Monday morning news: April 17, 2023

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN, NEWS ANCHOR: Abortion pill update »

PROTEST: Defend abortion!

Abortion supporters marched in cities across the U.S. this weekend as a court battle rages over the abortion drug mifepristone.

Amid dueling lower court rulings, the Supreme Court on Friday put a temporary hold on changes to the drug’s FDA approval.

Senator Bill Cassidy began his career as a physician in Louisiana. He told NBC’s Meet the Press that the FDA erred in approving mifepristone.

BILL CASSIDY: I think specifically it said that it was supposed to approve a drug to treat an illness. It is a stretch to call a pregnancy an illness. And, of course, we know what happens to the unborn baby.

A federal judge in Texas ruled to revoke FDA approval of the mifepristone. Now the Supreme Court is deciding which restrictions, if any, should apply during the appeals process. The sides in the case have until Tuesday to file arguments, and a decision is expected soon after.

Sudan » In Sudan, dozens are dead and hundreds more injured in violent clashes, including civilians.

Fighting broke out on Saturday between Sudanese military forces and a powerful paramilitary group.

The leaders of the two sides are former allies who joined forces to take down Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019. They also worked together to carry out another military coup in 2021 that toppled the country’s power-sharing government.

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok says the violence now is part of the country’s movement toward democracy.

ABDALLA HAMDOK: Transitions never go in a straight line. That nonlinear dynamic is messy and all that. And I think in that sense, this is some of those hiccups along the way.

Western and neighboring countries have condemned the violence and called for an end to hostilities. Both sides have signaled that they will keep fighting, but did allow for a three-hour humanitarian cease-fire on Sunday.

Alabama shooting » Police are investigating a shooting in Dadeville, Alabama that killed four people and left many others wounded.

The shooting took place at a dance studio during a 16-year-old’s birthday party.

Police Department Sgt. Jeremy Burkett:

JEREMY BURKETT: We're going to continue to work through in a very methodical way to go through the scene, to look at the facts and ensure that justice is brought to bear for the families.

Authorities have not released information about possible suspects or motive.

Dadeville, Alabama has about 3,200 residents. It’s roughly 60 miles Northeast of Montgomery.

Finland » Finland has started building a fence along its 800-plus-mile border with Russia, just two weeks after it became a member of NATO and more than a year after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Finish Brigadier General Jari Tolppanen:

JARI TOLPPANEN: A border barrier fence was no kind of political topic before the war. And actually, it was not a kind of plan of the Finnish border guard. All changed after the attack.

Finnish authorities say the main purpose of the fence is to prevent illegal immigration from Russia.

When it is finally finished, the fence will cover roughly 120 miles near key crossing points.

Kishida attack »

FUMIO KISHIDA: [Speaking Japanese]

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida calling for increased security measures for a series of local elections.

On Saturday, an attacker threw an explosive at the prime minister as he campaigned for a fellow party member.

Kishida was not harmed, but the explosive injured one person. Authorities and bystanders apprehended the suspect.

Last year, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated during a campaign stop.

KISHIDA: [Speaking Japanese]

Kishida says the investigation into the attack against him is ongoing. He also says security needs to tighten up for an upcoming Group of Seven summit in Japan.

Fox News is in court today » A Delaware jury will begin hearing a defamation lawsuit against Fox News today. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: The $1.6 billion-dollar question at the heart of the trial is whether Fox News defamed Dominion Voting Systems with its allegations that the 2020 election was rigged.

Dominion accuses Fox of falsely reporting that its voting machines changed ballots in the 2020 election, even as Fox news anchors and writers privately doubted election rigging claims made by former President Donald Trump.

The trial is expected to last for several weeks. News personalities Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity are expected to testify, along with Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schuamcher.

Gas prices » Gas prices monitor AAA says the nationwide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is rising to roughly 3 dollars and 66 cents. Last week, the national average sat at 3-60 per gallon.

Mississippi has the lowest average price for gas at roughly 3 dollars and 16 cents per gallon. California has the highest average price per gallon at roughly 4-91.

I’m Anna Johansen Brown. Straight ahead: oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Legal Docket. Plus, why oil prices are again on the rise.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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