also lambasted the debt deal for tying the fate of federal programmes for some of the poorest Americans to a politically volatile debate. What happens for someone over 50 years old who is unable to work and is cut off from assistance? How can they navigate a difficult labour market rife with age discrimination? Anti-poverty advocates and critics of so-called “means-testing” structures around receiving government aid have argued that adding additional burdens for work requirements underscores their futility. “We shouldn’t be playing politics with programs that help Americans meet their basic needs,” Ms Davis said. Anti-hunger groups have also objected to other changes to other assistance programs for lower-income-earning Americans, including changes to a federal cash assistance program that House Republicans had previously threatened with drastic cuts. “Hungry people cannot wait – but now they will need to wait even longer,” Mr Garcia said. “Our leaders should be creating pathways to progress, not pulling out the rug from those trying to get back on their feet.” Read More Debt ceiling vote – live: AOC, Boebert and Gaetz join growing opposition as Biden-McCarthy deal faces full House vote today What’s in the cliffhanger deal struck by Biden and McCarthy to raise the debt limit? House Republican majority cut by one after shock resignation of congressman

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Holidays are great – but travelling can take its toll on your body and mind, particularly when flying long distances. “When you consider that pressure, temperature and oxygen levels fluctuate in the aircraft, add in the fact that humidity levels are lower than sea level – it’s not surprising flying can upset some of your body’s normal functions,” says Dr Chun Tang, medical director and GP at Pall Mall Medical. “Not forgetting, most people feel varying degrees of stress before take-off too.” So, if your summer holiday is set to include a hefty flight, what are some of the key things to think about when it comes to health and wellbeing? Dehydration “Airplanes can dehydrate you because half of the air circulating in the cabin comes from the outside, and when you’re at a higher altitude there is hardly any moisture in the air,” says Tang. If you want to help mitigate the impact of dehydration while flying, consider what you eat and drink both before and during. “Eat something light, like a salad and fruit. Avoid salty fast food, especially before flying, as this can cause bloating and dehydration,” suggests Tang. “Many people like to have an alcoholic drink in the departure lounge prior to flying, but you are just dehydrating yourself further. Avoid coffee too and stick to fresh juices and water. “After you’ve flown, tempting as it is to go and get an alcoholic beverage, keep drinking water to restore hydration.” Germs Tang explains: “When you fly, you’re exposed to more germs because you’re near others – that’s why it’s common to catch a cold or sniffle following a flight. Your tray table, seatbelt and other surfaces that are frequently touched will also be covered with germs. “Carry a small bottle of hand sanitiser and cleaning wipes with you,” he suggests, “and wash your hands frequently during travel.” Sleep Jet-lag is a pain and can easily ruin the start and end of a trip. So, how can you mitigate its impacts and keep your sleep cycle solid? “Exposure to light is incredibly important for regulating your body clock. When it’s dark outside, you’re more likely to fall asleep,” says Tang. “If you’re travelling west to the USA or South America, for example, you should seek light in the evening time. If you’re headed east, then you want to restrict light exposure if you’re arriving at night-time and seek it out in the morning. “Studies show that blue light from your smartphone or tablet can keep you awake, so avoid these when you’re trying to get some sleep,” he adds. Ears Tang says another possible “side-effect of flying can be stress on your ears due to pressure changes in the cabin”. This is why it’s often advised that people avoid flying if they have an ear infection, for example.“When the outside pressure changes quickly during take-off and landing, you may feel your ears pop. Sometimes this imbalance can cause motion sickness because your brain is receiving conflicting messages,” says Tang. “Try swallowing or yawning to open the eustachian tubes [which connect the middle ear and throat] during take-off and landing.” Circulation Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a very real concern for many people when flying. These blood clots, which usually affect the legs, can be extremely serious. “One of the most common causes of DVT is prolonged periods of inactivity when travelling long distances,” says Professor Mark Whiteley, leading venous surgeon and founder of The Whiteley Clinic. “When people significantly reduce the activity in their legs, the blood flow becomes very sluggish in the deep veins – therefore putting people at a higher risk of a clot forming. “It is important to keep as active as possible when flying by regularly stretching and going for a walk up and down the cabin aisle, at least once per hour if it is a long flight,” he adds. “I would also advise wearing properly fitted flight stockings. This speeds up the flow of blood in the veins and therefore reduces the risks of the blood clotting.” Anyone can potentially get DVT, but if you have a history of blood clots or may be at increased risk, always speak with your doctor before travelling. What if I have a pre-existing condition? “If you have pre-existing health conditions, then it’s best to check with your GP on any specific aspects of flying that may impact you,” says Tang. “You’ll also need to ensure that you have purchased adequate travel insurance that will cover you should you require any medical attention while abroad.” Another important consideration is to make sure any medication you will need is stored in your hand luggage/carry-on bag, and not in the hold (in case it goes missing). Some countries may also have restrictions on certain medications – ensure you speak with your doctor well in advance of travelling. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How do heterosexual celebrities become LGBTQ+ icons? More help with childcare costs for families on universal credit from end of June Menopause and menstruation guidance launched for workplaces to support employees

Sarah Beeny has said she is feeling happy and well after being given the all-clear from cancer by her doctors. The TV presenter and property expert, 51, was diagnosed with breast cancer in August last year. In April she was told she was all-clear from the disease. In recent months, Beeny has been working on a new Channel 4 documentary that follows her journey from diagnosis to treatment. Appearing on BBC‘s The One Show on Monday (29 May), the presenter said she “always feared” getting breast cancer after her mother died from the same cancer when Beeny was 10 years old. “When I got to 39, which is the age she died, I thought ‘Here we are.’ And then I got to 40 and thought, that’s weird!” she said. “And then I got to 50 and got the diagnosis.” “I’ve lived with this fear for such a long time,” she continued. “But once I realised how the treatment works, it’s not nearly as bad as the fear.” Appearing on Lorraine in April, Beeny said her cancer journey had been a “rollercoaster ride”. ​​“But I feel very fortunate that I had the diagnosis that I did, and that I live in 2023 and that I’m the age that I am. So many things I’m fortunate for, so I feel very blessed,” she said. Beeny, who received chemotherapy, said she would have to take medication for the next 10 years and remain “very vigilant”. “But, yeah, it’s been a weird ride that I wouldn’t wish on anyone else but I’m glad I did it rather than somebody else,” she added. Beeny has four children: Rafferty, Laurie, Billy and Charlie; and married her husband, artist Graham Swift, in 2003. Her family appears in her Channel 4 series Sarah Beeny’s New Life In The Country, which was filmed before her diagnosis. Sarah Beeny: Breast Cancer, My Family and Me will air on Monday 12 June on Channel 4 at 9pm. Read More College student goes viral after sharing her wild two hour commute everyday: ‘This is a journey’ Mother’s warning after viral TikTok hack left skin peeling from her face The ideal age gap for a relationship if you want it to last, according to experts Sarah Beeny shares health update after all-clear from breast cancer Breast cancer symptoms and survival rate as Amy Dowden diagnosed Signs and symptoms of breast cancer as Amy Dowden reveals diagnosis

Former BBC newsreader Kate Silverton has opened up about swapping her successful news career for becoming a qualified child therapist. In 2021, Silverton left her role as a newsreader because she was inspired by her “love” for child psychology. “My academic background is in child psychology, and becoming a mum really inspired me too,” she told the PA news agency. She continued: “My journey has really been decades long, both in understanding more about children’s mental health, and as a parent really benefiting from all the interviews and access to advice that I was given by incredible people.” The 52-year-old, who currently works in a primary school supporting young children with complex needs, admitted that when she competed in BBC’s ballroom dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 (she was paired with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec and finished eighth), it was with a view of leaving journalism to train as a child therapist. “My interest has been long-held, and I’ve now qualified, and it’s absolutely my life’s passion. So I’ll be using journalism and all my presenting experience to raise awareness around children’s mental health and really to support parents. “I’ve had an incredible life in journalism [presenting BBC News at One and BBC Breakfast, among other high-profile TV and radio roles], and many, many years that have been really fulfilling. I think you’re always drawing upon the experiences you’ve picked up before, but as a mum especially, for me, this is now where home is, and will become my life’s work.” Silverton’s two children, Clemency, 11, and Wilbur, eight, are now aged 11 and eight, and were conceived naturally after Silverton and her husband, Mike Heron, tried IVF but it wasn’t successful. She continued to work as a journalist after Clemency was born, but took two years off when she had Wilbur in 2014. “I was freelance, but it got to the point where I thought I can’t physically do this – you know, I’m an older parent as well,” she said. “I had to make a judgement call – and I can only ever speak for myself, there’s no judgement for others. But I took two years out because I just couldn’t see any other way of doing everything, and doing it the way I hoped to. “It’s really, really hard for parents now, and I say to a lot of the parents I speak to in my clinical work, ‘Please, please, please do not berate yourself, we are living in a very challenging time’. We’re pulled in so many ways, we’re still doing a lot of work at home, and we’re expected to be present either at work, and/or at home. “So there’s no easy answer. But I think we owe it to our children to start asking, is this really working for us as parents? And is it working for our children?” Silverton, who is currently working on her second parenting book, added that she sees her career change as a “second act” in her life. “Ultimately, I thought I don’t want to be doing this, I don’t want to be in the newsroom on a Saturday night when my children are at home with my husband,” she said. With additional reporting from PA. Read More James Middleton says Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte are ‘lucky’ A tennis court, walled gardens and a moat: Inside Brightwell Manor, Boris and Carrie Johnson’s new home Al Pacino, 83, is expecting his fourth child with girlfriend Noor Alfallah Kate Silverton on swapping her BBC news career to work as a child therapist Menopause and menstruation guidance launched for workplaces to support employees Watching Love Island this year? How to avoid comparing your body to what’s on screen