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The White House is set to extend Jones Act exemption as Trump searches for cheaper fuel
Sources say that the White House will extend a waiver to the century-old Jones Act within the next few days. This is one of its few tools, which it can use if necessary, in order to?try and lower gasoline prices, as President Donald Trump intensifies his attacks against Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and other oil companies for "making too much money." The Jones Act mandates that cargo between U.S. port must be transported on vessels built in the U.S. and owned by U.S. firms, with crews made up of American workers. This waiver is intended to reduce gas prices by increasing the shipping flexibility and decreasing transport bottlenecks. Oil industry representatives had anticipated an extension to be granted by the end July. Three people who were familiar with the discussions said that administration officials continued to meet with maritime industry representatives as well as?lawmakers to discuss potential changes. The goal was to reduce the scope of waiver, while still preserving the flexibility to move essential fuel supplies. The Jones Act rules will be suspended for the longest time in program history on August 16. According to U.S. Government data, the exemption was used more than 200 times in four-and-a-half months up until the end of July. Trump has run out of options to reduce gasoline prices, which are currently averaging $4 per gallon in the U.S. ahead of November's midterm elections. The administration is already pushing for measures such as increased oil supply and regulatory flexibility. Meanwhile, Trump escalated rhetorical pressure on Exxon & Chevron on Monday by saying that they should refund money to customers at the pump. Bob McNally, President of Rapidan Energy Group said that the best option for a U.S. President would be to pressure Saudi Arabia to increase its oil production. However, this option is not possible because the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran conflict have limited exports. McNally stated that other potential measures such as a windfall profit tax, gasoline price control or legal action against oil firms are either politically unrealistic, economically risky, or unlikely to reduce prices in a meaningful way. McNally stated that the Jones Act waiver would increase the availability of fuel tankers but reduce the price by pennies a gallon. WAGE WAIVER CRITICS PURSUIT LIMITATIONS Critics of this extension are pressing for geographical limits and stricter scrutiny on every shipment. The White House Energy Dominance Council and White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro were among those involved in the discussions about the waiver extension. Sources said that details and final decisions are still subject to change. House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Majority leader Steve Scalise have called on the administration to limit this exemption. They warned that a broad use of waivers would weaken the US fleet and undermine national security goals set forth by the Jones Act. An official at the White House said that the administration continues to monitor the use of the waiver and is in constant discussion. The official stated that any further announcements will come directly from either the President or the administration. Maritime groups are escalating the campaign against extending Jones Act 'waiver. The American Maritime Partnership has resumed advertising on CNBC, Fox?News, and AMP as well as the American Waterways Operators have run digital ads. Jennifer Carpenter, President of AMP, argues that the waiver benefits foreign operators and energy firms more than consumers. Carpenter stated that the waiver had shifted domestic commerce from U.S. companies to foreign entities, including those linked to China and Russia. It also undermined the U.S. marine industrial base. (Reporting and editing by Nathan Crooks, Deepa Babington and Sheila Dang. Additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; and Arathy Sommesekhar.
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Stocks soar to record highs after positive company forecasts. Oil, yen and soaring stock prices.
The Dow and S&P 500 indexes reached record highs on Tuesday following positive forecasts by?Caterpillar, among others, and oil prices extended recent sharp declines. Global stock indexes also reached a record intraday. The Japanese yen fell, but it held onto most of the gains made by Tokyo and Washington last week to support its currency. Qatari and U.S. official comments that encouraged hope for a diplomatic solution to the Iran War that could improve oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz weighed on oil. U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that there had been progress in the "talks" with Iran and Oman regarding moving more ships through strait. However, a final deal has yet to be reached. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier that an agreement with Iran could be reached as early as Tuesday or even Wednesday. U.S. crude dropped 5.43%, to $75.98 per barrel. Brent fell to $79.38 a barrel, down by 5.24% for the day. Caterpillar shares, which are often viewed as a bellwether of the global industrial market, rose as the company raised its revenue growth forecast. It benefited from the buildout of AI-based data centers. Palantir Technologies's shares also surged after it increased its revenue forecast. Oliver Pursche is a senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors, based in Westport, Connecticut. He said that investors are reacting to "stronger expectations and higher earnings." "There is a general feeling of optimism and it's being reflected." According to LSEG, more than 80% S&P 500 companies beat analysts' expectations in the last quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average grew by 933.95, or 1.76% to 54,112.36, while the S&P 500 grew by 115.96, or 1.53% to 7,716.66, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 548.22, or 2.12% to 26,462.11. MSCI's global stock index rose 12.87 points or 1.14% to 1,143.88. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose by 0.73%. YEN RAISES AFTER INTERVENTION DRIVEN RALLY. The Japanese yen weakened 0.18% to 157.45 dollars per yen after a coordinated intervention by U.S. authorities and Japanese authorities last week to support the yen. The Japanese yen is still stronger than the greenback, compared to levels from a week ago. This prompted the official support of the Japanese exchange market and marked the U.S.'s first intervention in the Japanese forex market in 15-years. Some market participants have warned that the Bank of Japan’s gradual rate increases and Japan's expansive fiscal policy could be a drag on the yen. The dollar index (which measures the greenback against a basket currencies) fell by 0.1%, to 99.91. Meanwhile, the euro rose 0.11%, to $1.152. U.S. Treasury rates fell on the back of falling oil prices and hopes that a deal would be reached to end the Iran War. This led traders to re-price their positions for a lower probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September. The majority of analysts believe Fed chair Kevin Warsh doesn't want to raise rates and that the new data may be enough to convince him to remain put. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. notes dropped 4.91 basis points, to 4.635%. Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch and Stefano Rebaudo in New York. Jamie Freed and Mark Potter edited by Deepa Babington.
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Gold prices rise on lower oil prices, US jobs data and Fed rate outlook to be released
Gold prices rose 1% on Tuesday, supported by the decline in oil prices, which tempered inflation fears and lowered U.S. rate hike bets. Markets awaited more clues about the Federal Reserve’s policy direction. Spot gold increased 1% at $4,092.43 an ounce as of 12:50 pm EDT (1650 GMT), and U.S. gold futures rose 1.5% to $4149.50. The oil price fell to its lowest level in three weeks after remarks by officials from?Qatari, the United States and other countries raised hopes of a diplomatic solution to the Iran War that could improve the?oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures fell over 4% in response to the news. Bart Melek said that lower?oil prices are probably one of the factors supporting gold price. He added that this decline has in many ways contributed to interest?rates outlook, with short-term rates a little bit falling. The Fed is expected to keep rates high for longer in order to combat inflation. This will put pressure on bullion that does not yield. John Williams, New York Fed President, said earlier on Monday that he was optimistic about the gradual easing of inflation pressures. If they don't, however, then the U.S. central bank will not hesitate to raise rates. After a divided Fed left rates unchanged at its last policy meeting, traders are now pricing about a 57% probability of a rate increase in the central bank's September meeting. The market is now waiting for a number of U.S. jobs reports, including ADP's employment report on Wednesday and nonfarm payrolls data due Friday. Silver spot gained 2.8% per ounce to $59.82, platinum rose 7.1% at $1,745.42, while palladium rose by 7.1% at $1,355.13. The Platinum Group Metals are getting the full impact of a probable de-escalation, as they are industrial metals. Their fortunes will be tied to a potential recovery in conventional offtake, said independent analyst Ross Norman.
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Brazil Steelmaker CSN launches new bid round for Cement Unit
Two people with knowledge of the negotiations said that a Brazilian steelmaker,?CSN, is planning a second round of bidding this week for its cement division. The deal could be worth more than 10 billion reais (1.95 billion dollars). Sources said that the top contenders were China's Huaxin, a consortium?formed by Brazil's Votorantim, and Italy's Cementir. Both proposals will?exceed 10 billion reais. Sources claim that the Brazilian group Polimix is also involved in the process. It is one of the largest cement companies in the country. The first newspaper to report the new round of bidding was Valor Economico, a Brazilian publication. Votorantim refused to comment. CSN, Huaxin Cementir, and Polimix have not responded to our requests for comment. CSN is divesting key assets in order to reduce its debt burden. Conglomerate hired advisers to sell CSN Cimentos and a stake in CSN Infrastructure which runs its railways and logistics assets. In April, Chief Financial Officer Marco Rabello said that deals would be closed by the end of the year. However, final approval might take longer as the Brazilian antitrust regulator CADE will need to approve them. Reporting by Luciana Magnhaes, Editing by Brad Haynes & Rod Nickel
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Lockheed is seeking U.S. minerals after Trump's supply-chain push.
Lockheed Martin is in discussions to purchase two vital minerals from U.S. mining companies, according to two sources who are familiar with the talks. This comes as President Donald Trump "pressures" defense contractors to reduce their reliance on China. Sources said that the world's largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin, is in talks with NioCorp Developments to supply scandium and?Teck Resources for germanium. Both minerals are used by military equipment, from aircraft components to sensors for infrared, according to these sources. The deals are a major step forward in the U.S. effort to build up domestic mineral supply chains. However, there are obstacles: Chinese suppliers offer cheaper prices and U.S. processing and mining capacity is limited. Lockheed manufactures the F-35 Lightning II jet fighter, Patriot interceptor missiles, and other weapons for the U.S. Government. Trump has pressed Lockheed, and other companies in the industry to provide long-term support for U.S. mines. China has tightened its controls on minerals exports over the past few years. He signed an executive directive last month that made it more difficult for defense contractors, who had been allowed to purchase minerals from China or other banned foreign suppliers for many years, to get waivers. This?order shows how far behind U.S. miner and processors in the race to compete with China's dominance of the market, even though dozens of U.S. mineral projects are currently under development. According to a source who is familiar with the agreement and its details, Colorado-based 'NioCorp developments' has signed a preliminary contract to supply Lockheed 15 metric tonnes of scandium per year. Scandium is one of 17 rare earths which can be used in the manufacture of lightweight, corrosion resistant alloys for aircraft. The details of this agreement were not previously known. NioCorp is supplying the metals from its Nebraska mine. The mine is scheduled to open in 2028 and produce?100 tons of metal per year. The agreement will need to be "finalized", although there is already a relationship between the two companies as part of a Pentagon funded research program. The contract volume would represent about a quarter the global scandium market, which is estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey at 60 metric tonnes and growing. Mark Smith, NioCorp CEO said that both companies recognized how scandium was becoming an important part of the future American defense technology. Lockheed expressed its appreciation for "the work NioCorp does to establish a source of domestic scandium." Since 1969, scandium hasn't been mined in the United States. Rio Tinto, the only North American producer of scandium with a capacity to produce approximately nine metric tonnes annually, is the sole North American manufacturer. GERMANIUM NEGOTIATIONS A second person with knowledge of the negotiations revealed that Lockheed and Teck Resources are in separate talks for a supply germanium used to manufacture?infrared sensor's and other military equipment. Teck produces a concentrate of zinc and germanium from its Red Dog Mine in Alaska. The concentrate is then melted in British Columbia, and the two metals separated. Teck doesn't break down its annual production of germanium but calls itself the fourth largest global producer. USGS estimates global germanium consumption at 60 metric tonnes annually, and growing. The U.S. imports more than half of its germanium needs. The?U.S. imports more than a half of its germanium needs. Second source: Lockheed also has discussions with 5N Plus in Quebec, which received Pentagon funding earlier this year to process recycled feedstock into germanium in Utah. According to the second source, "Lockheed wants a long-term security of supply chain,"? They are under pressure so they want to know whether the supply comes from China or somewhere else. The negotiations?with Teck and 5N?have been ongoing for over a year. According to the source, the sticking points were the pricing and the lengths of the contracts. 5N representatives were not available for comment. Teck declined comment on specific commercial agreements but stated that it had agreed to work with the Canadian Government to increase Germanium processing in British Columbia. Lockheed responded that it constantly assesses the "global critical minerals supply chain" to ensure its customers have access to materials to support their missions. Chinese critical minerals have been cheaper for many years than those from Western suppliers due to differences in the mining practices, regulations standards and other factors. Reports from earlier in the year suggested that Western governments were trying to free regional minerals prices of Chinese influence. Reporting by Ernest Scheyder and Divyarajagopal, both in Houston; editing by Veronica Brown and Sanjeev Miklali)
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Mass escape of inmates from western Libya during armed clashes
Libyan police reported that inmates staged an 'escape from a prison on Tuesday?, while armed clashes broke out in two cities to the west of Tripoli. In a press release, the?Tripoli Judicial Police Authority?stated that the mass escape took place at Surman prison and that they had opened an investigation. The police did not disclose the exact number who had escaped. They said that they formed a committee "to identify them and take the necessary legal actions against them." Salem Bahr - a local leader from the town of Zawiya - appealed to Libya Al-Ahrar, a TV channel based in Turkey, for an end in the fighting, because "everyone loses in this situation." Bahr stated that the clashes killed three civilians, and injured many others. No one was able to immediately say who took part in the violence, or why. Since the overthrow Muammar Gadhafi in 2011, Libya has experienced unrest. Clashes took place between rival armed factions in Zawiya, and Surman. Zawiya is located 40 km (25miles) west of Tripoli and hosts Libya's largest Azzawiya Refinery with a daily capacity of 120,000 barges. Azzawiya oil company issued a Facebook statement urging employees to "take maximum precautions" and to "completely avoid areas of clashes, and roads leading there." Unverified footage from the internet and local television?channels shows large plumes black smoke rising into the sky. Other clips show heavy gunfire in Surman and Zawiya. The mayor of Surman Mohamed 'Abu Snina described the humanitarian crisis as'very bad. He said that the clashes caused severe damage and that the relative calm returned to the city following the deployment of neutral forces. Ahmed Elumami, Alistair Bell and Ahmed Elumami contributed to this report.
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Zambian miners look to the election in hopes of support for copper expansion
Mining firms in 'Zambia' have set their priorities for the upcoming elections. These include a stronger incentive for processing minerals, revitalizing exploration, and 'expanding electricity generation'. They say these measures are necessary to achieve the country's target of tripling its copper output. Africa's second largest copper producer aims to triple its current output, reaching 3 million metric tonnes, in order to capitalize on the growing demand for metals used in construction, EVs, and power networks. The demand for copper has led to a 40% increase in the benchmark futures prices in the last year, to $14,000 per ton. Ayo Sopitan is the chief executive officer of Metalex Commodities, a mid-tier mining company. He said that to triple copper production, there will need to be stronger incentives in exploration, local manufacturing and value addition as well as major infrastructure investments. Sopitan added that Zambia needed to strengthen its rule of law and dispute resolution mechanisms. Export duties on concentrates continue to burden producers who lack refining capability. Anthony Malenga is the president of Zambia’s Chamber of Mines. He said that high investor confidence through tax reforms, and closer engagement with miners has helped attract over $10 billion in investments since?the?2021 election. He said that policy discussions between government and mining companies are helping to address the most outstanding issues in terms of competitiveness. However, Zambia's ambitions for growth now depend on a robust exploration pipeline. Malenga stated that the mining industry requires real growth, and this can only be achieved by increasing spending on greenfield exploration. He added that reforms in licensing should ensure that exploration permits are held only by companies who have the ability to develop projects. Over 8 MILLION ZAMBIANS To Vote Zambia's economy is based on mining, which contributes about 9% to GDP, generates 72% of export revenues, and accounts for almost half of the government revenue. On August 13, more than 8 millions Zambians will vote to elect the president, legislators and local government representatives. Analysts predict that President Hakainde Hichilema will be re-elected in a peaceful?poll. This indicates a broad continuity of policy for investors. According to a senior source in the industry, Zambia has implemented several important reforms over these last four years. These include currency regulations, rules on local content and fuel cost measures. Menzi Ndhlovu is a lead analyst at Signal Risk. He said that while investors expect little change in the fiscal regime following the election, power shortages, and the pressures on labour are the greatest threats to Zambia's copper-growth ambitions. Ndhlovu stated that the power generation capacity could be insufficient to support major mining expansions without significant new investments. Zambia's Mines Ministry did not immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Zambia's industry executives estimate that it needs an additional 2,000 megawatts to meet its production goals, although recent investments are expected to ease the supply pressure.
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BYD launches first Brazilian plug-in hybrid flex vehicle as sales soar
The top executive of BYD in Brazil said that the Chinese automaker will launch its first Brazilian-made plug-in hybrid flex fuel car on Tuesday, after a two year?investment. In an interview, Senior Vice-President Alexandre Baldy revealed that the Song Pro Super Hybrido Flex Fuel, which hits dealerships in Brazil on Wednesday features a powertrain capable of running on gasoline, electricity or ethanol. He added that the GL version's range on electric power alone is 60 km (37 mi) and 120 km for a higher-end GS model. Baldy stated that the vehicle was built at BYD’s Camacari factory in northeastern Bahia State. The car also meets the company’s goal to use more than 50 percent local parts on all Brazilian-made vehicles by January 2027. TAILORED TO BRAZIL He said that the project was a symbol for BYD. This first ever collaboration between the research and development teams of Brazil and China resulted in a project that was tailored specifically for the Brazilian market. BYD, which was originally established in Brazil to assemble semi-knocked down vehicles, is now shifting production locally to comply with Brazilian laws and to establish Brazil as a regional hub for exports. The Camacari factory, which opens in October 2025 and will manufacture batteries, as well as other components, is already sourcing tires from local suppliers. Baldy stated that the Song Pro Flex, although developed for Brazil, could target other markets including India as ethanol fuels spread. BYD expects to produce 180,000 cars in Camacari this year. Baldy stated that the factory is likely to supply around?150,000 vehicles of the approximately 200,000 cars the company hopes to sell in Brazil by 2026. BYD said that July was its best month in Brazil. The company's Dolphin GS?topped the retail market, selling?5,861 unit. The total sales of 23,465 cars, which is more than twice the 9,680 vehicles sold in July 2012, places it in fourth place in the country with a 9.1% market share. Luciana Magnalhaes reported. Mark Potter (Editing)
The top cases in the US Supreme Court docket
The U.S. Supreme Court will be deciding a number of cases during the new nine-month session that begins Monday. These include issues like presidential powers, trade tariffs, transgender sportspeople, guns, race laws, campaign finance laws, gay "conversion therapies", religious rights, and capital punishment. The following are some of the cases that will be heard during the upcoming court term. Separately, the court has also acted in emergency cases in several cases that involved challenges to President Donald Trump’s policies.
LOUISIANA ELECTORAL DISTRICTS The conservative justices of the court signaled on October 15, their willingness to undermine another key section in the Voting Right Act, the 1965 landmark law enacted to prevent racial bias in voting. This was during arguments in a case involving Louisiana's electoral districts. The case centers on Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting maps that dilute the power of minorities without proof of racism. The lower court found that the Louisiana electoral map, which divided the six U.S. House of Representatives district into two districts with a majority of Black people instead of one before, violated the Constitution promise of equal treatment. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
TRUMP TARIFFS A court has agreed that it will decide on the legality Trump's global tariffs. This is a major test for one of Trump's most bold assertions of executive authority, which has been at the heart of his economic and trading agenda. The Justice Department appealed the lower court ruling that Trump had overstepped his power in imposing his tariffs, which were imposed under a federal emergency law. This case could result in trillions of dollars worth of customs duties within the next decade. The lower court ruled Trump had overreached by invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act in order to impose tariffs. This ruling was made in response to challenges from five small businesses as well as 12 U.S. States. A toy manufacturer will also be bringing a separate case. Arguments will be held on November 5.
TRUMP'S FIRE OF FED OFFICIAL Justices will hear arguments about Trump's bid to remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. This is the first time a president has attempted to fire a Fed officer, as he questions the independence of the central bank. The court refused to decide immediately on a Justice Department's request to put a judge’s order temporarily blocking Trump from removing Cook. Congress created the Fed in 1913 and passed the Federal Reserve Act, which included provisions that shielded the central bank against political interference. The law required governors to only be removed "for cause" by the president, though it did not define this term or establish a procedure for removal. The arguments are set for January but the exact date is not yet known.
FIRE OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION The Justices will hear arguments about Trump's firing a Democratic member from the Federal Trade Commission. This is a significant test of presidential authority over government agencies that Congress intended to be independent. The court allowed Trump to remove Rebecca Slaughter while the case is still pending. Slaughter filed a lawsuit after she was dismissed from the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Agency before her term expired in 2029. This case offers the court the chance to overturn a 90-year-old precedent that upholds job protections put into place by Congress in order to give heads of federal agencies some independence from presidential control. The judge rejected the argument of the administration that tenure protections illegally infringe on presidential powers. Arguments will be held on December 8.
LGBT 'CONVERSION THERAPEUTY'
On October 7, the conservatives of the court appeared to be ready to support a challenge to a Colorado statute that prohibits psychotherapists from performing "conversion therapy," which aims to alter a minor's gender or sexual orientation. The law was challenged by a Christian licensed counselor under the First Amendment's protections from government abridgment. Colorado said that it regulates professional conduct and not speech and has the legal power to prohibit a healthcare practice they deem unsafe and ineffective. A lower court upheld this law. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
TRANSGENDER SPORTS PARTICIPATION The court will hear Idaho and West Virginia's bid to enforce state laws that ban transgender athletes in female sports teams within public schools. This is another civil rights challenge against Republican-backed restrictions for transgender individuals. Idaho and West Virginia appealed lower court decisions siding with transgender plaintiffs. Plaintiffs argued the laws discriminate based upon sex or transgender status, in violation of U.S. Constitution 14th Amendment equal protection guarantee and Title IX civil right statute which prohibits sex discrimination in schools. The arguments have not been scheduled.
HAWAII GUNS LAW The court took up the challenge of a Hawaii gun law that restricts the carrying handguns in public places, such as businesses. This gave the court the opportunity to expand gun rights. Three Hawaii residents who hold concealed carry licenses, and a gun rights group based in Honolulu appealed the lower court's ruling that Hawaii's measure is likely to comply with the U.S. Constitution Second Amendment right of keep and bear arms. Hawaii's concealed carry law requires that licensees obtain the owner's permission before bringing their handguns onto public property. The arguments have not been scheduled.
Drug Users and Guns The Justices will hear from the Trump Administration in a case that involves a dual American/Pakistani in Texas, to defend a Federal Law that prohibits users of illegal drugs owning firearms. Hunter Biden, son of former president Joe Biden, was charged under this law in 2023. The Justice Department appealed a lower court ruling which found that the gun restrictions were in violation of the Second Amendment rights to "keep and carry arms" guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Gun Control Act 1968 included a prohibition against gun ownership by illegal drug users. The arguments have not been scheduled.
CAMPAIGN FUNDING The court agreed to hear the Republican-led challenge, on free speech grounds, to a federal campaign finance provision that limits spending by parties in coordination and cooperation with candidates for office. This case involved Vice President JDVance. Vance and two Republican committees, both of whom were running for U.S. Senate at the time the litigation started, appealed the ruling by a lower court that upheld the restrictions on how much money political parties could spend on campaigns, with the input of candidates they supported. The question is whether the federal restrictions on coordinated campaign expenditures violate First Amendment protections against government abridgment. The arguments are scheduled for the 9th of December.
CRISIS PREGNANCY COUNTER The court will examine whether to revive a New Jersey operator of a crisis pregnancy center's attempt to stop the Democratic-led attorney general's investigation into whether the Christian faith based organization misled women into thinking it offered abortions. First Choice Women's Resource Centers has appealed the ruling of a lower court that said the organization had to contest the attorney general's summons in state court first before filing a federal suit. The crisis pregnancy centers offer services to pregnant woman with the aim of preventing abortions. They do not promote their anti-abortion views. First Choice argues that it has the right to take its case to federal court, because it alleges a violation of First Amendment rights for free speech and freedom of association. Arguments will be held on December 2.
RASTAFARIAN INMATES The justices heard a Rastafarian's case to sue Louisiana prison officials for shaven him bald and holding him down in violation of religious beliefs. Damon Landor's religion dictates that he let his hair grow. He appealed the lower court decision to dismiss his lawsuit filed under a U.S. statute protecting against religious infringements by local and state governments. Landor was not allowed to sue officials individually for damages under this law, according to the lower court. The law in question protects religious rights for people who are confined to institutions like prisons and jails. The arguments are scheduled for 10 November.
DEATH ROW INMATES The court will hear the appeal of Alabama officials against a ruling that an intellectually-disabled man who was convicted of murder in 1997, but spared from death penalty. They are pressing ahead with their bid to execute the Republican-governed State. According to the lower court's analysis of Joseph Clifton Smith's IQ scores and expert testimony, he was deemed intellectually disabled. According to a Supreme Court decision from 2002, the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unjust punishment is violated by executing a person with intellectual disabilities. The arguments are scheduled for 10 December.
EXXON CLAIMS CUBA COMPENSATION Justices will hear ExxonMobil’s bid to get compensation from Cuban state owned firms for oil assets seized by Cuban communists in 1960. The law allows Americans to sue foreign companies or individuals for property that was confiscated. Exxon appealed the ruling of a lower court that undermined its legal efforts to obtain compensation from Cuban companies who allegedly profited by stolen property. The lawsuit invoked a 1996 U.S. Law called Helms-Burton Act. The court also heard a similar request by a Delaware registered company that had built port facilities at Havana that were seized by Cuba in 1960. It wanted to reinstate $440 million of judgments against Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and two other cruise companies that used the terminal. The arguments have not been scheduled.
(source: Reuters)