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Stocks hit by rising inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and oil prices
Investors were on edge Monday as rising?oil costs, the conflict in the Middle East, and political unrest in Europe kept them on edge. Stocks drifted lower ahead of important U.S. data on inflation later this week. Tehran announced that it would declare a restricted area outside the Strait of Hormuz within days after U.S. forces struck three Iranian tankers, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles on two U.S. Navy vessels. Brent crude futures have risen 1.3%, to $97.5 per barrel, the highest in seven weeks. Oil prices rose almost 8% in the last week, and are now 35% higher than they were at the end of February before war began. Diesel prices, which power transport, shipping and farming, as well as manufacturing, reached record highs in the last week. They are now around 90% higher than before the war. Investors should pay close attention to this week's U.S. Consumer Price Index because central banks will likely raise interest rates as?food prices and fuel prices are rising across the globe. On Thursday, the European Central Bank is expected raise rates to 2.5%. Futures traders expect another rate hike in December to 2.75%. Markets are also pricing in 75% of the possibility that Bank of Japan will raise rates by a quarter-point at its September 18 meeting, with 60% of another increase occurring before December. Bruce Kasman, global head economist at JPMorgan, said that the patience of central banks during the energy crisis has helped asset prices and credit cycles. "However central banks are now moving." RATE INCREASES? The Federal Reserve's last-week's payroll report, which exceeded expectations with a 162,000 increase in August, left the markets pricing in a 58% probability of an increase when they meet on September 16. And 70% for a movement in October. The euro gained 0.14%, to $1.1629. Analysts said that the euro has been drifting lower since August's three-month highs and with increasing political tension on many fronts it may struggle to gain much upward momentum. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far right party in Germany, won the state elections in Saxony Anhalt on Sunday. This is the first time in history that a far right party has been able to win power at the state level. The AfD, while still far from having a majority or gaining power at the national level, has stated that one of their policies is to abandon the euro. Kathleen Brooks, XTB's research director, said: "This development is harmful for the long-term stability of our single currency." Recent polls in France show that far-right leader, Marine?Le pen, who has previously supported abandoning the Euro, is likely to win the first round at next year's Presidential elections. The next few years may see a wave of political change in Europe, and a shift towards the right for the two biggest economies. It may not be an issue for FX traders now, but tomorrow it will be. This could explain why the euro is among the weakest currencies in comparison to its peers by 2026, Brooks stated. The euro fell 1.1% this year, the worst performing major currency in relation to the dollar. This was compared to a modest 0.7% increase in the Japanese yen which had been partly boosted through official intervention and a 0.4% gain in the pound. Dollar?retreated? against yen, dropping 1.2% to 154.32 as a 'burst of purchasing propelled the Japanese to a 7-month high. Last week, the yen posted its best weekly performance in over a month, with rising expectations that the BOJ will hike rates and the threat of further official buying triggering a short-squeeze. While European stocks were struggling to reach positive territory, Wall Street was a little quieter due to a U.S. Holiday. S&P futures fell by 0.2%, and Nasdaq Futures rose 0.2%.
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US imports more Congo Copper as Consumer Acceptance Grows
U.S. consumers are increasingly buying copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is helping to drive record-breaking?imports of the African producer as industrial consumers take advantage of discounts on?COMEX approved brands. According to U.S. Trade data, copper cathode deliveries by the second largest copper producing nation in the world reached a record 53.290 metric tons during July. Congo now has a share of 23.9% of all imports. This is the highest ever. These numbers illustrate the increase in demand for Congo's copper by the United States. The country imported less than 32, 000 tons of?copper in 2024. Congo has more copper to sell now due to?increased production. This increase is all the more remarkable when you consider that there are no copper brands available from the Congo on the U.S. COMEX exchange. COMEX lists only two African copper brands, both from Zambia. More than one-third (35%) of COMEX approved brands come from Chile and Peru. Albert Mackenzie is a copper analyst with Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. He said that this could indicate the Congo metal was going directly to the U.S. market. "And if that's the case, it'll be much cheaper than COMEX-deliverable brand," he said. Mackenzie reported that the premium for COMEX copper compared to the LME price fluctuated between $400 and $600 during the summer. It may have been cheaper to buy non-CME-registered material at the LME price. Two sources in the industry who deal with Congo copper confirm that it is priced based on a LME basis. The first source stated that his metal is usually sold at a discount of between $550 and $800 per ton in order to cover the freight costs. Second source: The standard of Congo Copper has significantly improved in recent years. This has led to greater acceptance by U.S. consumers. China's copper imports from Congo have fallen by 4.3% over the first seven months of 2026 as large amounts of copper have been shipped to the United States. Congo's share of the market has however increased by a?five-point percentage point to 44.7%. China imported 95,778 tonnes of Congovian products in July, a 39.4% market share, which is the lowest since last October, but Congo remains the largest supplier.
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Institute: Italy has its hottest summer in more than 75 years
The Institute for BioEconomy of the National Research Council (CNR-IBE), a part of the National Research Council, announced on Monday that this summer was Italy's hottest since 1950. According to the public authority, August was the hottest month in the year with a temperature average of 25.6 C. This is 5.2 C higher than the average 1951-1980 and 3.5 C higher than the norm 1991-2020. These figures are based upon readings taken from a height of two metres. Researchers at CNR-IBE Lorenzo Arcidiaco stated that "the average of 25.6 degrees Celsius recorded in August 2026 surpasses the previous records which were 24.6 C in August 2024 and 24?C in August 2017." Arcidiaco stated that the data indicated 2026 as being the hottest year in Italy since 1950 when the data was collected. Both July and August were the hottest on record. CNR is Italy’s largest public research institution. Europe, which is the fastest-warming continent in the world, has experienced sweltering hot summers. Wildfires and drought are also a major problem. Britain experienced its hottest summer in recorded history. Most of the affected areas in Italy are located along?the Apennines and the northwestern lowlands, where drought and high temperatures have affected farming. Separate analyses of weather data showed that major cities like Rome, Florence, and Turin all experienced repeated heatwaves during June, July, and August.
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Nigeria's Dangote Oil Refinery signss IPO documents ahead of landmark share sale
On Monday, Nigeria's Dangote Oil Refinery signed offering documents with its 'advisers' and other parties involved in the initial public offering. This is a major milestone on the way to Africa's largest-ever share sale. According to a presentation made at a ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, the offering will last from September 14 until October 13. If fully subscribed, the company could raise up to $2.15 trillion ($1.63 billion). The presentation stated that in the event of a high demand for shares, Dangote's refinery and petrochemicals plant could issue up to 30 percent more than the base offer, subject to approval by the regulatory authorities. Investors will be able to gauge the level of interest in one of Africa's largest industrial projects. The 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery, built at a cost of about $20 billion on the outskirts of Lagos, has reshaped Nigeria's fuel market ?and benefited from supply disruptions linked to the Iran war, exporting jet fuel across Africa and into Europe. The plant is part of Africa's richest man,?Aliko?Dangote, whose sprawling empire includes sugar, cement, and other businesses. The IPO aims to raise money for a 'planned doubling of refinery capacity to 1.4m barrels per day. The company?has already secured a $400-million?underwriting commitment. Dangote said at the signing ceremony that he hopes the refinery will become the largest single-train refinery in the world by 2028.
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The Netherlands opens Europe's largest Carbon Capture Facility
The largest carbon-capture facility in Europe, developed by Yara International of Norway, opened?in The Netherlands on Monday. The CCS facility in 'Sluiskil in southern Dutch province of Zeeland will reduce emissions at Europe's biggest fertiliser production site and transport captured CO2 to Norway, Yara stated. Yara Sluiskil is set to capture and liquefy?CO2 up to 800,000.0 metric tons per year by 2026. Northern Lights, a transport and storage operator in Norway, will store and transport the carbon 2.6 km (1.65 miles) below the Norwegian continental shelf. Yara hopes to remove 12 million tonnes of CO2 from the site over 15 years. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere stated that the Sluiskil Project offers a solution which is both scientifically and commercially viable. Our climate challenge is in the industry, because there we have labor, capital and technology. Energy is everywhere. Stoere stated that the Netherlands should be a leader in the energy nations. The European Union is planning to use carbon capture technology in order to achieve its 2050 "net-zero emission" target, especially for industrial processes like chemical manufacturing where there are no low-carbon alternatives available. Despite the fact that this technology has been a stumbling block in Europe for many years, it is still gaining traction. Critics say CCS allows companies to continue producing oil and gas, while promising to capture future emissions.
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France's EDF is in talks to purchase So Energy in order to increase its British customers
A source familiar with the matter confirmed a Sunday media report that a French electric utility,?EDF, is in negotiations to 'acquire' electricity supplier So Energy. This company is majority-owned by an Irish company, ESB. EDF is expanding its footprint in Britain where it already supplies electricity to around 5,000,000 customers. Sky News reported that the purchase would bring EDF a further?300,000 customers,? A spokesperson for So Energy stated that the company is evaluating a number of options, but could not comment on the subject further as it is a commercially sensitive matter. EDF is trying to keep up with Octopus, British Gas, and E.ON in a competitive British Market. German utility E.ON is also aiming to expand its presence in the region and announced plans to purchase rival Ovo Energy for an undisclosed amount. The source who refused to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly, did NOT provide an estimate for So Energy.
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Copper prices set to reach record highs, but focus is on limited supplies outside US
The dollar was weaker on Monday and the prospects of shortages outside the U.S. boosted the price of copper. The traders said that the U.S. holiday meant volumes would be muted and that they were focusing on copper and zinc. The benchmark copper price on the London Metal Exchange was 0.2% higher, at $14.443 per metric ton. It reached $14,467 earlier in trade, its highest level since January's all-time high of $14,527.50. Since President Donald Trump proposed import tariffs last February, traders and producers have shipped large amounts of copper to the U.S. Comex copper stock levels are at a record high of 766,795 metric tons or 695.624 short tons. Albert Mackenzie is an analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. He said: "It's difficult to predict what will happen with tariffs, but the longer the uncertainty persists the higher the prices will be as materials?flow into the U.S." Some copper has returned to the LME due to higher?premiums? or?backwardations? for contracts that are close by compared with longer-dated futures. The LME is expected to lose more than 121,000 tonnes of copper over the next couple weeks due to cancelled warrants and metal that has been earmarked for deliveries at 51%. . In mid-August, the premium for cash on a three-month forward was above $430 per ton. This is the highest level since 2021. It closed at around $74 last Friday. The Shanghai Futures Exchange monitors warehouses in China. They have 63,000 tons of stocks, which is 85% less than the middle of March. This is the lowest level since January 2024. Copper prices are also falling on SHFE, indicating that the top consumer China is worried about supply. Zinc prices were up?0.7%, to $3,973 per ton. This was mainly due tighter supplies. At the beginning of September, it had reached $3,990 per ton, its highest level since May 2022. Base metals prices were supported by a?softer U.S. dollar, which made dollar-priced'metals cheaper for holders other currencies. Lead rose 0.6% at $1,913.5. Tin gained 0.7% at $55,250. Nickel fell 0.6% at $16,750.
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Radiant World sued in Singapore by a fund linked to Jefferies
The website of Singapore's Supreme Court showed that LAM Trade Finance Group II - in which U.S. bank Jefferies holds a minor stake - applied for a freezing order against Radiant World and its founder on Monday. The filing is just one of many challenges that the iron ore traders are facing. Some banks have frozen their accounts, and other trading houses have severed their ties with them over concerns that invoices sent to its banks might not be valid. Radiant World denies any wrongdoing. Last week it was reported that the Jefferies fund had obtained a freezing order from a UK court over the trader. On Wednesday, a hearing will be held in the Singapore case at the?Supreme Court of the city-state. There were no further details available on the filing. The filing revealed that the case in Singapore also names Sapphire Minmetals, the iron ore trading firm, and its Chairman Rakesh Setti, along with entities of Radiant World, Pinkesh Nahar and his company. Radiant World and Sapphire Minmetals did not respond immediately to our requests for comment. Gary Nagle is the CEO of Glencore. He said that last month, the company considered Radiant World, Sapphire Minmetals, and other companies to be part of the same group. Sethi, however, has denied this. Bloomberg News reported that Incomlend, a trade-finance company, is also suing Radiant World in Singapore and Nahar? in Japan, while Mizuho Bank took legal steps to remove the management of Radiant?World Singapore. Radiant World is being investigated by the 'Singapore Police force,' which said last month that it received reports about the company and was looking into them.
The top cases in the US Supreme Court docket
The U.S. Supreme Court has been deciding on a number of important cases in its current term. These include voting rights, presidential power, tariffs and birthright citizenship. Other issues are race, transgender sportspeople, campaign finance laws, LGBT "conversion therapies" and federal agency authority. The term began in October, and will run through June. Separately, the court has also acted in emergency cases regarding challenges to President Donald Trump’s policies.
VOTING RIGHTS ACT On April 29, the court gutted a crucial provision of the Voting Right Act, making minorities less likely to challenge electoral maps as racially biased under the landmark civil right law. The court invalidated an electoral map which would have given Louisiana a U.S. Congress district with a majority of Black people. The decision severely undermined Section 2 in the Voting Rights Act. Congress passed this section to prevent electoral maps from diluting minority voter power. The ruling allowed Republican-led Southern States to demolish Democratic-held districts with a majority of Black and Latino voters ahead of November's midterm elections. After the Supreme Court gutted another part of the Voting rights Act in 2013, Section 2 became a more important bulwark to combat racial bias in voting. Black and Latinos tend to vote for Democratic candidates.
Birthright Citizenship The court expressed skepticism about the legality of Trump’s directive on April 1, to restrict birthright citizenship within the United States. Justices asked the lawyer for the Trump administration questions regarding the legal validity and practical implications of Trump's order. The lower court ruled that Trump's executive order was invalid, as it instructed U.S. agencies to not recognize citizenship for children born in the U.S. when neither parent is a U.S. citizen or "green card" holder. The court found that Trump's policy was in violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and federal law codifying rights to birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court will likely rule by the end June.
TRUMP'S TARIFFS On February?20, the justices struck down Trump?s sweeping tariffs he 'pursued' under a law intended for use during national emergencies. This ruling has major implications for global economics. The ruling, which was 6-3 in favor of the lower court decision that Trump had exceeded his authority by using this 1977 law, was upheld. The court ruled that Trump's claim to have the authority to impose tariffs was not supported by the law in question, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Congress has the power to impose taxes and tariffs, not the President, according to the U.S. Constitution. Tariffs are at the heart of a global trade conflict that Trump started after he entered his second term in office. This war has alienated trading partner, affected financial markets, and created global economic uncertainty.
TRUMP'S FIRE OF FED OFFICIAL Justices expressed skepticism about Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, a move that could threaten the independence of the central bank. The justices said they would not grant Trump's request for a judge to overturn a decision that prevented him from firing Cook immediately while her legal case is being resolved. Congress created the Fed by passing a law, the Federal Reserve Act, that contained provisions designed to protect the central bank against political interference. The law stipulated that governors could only be removed "for cause" and did not specify the procedure for removal. Trump claimed that Cook's firing was due to unproven allegations of mortgage fraud, which she has denied. Cook, who is still in her position for now, said that the allegations were a pretext used to fire Cook over differences of monetary policy, as Trump pressures the Fed to reduce interest rates. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
IMMIGRANTS WITH PROTECTED STATUS The Justices heard arguments April 29 on the Trump administration's move to strip humanitarian benefits from hundreds of thousands Haitian and Syrian migrants, as part of Trump's signature immigration crackdown. The Trump administration appealed two federal judge's rulings that halted its efforts to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which the U.S. Government had previously granted to over 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians. Some conservative justices seemed to agree with the administration that courts could not second-guess the decision of the government to end TPS protections. Some justices questioned also the claim made by the challengers, that the administration had not followed mandatory protocols when making decisions in accordance with the law governing TPS. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
Federal Trade Commission Firing The conservative justices of the court have signaled that they will uphold Trump's legality in firing a Federal Trade Commission Member and give an historic boost to president power, while also putting at risk a 90-year old legal precedent. On December 8, the court heard arguments in the Justice Department appeal of the lower court's ruling that the Republican President exceeded his authority by dismissing Democratic FTC member Rebecca Slaughter before the term she was due to finish. The conservative justices seemed sympathetic to 'the Trump administrations arguments that tenure benefits granted by Congress to independent agency heads unlawfully infringed on presidential powers under the U.S. Constitution. Trump was allowed to remove Slaughter until the case concluded. The court is expected to make a decision by the end June.
TRANSGENDER SPORTS PARTIcipation The conservative justices seemed ready to uphold the state laws that ban transgender athletes to female sports teams, amid an escalating nationwide effort to restrict transgender rights. On January 13, the court heard arguments from Idaho and West Virginia in appeals of lower courts' decisions siding with transgender student who challenged the bans imposed in both states as a violation of the U.S. Constitution, and a federal antidiscrimination act. 25 other states also have laws similar to Idaho's. The conservative justices expressed concerns over imposing a uniform law on the entire country, amid a sharp disagreement and uncertainty about whether medications such as puberty-blocking hormones or gender affirming hormones remove male physiological advantages in sport. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
LGBT 'CONVERSION THERAPEUTY'
On March 31, the court rejected a Democratic-backed Colorado Law that prohibited psychotherapists from using “conversion” talk therapy to change a LGBT minor's gender identity or sexual orientation. The 8-1 decision sided with the Christian licensed counselor and deemed that the law was an infringement on his right to free speech. The court rejected Colorado’s argument that the law only protected speech, but regulated professional conduct. The court reversed a lower-court decision which had upheld a law brought by Kaley Chiles who argued it violated First Amendment protections from government abridgment.
HAWAII GUNS LAW The conservatives expressed skepticism about a Hawaii gun law which restricts the carry of handguns in public places, such as businesses. They appeared ready to expand the right to own a firearm again. On January 20, the court heard arguments in an appeal filed by opponents of the law, backed by Trump's administration. The challengers were appealing a ruling by a judge that Hawaii's Democratic backed measure likely conforms to the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right. Hawaii's law demands that a property owner "expressly authorize" the bringing of a handgun on private property. Four other states in the United States have laws similar to Hawaii's. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
Drug Users and Guns The Justices heard arguments in March 2 on the Trump Administration's bid to defend a federal statute that prohibits users of illegal drugs in Texas from owning firearms. Hunter Biden, son of former president Joe Biden, was charged under this law in 2023. The Justice Department appealed a ruling by a lower court that the gun restrictions were in violation of the Second Amendment rights to "keep and carry arms" guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. Gun Control Act 1968 included a prohibition against gun ownership by illegal drug users. The decision is expected to be made by the end June.
CAMPAIGN-FINANCE On December 9, the court heard arguments in a Republican led bid to overturn federal spending limits by political parties coordinated with candidates. The case involved Vice President JDVance. The conservative justices seemed to be sympathetic towards the challenge. However, the three liberal members of the court appeared inclined to maintain the spending limits. The debate centers around whether federal limits on campaign spending coordinated with candidates' input violate First Amendment protections against government abridgment. Vance and Republican challengers have appealed the ruling of a lower court that allowed restrictions on how much money political parties could spend on campaigns, with input from candidates who they support. This type of spending is called coordinated party expenses. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
MAIL-IN BALLOTS
Conservative justices expressed skepticism in a March 23 case against a Mississippi law that allowed a five-day period of grace for mail-in votes received after Election Day. This could lead to tighter voting laws across the country. The Trump administration supported the challenge against Mississippi's law that allows mail-in votes sent by certain voters be counted as long as they are postmarked before Election Day and received within five business days of a federal election. In Mississippi, absentee voting is only available to certain categories of voters. These include the elderly, disabled and those who live away from home. A lower court ruled that the law was unconstitutional. The court is expected to rule by the end June.
U.S. ASYLUM - PROCESSING: The court seemed likely to rule for the Trump administration's defense of its authority to reject asylum seekers when officials deem U.S. - Mexico border crossings to be too overburdened for additional claims. On March 24, the court heard arguments in a dispute over a policy known as "metering," which Biden's administration dropped in 2021. The Republican president may want to reinstate it. It allowed U.S. Immigration officials to stop asylum seekers and refuse to process their applications indefinitely at the border. The decision is expected by the end of June.
WEEDKILLER CAUSES CANCER The court seemed divided on Bayer AG’s efforts to stop thousands of lawsuits alleging that the German company failed to warn users of the dangers of the active ingredient of its Roundup weedkiller. On April 27, the court heard arguments in Bayer’s appeal of a Missouri state court jury verdict awarding $1.25million to a man called John Durnell, who claimed he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma following years of exposure. The lower court rejected Bayer’s argument that U.S. pesticide law bars lawsuits based on claims made under state laws. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
Human Rights Abuses Around the World The court heard arguments in April 28 on a case that has broad implications for American human rights litigation. Members of the Falun-Gong spiritual movement have accused Cisco Systems, of facilitating religious persecusion in China. Cisco appealed the 2023 ruling of a lower court that gave new life to the 2011 lawsuit brought under the Alien Tort Statute of 1789. The suit accused Cisco of knowingly developing technology which allowed China's Government to monitor and persecute Falun Gong practitioners. Cisco asked the court to limit the scope the Alien Tort Statute which allows non-U.S. Citizens to sue in American courts over violations of international laws. The court is expected to make a ruling by the end June.
SEC'S DISGORGEMENT POWER The Justices appeared to be inclined to support the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a case that tested the limits of one of its key powers. A financial remedy known as disgorgement, in which the agency seeks to recover profits made from illegal activities. On April 20, the majority of justices seemed to be receptive towards the Trump administration's defense of the SEC’s broad disgorgement powers. A decision is expected to be made by the end June.
FCC fines wireless carriers
In a case brought by major wireless carriers, the justices seemed to be ready to defend the Federal Communications Commission system of levying fines. During the April 21st arguments, the majority of justices appeared skeptical about the claim made by an attorney for Verizon Communications and AT&T claiming that the agency's internal proceedings deprived them of their right to a trial by jury under the U.S. Constitution. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
'GEOFENCE" WARRANTS On April 27, the court heard arguments in a Virginia case over whether law enforcement using a "geofence warrant" to identify suspects by using data from mobile phones near crime scenes is against the Fourth Amendment of U.S. Constitution barring unreasonable searches. Geofence warrants approved by the court compel companies, such as Alphabet’s Google in this case, to search mobile device location data of customers who were close to the crime scene at the time the crime was committed. In this case, a defendant pleaded conditionally guilty to robbing an institution of higher learning while reserving the right to argue against evidence obtained from what he believes was an illegal search. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
CRISIS PREGNANCY COUNTER The court sided on April 29, with the operator in New Jersey of Christian faith-based "crisis pregnancies centers" that are anti-abortion and trying to impede the state's investigation into the facility's deceptive practices. First Choice Women's Resource Centers brought a federal suit against a subpoena issued by the state attorney general in 2023 seeking information about the organization's doctors and donors. The lawsuit had been dismissed by a lower court. First Choice's facilities are designed to discourage women from getting abortions.
RASTAFARIAN INMATE The conservative justices seemed inclined to reject the Rastafarian inmate's attempt to sue Louisiana state prison officials after they shaved his head in violation of religious beliefs. The case was brought before the court in November 10 under a federal statute protecting incarcerated persons from religious discrimination. Plaintiff Damon Landor's religion requires that he let his hair grow. He appealed the decision of a lower court to dismiss his lawsuit, because they found that the statute in question did not allow him monetary damages against individual officials. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
DEATH ROW INMATE A man convicted in Alabama of a murder committed in 1997 was spared death after the court, on May 21,?kept in force a judicial ruling that the inmate has intellectual disabilities and is therefore ineligible to receive the death sentence. Alabama officials appealed a lower court decision on how to determine Joseph Clifton Smith’s intellectual capacity. The justices rejected the appeal. This method involved weighing IQ test scores and expert testimony alongside multiple intelligence quotient (IQ) test?scores. In a 2002 Supreme Court decision, the court ruled that executing a person intellectually challenged violated the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment.
JURY COMPOSITION On May 28, the justices sided with an inmate on death row who claimed that prosecutors had discriminated against him by excluding Black potential jurors in a 2006 trial where he was found guilty for his involvement in the murder of grocery store owner. They found that the state courts of Mississippi had not evaluated Terry Pitchford’s claim that four Black jurors were unlawfully dismissed, in violation of a 1986 Supreme Court precedent called Batson v. Kentucky which prohibits exclusions based upon race.
SENTENCE REDUCTIONS The court ruled May 28 that judges could not order early release of prisoners based on the fact that they would receive shorter sentences following the 2018 criminal justice reform act. The court upheld the lower-court rulings that were made against two Pennsylvania men who had been convicted of armed burglaries and sought compassionate release on the basis of First Step Act. Congress passed this law years after their sentences.
COX COPYRIGHT DISSENSION
On March 25, the court ruled that Cox Communications could not be held responsible for piracy of songs by subscribers to its internet service. These include Sony Music, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, and other labels. This ended their multi-billion dollar music copyright suit. The ruling of 9-0 overturned the decision by a lower court to order a trial to determine the amount the internet service provider was liable for the record labels under a form liability known as contributory copyright violation. Cox said that a retrial would have resulted in a verdict of up to $1.5 billion against the Atlanta ISP.
(source: Reuters)