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MAHA Report on US Children's Health Targets Food and Drug Marketing
In its second report, released on Tuesday, the Commission "Make America Health Again" said that it will tackle what is perceived as an epidemic among American children. It has called for changes, such as full-fat dairy in cafeterias, and to limit marketing of drugs and food. The commission was established by Donald Trump via an executive order, and is led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a longtime anti-vaccine activist. It builds on the findings of a commission report from May. This report linked the rising rates of childhood diabetes, obesity, autism and ADHD to processed foods, overprescriptions of medications, and vaccinations. The report also alarms food industry groups by pointing out pesticides such as glyphosate - a key ingredient in weedkillers that has been the subject of thousands lawsuits - as a possible health risk. Sources first received drafts of the latest strategy document in early August. It calls for changes to school meals, including full-fat dairy products, and suggests investigating vaccines and prescription drug safety. The report does not recommend any changes to the U.S. approval or regulatory process for agrochemicals, which is a major demand from some MAHA activists. The report states that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will instead work to increase public confidence in their pesticide review processes and reform their agrochemical approval processes to ensure "timely availability" of these chemicals to farmers. Last month, health advocates and other experts stated that the draft recommendations lack scientific basis and do not address the true causes of poor child health. The report calls on increased federal oversight and enforcement for direct-to consumer prescription drug advertising. It places a particular focus on violations that involve children, social media and telehealth. In order to combat misleading marketing, the report proposes to explore new guidelines that limit direct advertising to children of unhealthy food. The Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture should work together with restaurants to raise awareness and educate children about healthy foods that are age-appropriate. Peter Lurie of the Center for Science in the Public Interest told the media ahead of the publication of the report that "the topics (Kennedy), wishes to focus on are not the main causes of chronic diseases and many are missing (tobacco reduction, alcohol reduction, sodium reduction, sugar reduction)." The contents of the previous report had also been criticized by industry groups. After the release of the MAHA Commission's first report, more than 250 groups representing farmers and ranchers as well as agrochemical firms called for greater participation in the activities of the Commission. In response, the White House held meetings with farm and food groups during the summer. Kennedy stated during a Senate Hearing last week that HHS met with 140 agricultural interests in the last three months. He said, "We consult every stakeholder within the farming community on everything we do." Focus on Nutrition, Not Regulation The report suggests that some meat-processing plants and farms should loosen their water discharge standards and other pollution standards. The report includes a number of policy recommendations, including the creation of a National Institutes of Health Chronic Disease Task Force and a government-defined definition of "ultraprocessed foods." It also proposes restrictions on artificial food dyes that, according to a May report, were potentially associated with autism. However, this was not backed up by any evidence. Kennedy has in the past promoted debunked claims that vaccines cause autism. This area is a controversial one. The report recommended that the EPA work with Agriculture Department in order to promote precision pesticide applications with the goal of reducing the overall use of pesticides. However, it did not recommend any regulatory action. In the report, it was recommended that the EPA, USDA and NIH collaborate to develop a framework for studying cumulative chemical exposures. This includes pesticides. The report recommends using advanced methods that use human-relevant models in research. Pesticides have exposed a growing divide between MAHA activists, and Republican politicians who are closely linked to the agriculture industry. In August, hundreds sent a protest letter to the White House against a proposal by Congress that would shield manufacturers of pesticides and "forever chemicals" from lawsuits. Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington and Leah Douglas, Renee Hickman and Waylon Cunningham from Chicago and New York. Editing by Caroline Humer & Bill Berkrot.
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Bolsonaro is called the leader of a coup attempt by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice
Brazilian As he cast his first vote in the last phase of Jair Bolsonaro's trial, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes labelled the former president as the leader of a group of criminals that attempted to overturn 2022 elections. Bolsonaro will be sentenced within a few days for orchestrating a coup attempt to stay in power following his defeat by Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, formerly the leftist president, after he lost the 2022 presidential election. The charges are the result of a massive investigation which has revealed alleged plots. These include plans to assassinate Moraes who presided over the 2022 elections, and is now in charge of the coup trials. Bolsonaro is accused of being a member of an armed criminal group, trying to violently eliminate democracy, organizing a military coup, damaging government property, and protecting cultural assets. His lawyers maintain his innocence in all cases. Bolsonaro is accused of inciting riots when he allegedly incited thousands of his supporters to storm and destroy the Congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court of Brasilia in the capital of the country in January 2023. Moraes, the first of five members in a panel of justices to start public deliberations Monday, was the member who began it. He said that the crimes alleged had been acknowledged by the high courts in previous rulings, and the task now is to find the perpetrators. Moraes stated that "there is no doubt" that an attempt was made to eliminate the democratic rule-of-law, that a coup was attempted, and there was a criminal group that damaged public property. Moraes' role in the case made him a targeted by Bolsonaro allies. This included U.S. president Donald Trump and his government, who imposed sanctions against the judge and imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports into the U.S. After Moraes is expected to vote Justice Flavio Dino. He was Lula's former Justice Minister. Luiz Fux will follow him, followed by Carmen Lucia and Cristiano Zánin, an ex-attorney for Lula, who preside over the panel. The panel does not include two Supreme Court Justices who were appointed by Bolsonaro. The verdict is expected to be announced by the end this week. Bolsonaro could face a sentence of over 40 years if convicted. However, the maximum prison term in Brazil is 40 years. Bolsonaro may be able to avoid the full sentence even if convicted. His supporters, who are already barred from him running for office before 2030, hope that a future president will grant a pardon. Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas The former Bolsonaro cabinet member, who pushed Congress to grant amnesty to the ex-president last week, was seen by many as positioning the Governor as the heir apparent to Bolsonaro’s coalition for next year’s elections. (Reporting and writing by Ricardo Brito, Brendan O'Boyle and Isabel Teles; editing by Sharon Singleton Brad Haynes and Paul Simao).
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EIA: US natgas production and demand will reach record highs by 2025, before declining in 2026
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its Short-Term Energy Outlook Tuesday, predicting that the U.S. Natural Gas Production and Demand will both reach record highs by 2025 before declining in 2026. EIA predicted that dry gas production would rise from 103.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2024 to a record 106.6 bcfd by 2025, before slipping to 106.0 bcfd by 2026. This compares to a record of 103.6 bcfd for 2023. The agency also predicted that domestic gas consumption will rise from 90.5 bcfd, a record in 2024, to 91.5bcfd by 2025. It then eases to 91.4bcfd by 2026. The EIA forecasts for August 2025 for production and demand were lower than the September projections. EIA expects falling oil prices and rising gas prices in 2026. This should result in crude oil's lowest premium over gas since 2005. The agency expects that drilling activities in the U.S. will be centered more in regions with high gas production in 2026. The agency predicted that average U.S. LNG exports will rise to 16.3 bcfd by 2026, from 11.9 bcfd at the record level in 2024. The EIA predicted that U.S. coal output would increase from 512.1 million short tonnes in 2024 (the lowest since 1964) to 521.9 millions tons in 2020, before dropping to 492.5 millions tons in 2030, the lowest level since 1963. EIA predicted that carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from fossil fuels will rise from a low of 4,777 billion metric tonnes in 2024, to 4.849 in 2025, as oil, gas and coal use increase, before decreasing to 4.826 in 2026, as oil and coal usage decline. (Reporting and editing by Mark Porter, David Gregorio and Scott DiSavino)
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EU split over climate target, deal next week in doubt, draft shows
The latest compromise proposal from the European Union showed that there is a split among member states over how ambitious they want to be with their new climate target. This puts into question plans to reach a deal by next week. EU countries are currently negotiating a legally-binding 2040 climate change goal, which their ministers were planning to approve on a September 18 summit. This move is intended to reaffirm EU commitment to fighting climate change in advance of this year's U.N. global climate negotiations at the COP30. France, Poland, and the Czech Republic, for example, want to postpone the agreement and escalate the discussions to the government leaders. Climate change has caused Europe to become the fastest-warming continental in the world, unleashing deadly fires and heat. But the target has stoked tensions between governments over how much they should invest on global warming while also trying to increase defense spending and support struggling industry. The latest compromise proposal from the member countries shows that governments are divided on how much of the emission target can be achieved by purchasing foreign carbon credits, which would reduce the effort required by European industries. The document, which was dated 9 September and seen by, stated that "the level, timing, and conditions of international carbon credit contributions to the 2040 goal, require political discussions." The ambassadors of EU countries will discuss this on Friday. Overall, the goal would be to reduce net EU greenhouse gas emission by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040. A portion of this could be covered by purchasing foreign carbon credits. In 2036, the Commission proposed that countries purchase credits to cover 3% each of their 2040 emission target. In the compromise proposal these numbers are now surrounded by brackets, which indicates that countries have not agreed on them. Document was written by Denmark which currently holds the rotating EU presidency. A spokesperson for Denmark’s EU presidency stated that it had spoken with each EU member state before writing the compromise. They are still trying to reach an agreement next week. If the EU fails to reach a deal by next week, it could miss the mid-September deadline for submitting new climate plans to U.N. in time for the global COP Climate Summit in November. The draft also showed that other changes to the proposal will give countries more assurances about the EU's future green policies and their impact on industry when they are designed.
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Gold rallies to a new record high on U.S. interest rate cuts and Fed tension
Gold reached a record-high above $3,600 per ounce on February 2, fueled by investors' and central bankers' demand and expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts. Gold spot was trading at around $3,637.39 per troy ounce by 1524 GMT, a rise of over 38% this year. Analysts predict that gold will trade between $3,600 and $3900 in the short to medium term. They also expect it to reach $4,000 in 2019 if geopolitical and economic uncertainties continue. In a survey published in July, analysts predicted that gold prices would average $3,220 an ounce this year, compared to $3,065 per ounce in April and $2,756 per ounce in January. Ricardo Evangelista is a senior analyst at ActivTrades. He said that the dollar's bearish outlook, based on expectations of Fed cutbacks, investors' distancing themselves from U.S. investments, and tariff-related uncertainty, supports gold. Since President Donald Trump returned in January, the dollar has dropped by nearly 11%. The expectation of more rate cuts in the U.S. will further weaken the U.S. dollar, which makes gold denominated in dollars cheaper for holders of foreign currencies. According to CME Group's FedWatch, traders see a 92% probability of a rate cut of 25 basis points in September at the Fed meeting. Trump's criticisms of Powell, and his attempts to remove Lisa Cook as Governor have raised concerns about the Fed's autonomy and led to further gold purchases. Carsten Menke, Julius Baer's analyst, said: "The most bullish factor is...potential interference with the U.S. Federal Reserve as well as concerns over the dollar's position as a safe haven." Security concerns from the Middle East, as well as between Russia and Ukraine, are also factors that have boosted gold's appeal. Gold purchases by central banks, such as China's, have also boosted gold prices. The World Gold Council reports that central banks are planning to increase the gold portion in their reserves, while decreasing dollar reserves, over the next five-year period. Exchange traded gold funds that are backed by physical gold have also seen significant increases in assets. The SPDR Gold Trust is the largest physical gold exchange traded fund in the world. Its holdings rose to 990.56 tonnes on September 2, a 12% rise so far this season and the highest since August 2022.
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Trump EPA wants to accelerate AI infrastructure permits
The Environmental Protection Agency proposed on Tuesday new measures to speed up the construction of infrastructure required for rapid building of data centers in artificial intelligence. This would allow companies to begin building before obtaining an air permit. The proposal comes just six months after the EPA launched an initiative called Powering the Great American Comeback, which emphasized the agency's priority on quickly building power generation in order to meet the soaring demands from data centers. Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator, said: "Clean Air Act permits have been a barrier to innovation and growth for years." "We will continue to fix this broken process." The EPA proposal redefines the pre-construction requirements of power plants, manufacturing and other infrastructure. This will allow companies to begin some construction without regard to air emission before obtaining Clean Air Act permits. The Trump administration is focused on winning the race for rapid development and scaling-up of AI throughout the nation. It has already launched an executive action package aimed at increasing energy supply in order to fuel its expansion. The United States and China, two of the world's most powerful economic rivals, are engaged in a technology arms race for an economic and a military advantage. AI's massive data processing requires an increase in energy supplies, which is straining many utilities and grids. New Source Review Program of the Clean Air Act will not permit construction of major installations before they have obtained air permits. The EPA, under the Trump administration has taken what it describes as the biggest deregulatory action in its decades-long history. This includes a move that would repeal the scientific and law foundations for regulating greenhouse gases, which most scientists and ecologists agree are driving climate change. (Reporting and Editing by Bill Berkrot.)
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Reactions to Israel's attack against Hamas leaders Qatar
Israel attacked the Hamas leadership in Qatar, where this Palestinian Islamist group had long been based. Here are some comments from state and national leaders in response. ISRAELI PREMIER MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU "Today's operation against top terrorist leaders of Hamas is a completely independent Israeli operation. Israel is fully responsible for the event, as it was Israel who initiated, conducted and conducted it. "Qatar condemns the cowardly Israeli assault that targeted the residential buildings in Doha, the Qatari capital where several members of Hamas' Political Bureau resided." This criminal attack is a flagrant violation of international law and norms and poses a grave threat to the safety and security of Qataris. Majed al Ansari, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said on X that "While Qatar condemns the attack, it confirms it will not accept this reckless Israeli behavior and the disruption of regional stability, nor any acts that target its security or sovereignty." UNITED NATIONS SECRETAIRE-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES Israel's strikes violate Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity in a flagrant manner. Guterres said that all parties should work to achieve a ceasefire permanent, and not destroy it. POPE LEO Israel's recent attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar is a very serious matter. Leo told ANSA that the situation was very serious outside of Castel Gandolfo - the papal summer residence. SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia denounces the Israeli aggression in the strongest possible terms and condemns the flagrant violation to the sovereignty of Qatar, a sisterly state. The Foreign Ministry warned of "the dire consequences that will result from Israel's persistent criminal violations of international law, and its flagrant violation of all international norms and principles." LEBANESE PRESIDENT, JOSEPH AOUUN It is part of a series of Israeli aggressions that demonstrate Israel's determination to attack all efforts to achieve security and stability in the region. IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY Iranian media reported that the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said Israel's attacks on Hamas officials were 'dangerous,' and violated international law. UAE FOREIGN MODERATION The United Arab Emirates condemn the "blatantly cowardly" Israeli attacks on Qatar. This is a dangerous escalation which violates international law as well as the sovereignty of another Gulf state. In a recent statement, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that the UAE is fully in solidarity with Qatar. The UAE also supports all efforts to ensure its security. Turkey The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Israel's targeting of Hamas's negotiating team while ceasefire negotiations continue is a sign that it does not want peace but instead wants to continue the war. This situation is a clear indication that Israel's expansionist policies in the Middle East and its terrorism policy are a part of their state policy.
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Reactions to Israel's attack against Hamas leaders Qatar
Israel attacked the Hamas leadership in Qatar, where this Palestinian Islamist group had long been based. Here are some comments from state and national leaders in response. ISRAELI PREMIER MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU "Today's operation against top terrorist leaders of Hamas is a completely independent Israeli operation. Israel is fully responsible for the event, as it was Israel who initiated, conducted and took full responsibility." "Qatar condemns the cowardly Israeli assault that targeted the residential buildings in Doha, the Qatari capital where several members of Hamas' Political Bureau resided." This criminal attack is a flagrant violation of international law and norms and poses a grave threat to the safety and security of Qataris. Majed al Ansari, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said on X that "While Qatar condemns the attack, it confirms it will not accept this reckless Israeli behavior and the disruption of regional stability, nor any acts that target its security or sovereignty." UNITED NATIONS SECRETAIRE-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES Israel's strikes violate Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity in a flagrant manner. Guterres said that all parties should work to achieve a ceasefire permanent, and not destroy it. POPE LEO Israel's recent attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar is a very serious matter. Leo told ANSA that the situation was very serious outside of Castel Gandolfo - the papal summer residence. SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia denounces the Israeli aggression in the strongest possible terms and condemns the flagrant violation to the sovereignty of Qatar, a sisterly state. The Foreign Ministry warned of the "dangerous consequences" of Israel's persistent criminality and its flagrant violation of all international laws and norms. LEBANESE PRESIDENT, JOSEPH AOUUN It is part of a series of Israeli aggressions that demonstrate Israel's determination to attack all efforts to achieve security and stability in the countries within the region. IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY Iranian media reported that the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said Israel's attacks on Hamas officials were 'dangerous,' and violated international law. UAE FOREIGN MODERATION The United Arab Emirates condemn the "blatantly cowardly" Israeli attacks on Qatar. This is a dangerous escalation which violates international law as well as the sovereignty of another Gulf state. In a recent statement, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that the UAE is fully in solidarity with Qatar. The UAE also supports all efforts to ensure its security.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing the following cases:
In the current term of the U.S. Supreme Court, there are cases that involve guns, gender affirming medical care for minors who identify as transgender, online pornography and religious rights, TikTok and preventive healthcare. There are also cases involving funding Planned Parenthood, job discrimination and federal regulatory powers over nuclear waste storage, vape products and voting rights.
Take a look at the recent and upcoming cases that the justices will be deciding.
TRANSGENDER RIGHTS During arguments on 4 December, the court's conservative judges indicated that they were willing to uphold Tennessee's Republican-backed ban on gender affirming medical care for minors who are transgender. This case could have a significant impact on other state laws affecting transgender individuals. Biden's Administration appealed the decision of a lower court upholding Tennessee’s ban on medical treatment, including hormones and surgery for minors suffering from gender dysphoria. This refers to the distress caused by the incongruity of a person’s gender identity with the sex assigned at birth. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
'GHOST GUN' On October 8, the court heard arguments over the legality a federal regulation enacted by former president Joe Biden to crackdown on "ghost gun" - largely untraceable guns whose use in crimes has increased. The lower court found the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had exceeded its authority by issuing a rule that targeted parts and kits of ghost guns, which could be assembled in minutes at home. The justices indicated during the argument that they were willing to support the regulation. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
MEXICO GUN LAWSUIT On March 4, the justices showed sympathy for a request by two American firearms companies to dismiss the Mexican government’s lawsuit accusing the companies of assisting illegal gun trafficking to the drug cartels, and fueling violence in Mexico's southern neighbor. The justices heard arguments from Smith & Wesson, a firearms manufacturer and distributor of Interstate Arms in their appeal against a lower-court ruling allowing the lawsuit on the basis that Mexico had plausibly alleged the companies aided illegal gun sales and harmed its government. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
U.S. TIKTOK BAN On January 17, the justices upheld a federal law that would ban TikTok from the United States if the Chinese parent company ByteDance failed to sell the short video app within a time limit set by Congress. The Justices ruled, 9-0, that the law passed by Congress and signed by Biden last year did not violate First Amendment protections against government abridgment. The justices upheld a lower court decision that had supported the measure. Biden's replacement, Republican President Donald Trump chose not to enforce it and instead gave both parties time to work out a compromise.
Online Pornography The Justices heard arguments about whether the First Amendment protects against government interference in speech when a Texas law requires that pornographic sites verify users' ages to limit access by minors. The justices voiced concerns over the availability and accessibility of online pornography, but also expressed concern about burdens placed on adults who wish to view constitutionally-protected material. A trade group representing the adult entertainment industry has appealed the decision of a lower court that upheld the Republican-led State's age verification mandate. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION On February 26, the court heard arguments in a case where a woman claimed that she was denied a job promotion and demoted because of her heterosexuality by an Ohio government agency. The justices seemed to favor making it easier for those from "majority backgrounds" to bring workplace discrimination cases, such as straight or white people. Marlean Amees, the plaintiff, said that she worked with a homosexual supervisor when, in 2019, she was demoted and passed over for promotion to a woman gay. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL The court will hear a case that tests the separation between church and state. Two Catholic dioceses are attempting to establish the first taxpayer-funded charter school in Oklahoma. St. Isidore Catholic Virtual School was shut down by a lower court, which ruled that the funding arrangement for the school violated First Amendment restrictions on government endorsements of religion. Arguments will be held on April 30.
RELIGIOUS TASKS EXEMPTION In a case that could have constitutional implications, a Wisconsin Catholic diocese's arm is seeking a religious exemption to the state unemployment insurance tax. The Catholic Charities Bureau of the Catholic Diocese of Superior appealed the lower court's rejection of its exemption request. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the bureau, it could force Wisconsin and other states that have similar tax programs in place to expand their exemptions to conform to the First Amendment protections of the U.S. Constitution. The arguments are scheduled for 31 March.
LGBT SCHOOL BIBLES The court accepted a request from religious parents who wanted to prevent their children from attending classes in a Maryland district public school when LGBT stories are read. This is yet another case that involves the intersection of religion and LGBT rights. Parents of children attending Montgomery County Public Schools filed an appeal after lower courts refused a plaintiff's request for a preliminary order ordering the district not to read these books. Arguments will be held on April 22.
OBAMACARE'S PREVENTIVE CARE MANDATES The court will determine the legality of an important component of the Affordable Health Care Act, which gives a taskforce established under the Obamacare healthcare law the power to demand that insurers provide preventive medical services without charge to patients. The court heard an appeal from the Biden administration against a lower-court ruling which sided with a Christian group of businesses that objected to the fact that their employee health plans covered HIV-prevention medication. They also argued that task force structure was in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Arguments will be held on April 21.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FINANCE The court will examine South Carolina's attempt to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood. This case could support conservative states in the U.S. who want to deny Planned Parenthood government money for reproductive healthcare. A lower court barred the Republican state from cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood South Atlantic under the Medicaid insurance program. Arguments will be held on April 2.
NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE On March 5, the justices heard arguments over whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission had the authority to issue licenses for certain nuclear waste facilities, amid objections raised by the state Texas and oil industry interests. The U.S. Government and a company awarded a license to operate an operation in western Texas by the NRC appealed the ruling of a lower court declaring that the storage arrangement was illegal. The NRC regulates nuclear energy in the United States. The NRC is expected to make a decision by the end June.
FLAVORED VAPOR PRODUCTS On December 2, the court heard arguments in defense of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its refusal to allow two ecigarette companies to sell flavored products, which regulators believe to be a risk to health. The lower court ruled that the FDA failed to follow the proper legal procedures in federal law when they rejected the applications for the sale of these nicotine-containing products. The end of June is the expected date for a ruling.
EPA AUTHORITY On March 4, the court handed a major blow to the Environmental Protection Agency with a ruling of 5-4. The case involved a wastewater treatment plant owned by San Francisco. This could make it more difficult for regulators and water quality inspectors to monitor pollution. The court ruled that the EPA had exceeded its authority in a law against pollution by including vague restrictions on a permit for the facility which empties into Pacific Ocean. In recent years, the court has limited EPA's power as part of a number of rulings that have curbed the federal regulatory agencies' powers.
TAILPIPE Emissions A major case that tests the power of the Democratic-governed California to combat greenhouse gases is a challenge by fuel producers against California's standards on vehicle emissions and electric vehicles under a federal law on air pollution. Valero Energy, along with fuel industry groups, appealed the lower court's decision to reject their challenge against a Biden administration decision to let California set its own regulation. Arguments will be held on April 23.
The Supreme Court is hearing a dispute regarding the legality and operation of the TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERIES FUND, a fund that Congress authorized to be operated by the Federal Communications Commission in order to increase access to telecommunications. The conservative Consumers' Research group and others accused Congress of illegally delegating authority to an independent federal organization. The FCC, along with a coalition including interest groups and telecoms companies, appealed an earlier court decision which found that Congress had violated the Constitution when it gave the FCC the authority to manage the fund. Arguments will be held on March 26.
LOUISIANA ELECTORAL MAP
Justices will rule on a challenge brought by voters who identified themselves as "non African American" to a Louisiana electoral map which increased the number of Black majority congressional districts. Three federal judges determined that the map of Louisiana's six U.S. House of Representatives district - which now has two Black-majority areas, instead of one - violated the Constitutional promise of equal treatment. Arguments will be held on March 24.
Death Penalty Case On February 25, the court threw away Richard Glossip’s conviction in Oklahoma for a murder-for hire plot that took place in 1997 and gave him a fresh trial. In a 5-3 decision, the justices concluded that prosecutors had violated their constitutional obligation to correct false testimony from their star witness. The justices reversed the lower court decision which had upheld Glossip’s conviction. They also allowed his planned execution move forward, despite Glossip’s claim that prosecutors had wrongly withheld information that could have helped his defense.
(source: Reuters)