US Supreme Court to consider rollback of abortion rights

The US Supreme Court (AP/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider a major rollback of abortion rights, saying it will decide whether states can ban abortions before a foetus can survive outside the womb.

The court’s order sets up a showdown over abortion, probably in the autumn, with a more conservative court seemingly ready to dramatically alter nearly 50 years of rulings on abortion rights.