Latest News
-
Ziad Rahabi, Lebanese music giant and sardonic sarcastist, has died at the age of 69
Ziad Rahbani was a Lebanese musician and composer who created an original Lebanese musical sound by combining Western and Arabic roots. His sardonic criticism of the country's political sectarian divisions resonated with Lebanese from all walks of life. He was 69. Rahbani's words were relevant to all generations, whether they were those who knew him from the Civil War of 1975-1990 or the post-war generation that has struggled to overcome the legacy of the war. The hospital reported that he died at a Beirut hospital on Saturday morning, after a long illness. Ziad Rahbani is the son of Fairuz Rahbani - a living legend and one of the most innovative composers in the Arab world - and Assi Rahbani. His talents range from playing the piano to writing plays and acting. Rahbani, who pioneered oriental jazz, which blended Western standards and Arabic quarter-notes in 1978's Arabic funk album Abu Ali exemplified this style, once described Lebanon as "Falafel combined with Hamburger", a tiny country on the eastern border of the Mediterranean, between Europe an the Arab World. He was dubbed a musical genius by composers who knew him. His satire on the Lebanese culture was a huge cultural critic for Arabic-speaking people. Lubnan Bálbaki, conductor at the Lebanon National Orchestra, said: "You just feel like you're not able to comprehend some of Ziad's works, or write anything similar to them." Rahbani is best known for his 1985 song, "I am Not an Infidel", which was re-released by the same label in 2008. The lyrics of this song urge both Muslim and Christian leaders to help the poor. One song mentions that Lebanese sold gold and diamonds to buy food during the war, whereas "O, the Era of Sectarianism", notes the ease with which money is transferred between the military barricades keeping people apart. Jad Ghosn is a Lebanese film maker who created a documentary about Rahbani in 2021. He said that Rahbani was "a middle finger raised to this system reminding it of their true worth, and reminding us our potential". 'THE WILDERNESS' Ziad Rahbani, born in 1956, grew up hearing his father compose songs on the piano. By the age of 12, a collection of his poems was published, and at 18, he performed his first play. Rahbani’s parents’ music was influenced by Lebanese Folklore, including traditional stone arches and mountain villages. It also reflected the return of overseas emigrants. It was the soundtrack to the "golden age", or 1960s, in which Beirut became known as the Paris of Middle East. Before Rahbani reached the age of 20, Lebanon was engulfed in a 15-year Civil War that lasted from 1975 to 1990. His music took on a critical, lamenting tone that reflected his fall from grace. Rahbani, according to those who knew him, became reclusive and depressed as he aged. He called Lebanon's power outages, which destroy musical instruments, "the wilderness". Rahbani, a Greek Orthodox Christian living in Antelias (a coastal town north of Beirut), was a leftist communist who had been devoted to the cause for his entire life. He attributed his political awakening to the siege and murder of Palestinians in 1976 by right-wing Christian militants at the Tal el-Zaatar Camp. He was a staunch advocate of the Palestinian struggle for independence until his death. Some of Rahbani’s fans were turned off by his political alignment during the Syrian Civil War with Hezbollah, and the Syrian Government of Bashar al-Assad. Many people continued to enjoy his comedic, bitter musings about life. In his later years he said in an interview with Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV that the corruption of Lebanon was so bad that it contaminated Seven Spice, which is a popular Levantine spice mixture. He says, "There are not seven spices." "There are only three spices, and nobody knows what the others are." (Reporting and editing by Jan Harvey; Laila Basam and Timour Azhari)
-
Phillies win another game against Yankees with Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber was named MVP for his three home runs in the All-Star Game swing-off. Schwarber has been on a roll since the All-Star Break. He will try to continue this power surge when the Philadelphia Phillies host the New York Yankees Saturday afternoon. Schwarber hit two home runs of at least two runs Friday night, as Philadelphia won the first game in the three-game set 12-5. Schwarber hit his 35th, 36th and 37th home runs by hitting a tie-breaking shot off New York rookie Will Warren in the fifth and a drive against Ian Hamilton in eighth. Schwarber has now hit six home runs in seven games after the break, his second multiple-homer performance of the season. This was his fourth three-hit outing this season. Schwarber has hit 10-for-29 since the break (.345) and reached 1,000 career home runs with his first homer in the Friday game. J.T. Realmuto hit a three-run homer in the seventh. The catcher has batted.388 in his last 16 games (26-for67). Since Cody Bellinger's three homers during an 11-0 win over the Chicago Cubs, on July 11, the Yankees have gone 3-6. New York made two more mistakes on Friday. This brings the total to nine in their last four games. Paul Goldschmidt made a throwing mistake at first base, two pitches before Luke Weaver's homer. Bellinger, Austin Wells and Giancarlo Stanton all homered for the Yankees. However, their bullpen allowed 10 runs over four innings. New York's pitching staff has a 6.20 ERA, the worst in all of Major League Baseball. Goldschmidt stated, "It's easy to play better." "Mistakes like I made tonight. We need to reduce the number of mistakes we have made. We're trying to have those conversations, but we made too many mistakes." After being acquired by the Colorado Rockies, Ryan McMahon will debut at third base. Ranger Suarez (7-4 with a 2.66 ERA) will be the Phillies' starter on Saturday. He is 0-2 and has a 5.62 ERA over his last three starts. Suarez had allowed three runs in his previous 12 starts, but gave up six in four and a third innings in Sunday's 8-2 loss at home to the Los Angeles Angels. Suarez has a 4.50 ERA and a 0-1 record in his two career appearances, both relief appearances in 2021. Schwarber has a 3-for-14 record (.214) against Marcus Stroman, New York's scheduled starter for Saturday (2-1, 5.64). Stroman has a 2-0 record with a 3.00 ERA after four starts following a two-month hiatus due to left knee inflammation. Stroman's best performance of the season came in Sunday's 4-2 victory over Atlanta, when he gave up just one run and five hits across a season high six innings. He threw 95 pitches, a new season high. Stroman has a 6-4 record with a 2.26 ERA over 13 appearances (11 starting) against Philadelphia. He has limited the Phillies' offense to no more than two runs 11 times. Field Level Media
-
Thailand's PTTEP purchases full control of offshore gas block from Chevron at $450 million
PTT Exploration and Production, a Thai oil and natural gas company, has purchased full ownership of Block A-18 within the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area. The transaction was worth $450 million and involved Chevron unit. PTTEP announced in a late Friday statement that it had signed the deal with Hess Asia Holdings and Hess (Bahamas), both of which are now owned by Chevron after a recent merger between Hess Corp. PTTEP announced that the acquisition gave it 100% of Hess International Oil Corp's outstanding shares, which hold a 50% participation interest in Block A-18. Chevron is reorganizing its global operations to reduce costs and streamline operations. This could result in the company laying off as much as 20% of their workforce by next year. Chevron, as reported in June, is also looking for buyers for its 50 percent stake in the Singapore refinery. PTTEP stated that natural gas from Block A-18 was fundamental for the generation of electricity in southern Thailand. The block produces approximately 600 million standard cubic foot of gas per day which is distributed equally to Thailand and Malaysia. In a statement, Montri Rawanchaikul, Chief Executive Officer of PTTEP said: "PTTEP looks forward to expanding our operations in MTJDA. This area is known for its oil potential and strategic importance to Thailand's security in energy." According to a statement, the MTJDA is a 7,250 sq km (2.800 sq mile) area in the southern Gulf of Thailand. It is regarded as a major source of condensate and natural gas for Thailand and Malaysia. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue; Yantoultra ngi)
-
Scottish Floating Wind Farm Gets Construction and Operation Go-Ahead
The Scottish Government has granted joint venture partnership between Ørsted, Simply Blue Group and Subsea7, the developers of Salamander floating offshore wind farm, a go-ahead to build and operate the 100 MW floating wind array.Salamander offshore wind farm has been awarded Section 36 Consent and associated Marine Licences, securing all approvals for the construction and operation of the project, sited approximately 35 km off the coast of Peterhead in Scotland.The 100 MW project is expected to play a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of Scotland’s deepwater wind resources and setting the stage for future ScotWind developments by demonstrating cutting-edge floating wind technology at a commercial scale.Salamander is the first of the innovation (IN) projects from the INTOG leasing round to reach this stage. Combined with the recent award of onshore Planning Permission in Principle for the project’s onshore works in March 2025, the latest consent ensures that the project remains on track for deployment before the end of 2030.Focus will now shift to working with Crown Estate Scotland to secure the Option Agreement and then preparing to secure a Contract for Difference for the project.“Coming hot on the heels of the onshore consent, this is yet another major achievement by the project team. While we worked proactively with MD-LOT in an attempt to achieve offshore consent - including compensation plans - within the 12-month target window, award within 15 months reflects our team’s expertise, passion, commitment and seamless teamwork,” said Hugh Yendole, project director for Salamander.
-
US Looks Into Allowing Limited Oil Operations in Venezuela
The United States is preparing to grant new authorizations to key partners of Venezuela's state-run PDVSA, starting with Chevron, to allow them to operate with limitations in the sanctioned OPEC nation and swap oil, five sources close to the matter said on Thursday.If granted, the authorizations to the U.S. oil major, and possibly also to PDVSA's European partners, would mark a policy shift from a pressure strategy Washington adopted this year on Venezuela's energy industry, under U.S. sanctions since 2019.President Donald Trump's administration might now allow the energy companies to pay oilfield contractors and make necessary imports to secure operational continuity.Some imports could be swapped for Venezuelan oil, as authorized in previous licenses, three of the sources said.A senior State Department official said in a statement they could not speak about any specific licenses to PDVSA's partners, but added the United States would not allow President Nicolas Maduro's government to profit from the sale of oil.A source in touch with U.S. and Venezuelan officials said it was difficult to understand how Maduro's government would not benefit from cargoes Chevron can sell to the U.S., and later on Thursday Maduro hailed work done to keep Chevron in the country."There are already working groups so that Chevron can re-incorporate its functions," Maduro told an interview with Telesur, adding that Chevron's top leadership had already been informed of licenses so it can keep operating in Venezuela.Chevron shares touched $155.93 on Thursday, their highest level since April 3, according to LSEG data."Chevron conducts its business globally in compliance with laws and regulations applicable to its business, as well as the sanctions frameworks provided for by the U.S. government, including in Venezuela," a company spokesperson said.The move to ease some restrictions on Venezuela’s oil sector follows a prisoner swap this month in which Maduro released 10 American detainees while accepting the return of more than 200 Venezuelans who had been deported from the U.S. and held in an El Salvador prison.Relations between the two countries have been tense for years, and the Trump administration has publicly supported opposition leaders who say their candidate won last year's election, not Maduro.Trump in February announced the cancellation of a handful of energy licenses in Venezuela, including Chevron's, and gave until late May to wind down all transactions.The move left all operations in oil and gas joint ventures with Chevron and other partners in PDVSA's hands, but the companies were authorized to preserve their stakes and output remained almost unchanged.The U.S. State Department, which in May blocked a move by special presidential envoy Richard Grenell to extend the licenses, is this time imposing conditions on any authorization modifications, so that no cash reaches Maduro's coffers, the three sources said.In the past, U.S. officials have promised no money would reach Maduro from oil proceeds despite licenses. But it did because PDVSA demands tax and royalties to be paid before granting exports permits. Even if parties agree to oil swaps, those arrangements save PDVSA, and ultimately Maduro's government, millions of dollars per year in imports.Secretary of State Marco Rubio is not expected this time to ban the authorizations, but is negotiating their scope, they added.It was not immediately clear if the terms of the license that could be granted to Chevron would be reproduced for other foreign companies in Venezuela, including Italy's Eni ENI.MI and Spain's Repsol REP.MC, which have been asking the U.S. to allow them to swap fuel supplies for Venezuelan oilThe authorizations might remain private, one of the sources said.The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control and PDVSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Where Will the Oil Go?Following the cancellation of Chevron's license earlier this year, Trump announced the imposition of secondary tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil.But the measure, expected to severely hit Venezuela's main crude buyer China, has not been enforced, allowing the South American country to divert to Asia crude grades that were previously sold to U.S. and European refiners through PDVSA's joint-venture partners.The reshuffle, which has maintained Venezuela's oil output and exports close to the levels they were at before the license cancellations, has been criticized by politicians in Washington and was discussed as part of talks for the new authorizations, the sources said.During former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, targeted licenses to PDVSA's partners allowed Western refiners to regain access to Venezuelan supplies, but they also granted a stable source of cash to Maduro's administration as the companies were required by Venezuela to pay royalties and taxes.(Reuters - Reporting by Marianna Parraga in Houston and Timothy Gardner and Matt Spetalnick in Washington and Deisy Buitrago in Caracas; additional reporting by Sheila Dang, Rodrigo Campos and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
-
Zelenskiy: Ukraine faces fierce fighting in the eastern city of Pokrovsk
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, said that on Friday the Ukrainian forces were fighting fiercely around Pokrovsk. This is a logistical hub in the east where Russia has announced the capture of villages almost every day. Zelenskiy said in his video nightly address that Ukraine's top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had told a senior official meeting the situation in Pokrovsk is the main focus of the war. The war began in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Pokrovsk was given special attention. Zelenskiy stated that it receives the greatest attention. He said that Ukrainian forces were "continuing to operate" in border zones in the northern Sumy Region, where Russian troops had gained a foothold over recent weeks. In a separate Telegram report, Syrskyi described Pokrovsk as one of the most difficult theaters along the 1,000 km (620 miles) front. Syrskyi wrote that "The Russian Federation pays the maximum price for trying to launch a summer offensive." Since months, Russian forces have been closing in on Pokrovsk. This road and rail hub's pre-war population has been almost completely evacuated. Syrskyi reported in May that Kyiv had stabilized the situation in the area, which is also home to the only coal mine in Ukraine that produces coking coal used in the steel industry. The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Thursday that two villages to either side of Pokrovsk - Zvirove in the west and Novoekonomichne in the east - had been captured. Moscow declared Novotoretske, a third village in proximity to the city, "liberated" on Wednesday. The Ukrainian government has not acknowledged that villages have changed hands. In an evening report, the General Staff of Ukraine’s military stated that two of these villages -- Zvirove et Novoekonomichne -- were in areas where Russian soldiers were trying to penetrate Ukrainian defenses. The popular Ukrainian military blog DeepState reported that Kyiv forces had recaptured a village in Sumy, where Russian troops were trying to establish a "buffer area" as Kremlin Leader Vladimir Putin has called it. DeepState, a website that relies on reports from open sources to track the presence and movements of Russian troops, reported that Ukrainian troops had regained control of the village of Kindrativka. No official comments were made by either side. (Reporting and editing by Rosalba o'Brien, Oleksandr kozhukhar)
-
Investors eye possible US-Europe trade deal as deadline looms
Investors hope that a possible trade agreement between the U.S., and European Union will bring more certainty to the markets before next Friday's deadline for tariffs. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, was scheduled to meet Donald Trump in Scotland on Sunday after EU officials and diplomatics had said that they were expecting to reach a framework agreement this weekend. Trump said on Friday that there was only a 50-50 or less chance of the U.S. and EU reaching a trade deal. The trade tensions between Europe and the U.S. may have given some investors a reason to be cautious. This is according to Sameer Samana. He is the head of global equity and real assets for the Wells Fargo Investment Institute. It's our largest trading relationship... If that last piece falls in place, you will probably have at least a few more people who need to return to the markets," Samana explained. It's a source that will disappear. The officials and diplomats stated that a deal would include a baseline 15% tariff on all EU products entering the U.S., and likely a 50% duty on European steel and aluminium. The optimism about easing trade tensions in general has pushed U.S. stock prices to record highs. Stocks fell in the immediate wake of Trump's "Liberation Day," April 2, announcement that sweeping tariffs would be applied to all countries. This was due to fears about recession, which have since subsided. Investors have braced themselves for an increase in volatility as the U.S. sets August 1 as a deadline to raise levies against a wide range of trading partners. Trump said that he will increase the tariffs to 30% by August 1 on all EU goods. The EU faces U.S. duties on more than 70 percent of its exports. These include 50% on steel, aluminum and cars, and 25% on car parts. After Trump's trade deal with Japan, hopes for a deal in Europe increased. Capital Economics analysts said that the deal with Japan, and likely the one with the EU soon afterward, are of particular importance because both countries are important U.S. trade partners. They account for about a quarter each of the country's goods imports. The agreement with Japan will reduce the existing tariffs on the auto sector of the United States, which account for more than 25% of the exports. Previously, these levies were as high as 27.5%. Capital Economics stated that an agreement lowering EU auto tariffs by 15% would be a "big deal" not only for the region, but also because about 10% of the region's shipments to the U.S. fall into the same category. Over the weekend, investors were also keeping an eye on developments in the trade between the U.S.A. and China. Next week, officials from both countries will meet in Stockholm to discuss the extension of an August 12 deadline to negotiate a deal. (Reporting and editing by Alden Bentley, Edward Tobin and Lewis Krauskopf)
-
Trump tariffs on Brazil's chemical exporters lead to order cancellations
Brazilian chemical companies, who exported $2.4 billion in products to the U.S. during the past year, are facing a wave of contract cancellations, as President Donald Trump threatened a new tariff of 50% on Brazil's exports starting August 1. Andre Cordeiro of Brazilian chemical lobby Abiquim said that since Trump's announcement export orders for certain resins, compounds and other materials used in the production of fertilizers have been cancelled. Brazil supplies these products to the U.S. agricultural sector. Cordeiro explained that "fundamentally these decisions are made because it is bet on whether he will apply the tariff." Cordeiro added that some other companies have also had contracts cancelled. In some cases, sellers have secured export finance for an order that was later revoked. He refused to identify the exporters. He said that the losses associated with tariffs extend beyond direct exports. Almost every industry, from steel to oil, machinery to agricultural products, uses chemicals to manufacture their products. No one can produce coffee or grains without using some type of chemical product. Cordeiro said that the chemical industry is losing both export business as well as local sales from clients who export goods to the U.S. He said that Brazilian plywood exporters use chemicals to bond and have themselves faced cancellations of orders from the United States. Chemical preservatives are also used by orange juice producers, who sent 42% their exports to America last year. Brazilian companies such as Braskem could be affected by the U.S. Dow Chemical, with its 10 plants in Brazil, and large exports of silicon for processing to the U.S. is also in danger. Braskem and Dow have not yet commented. Exxon Mobil operates in Brazil, but declined to comment. It serves clients from various industries. Abiquim said that tariffs were unjustified due to Brazil's chemical industry running a trade deficit of $7.9 billion with the U.S. (Reporting and editing by David Gregorio.)
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)