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Australia tightens restrictions on two Northern Minerals shareholders who are ordered to divest
The Australian government has tightened restrictions on two Northern Minerals shareholders who were ordered to 'divest their shares over national security concerns,' the?miner reported. This is a further scrutiny of Chinese investment in the rare-earths developer. Northern Minerals has developed the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earths Project in Western Australia. Western governments are looking to reduce their reliance on China as a source of these minerals. The Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers, ordered in May that six offshore shareholders of Northern Minerals divest all their shares over concerns that Chinese-linked groups were seeking to control the rare earths miner. Chalmers said it had amended interim instructions for Hong Kong Ying Tak and Real International Resources registered in the British Virgin Islands, as well as Hong Kong Qogir Trading & Service. According to the revised directions, Real and Qogir are not allowed to dispose of their shares until the proposed sale has been notified?to the Treasurer in order for him/her to confirm the buyer isn't an associated party. In May, the six shareholders were required to sell a total of 1.68 billion Northern Minerals shares by July 2 to non-associated parties. The ASX200 index had fallen 0.3% by 0026 GMT, despite the share price of Northern Minerals rising as high as 3.9%. (Reporting and editing by Sherry Jacobi-Phillips, Subhranshu S Ahu, Melanie Burton in Melbourne. Additional reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee)
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Russell: The demand for crude oil in Asia is balanced by the ROI-China.
China is doing all the heavy lifting to reduce crude oil demand in?Asia as a way to compensate for the reduced shipments of Middle East oil due the the Iran?war. The world's largest oil importer reported arriving 8.41 million barrels a day (bpd), up from a near decade-low of 7.12 mln in June, but still 24.3% less than July last year. When June and July imports combined, this gives a?average of 7.78 million bpd over the last two months. The average for the three-month period ending in February was 11,99 million bpd. This is 4,21 million bpd less. The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on 28 February. The conflict escalated to the point that the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut down, cutting off the waterway which carried about 20% of crude oil and refined goods in the world before the start of war. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are two of the Middle East’s biggest crude exporters. They have been able to increase shipments outside the Strait of Hormuz. However, flows have fallen by about 5 million barrels per day. Crude exports from the Middle East are mainly destined for Asia, which is the largest importer of crude oil. However, crude arrivals in Asia have dropped significantly. According to Kpler's data, Asia imported 22.82 millions bpd of oil in July. Although this was an increase from April's 18.77 millions bpd (which was the lowest since Nov 2015), July's imports still fell by about 4 million per day compared to the average of 26,89 million per day in the three-month period prior to the onset of the 'Iran conflict'. The data shows that China's imports have dropped by about the same amount as the imports of Asia in the last two months. Price Moves China's decreased imports are partly due to price volatility. Brent futures hit a four-year peak of $126.41 per barrel on April 30 – a date when cargoes for June and July would have been scheduled. China has historically reduced imports as prices increase, but this drop is unprecedented. Analysts estimate that China's crude oil stockpile is at least 1.2 million barrels, and could even be higher. How long will China be able to balance crude oil prices in Asia? Imports from China are expected to show a slight recovery in August as the cargoes which managed to leave the Strait of Hormuz despite the short ceasefire between Iran and the United States are delivered. Kpler estimates that China's Middle East imports will reach 2.71 million barrels per day (bpd) in August. This is up from 2.43 millions bpd during July, and 1.42 million in June. Kpler estimates that China's crude oil imports in August will be 5.97 million barrels per day. This is up from 2.43 million bpd in July and the 1.42 million bpd of June, which was?the lowest ever recorded by Kpler going back to 2013. September imports will likely be more telling, since flows from the Middle East are more restricted due to the sharply reduced shipments that have returned through the Strait of Hormuz following the failure of the ceasefire agreement between U.S. president Donald Trump and Tehran. Even if recent efforts to restore vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz prove successful, it may take several weeks before exports ramp up. China's refiners have two options: they can continue to suppress their appetite for import crude and dip into inventories or bid for cargoes coming from outside the Middle East. You like this column? Open Interest (ROI) is your new essential source of global financial commentary. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis on everything from soybeans to swap rates. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, X. These are the views of the columnist, who is also an author. (Editing by SonaliPaul)
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Oil prices rise on the uncertainty surrounding the reopening Hormuz
Oil prices rose Monday?on the uncertainty of a reopening the Strait?of Hormuz any time soon. Iran said a?deal with Oman?defining?new shipping?lanes? was in its final phases?but?insisted that the U.S. still must meet other conditions. Brent crude futures increased 91 cents (1.09%) to $84.46 a bar by 0056 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude futures also rose 61 cents (0.78%) to $78.79 a bar. Both benchmarks fell more than 7% in the last week, on the hope that Iran and Oman would soon reach a deal that would lead to the reopening of Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz carried a fifth of the world's crude oil before the war. Iran claimed on Sunday that it was "finalizing" a deal with Oman, but reiterated that waterway access would be restored only after Washington met certain conditions. Tim Waterer is the chief market analyst for KCM Trade. Abbas Araqchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, said on Sunday that Iran and the U.S. have not begun talks. Tehran won't start any as long as Washington violates a June interim agreement. A Saudi oil plant has been attacked in a "further attack on supply". The Iran-aligned Houthis claimed they 'hit' Saudi Aramco Jazan refinery two days after 'the kingdom signed a pact of defence with Sunni Muslim friends Turkey and Pakistan to respond to the growing regional 'instability' caused by the U.S./Israeli war against 'Shi'ite Iran. Separately, ADNOC of the United Arab Emirates said that 15 of their vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
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Oil prices rise in the Gulf amid confusion and Asian stock markets edge higher
The Asian share market matched Wall Street's gains on Monday, after a weak U.S. employment report reduced the risk of an increase in borrowing costs near-term. However, a lack progress?in Gulf Peace talks led to oil prices?creeping?higher. Iran announced on Sunday that it was nearing the final stages of a deal that would define new shipping lanes for the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Iranian government reiterated that this waterway will only be reopened once the United States meets other conditions. Brent crude increased by 0.9% to $84.32 per barrel, as the shipping volume through this vital waterway was minimal. U.S. crude rose by 0.7% to $79.74 per barrel. Fuel costs are on the rise again, raising the stakes for Wednesday's U.S. consumer price report. Analysts expect a 0.1% increase in the headline figure and 0.2% for the core. A positive surprise could reignite speculation about a Federal Reserve hike next month. Michael Feroli is the chief U.S. economist at JPMorgan. He said that our forecast of core CPI at 0.22% was "probably not firm enough" to trigger a Fed hike at its September meeting. However, repeated readings closer to 0.3% might do the trick. We are looking for a rebound in the prices of core goods after a period of two months where they have fallen. The futures markets has reduced the probability of a move in September to 44% from 67% one week ago. Wall Street closed at new records on Friday as the pullback in interest rate risk helped Treasuries rally. Japan's Nikkei jumped 0.6% Monday while South Korea gained 0.5%. The broadest MSCI index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan grew by 0.3%. DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH IN EARNINGS In Europe, EUROSTOXX Futures 50 and DAX Futures both fell by 0.1% while FTSE Futures dropped 0.4%. S&P futures fell 0.1% while Nasdaq was little changed after a week of positive earnings reports. Analysts from BofA stated that earnings per share were up 30% over the previous year, even after Alphabet's and Amazon's investment gains had been excluded. The 76% EPS rate was the highest since 2021. In a note, they said: "AI is still the leader, with median earnings growth of 28%, compared to 12% for non AI related stocks. However, consensus expects AI's growth to slow down to 16% in the next quarter." This week's earnings are lower, but semiconductor maker Applied Materials and networking equipment?maker Cisco as well as cloud infrastructure technology provider CoreWeave all have positive results. Bond markets saw yields for 10-year Treasuries a little higher, at 4.673%. The market is bracing itself for $125 billion of new issuance in the coming week. The U.S. Dollar had fallen sharply due to the drop in yields, and a general improvement of risk. Investors are still wary about intervening if the yen falls too low. The drop in yields has helped gold that does not pay interest to hold its $4,342 per ounce price after it had risen more than 7% over the last week. (Reporting and editing by Shri Navaratnam.)
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Taylor Farms recalls salsa and guacamole over salmonella risk
Taylor Farms announced on Sunday that it was recalling from retailers more than 12 'prepared food items' containing jalapenos. This includes salsas and guacamole. The California-based provider said that it had voluntarily pulled products with jalapeno in them due to a recall by Coast Citrus Distributors. It also stated that it was "no more" sourcing the peppers from a Mexican farmer who?supplied Coast Citrus, while it searches for alternative suppliers. The recall is being conducted as U.S. authorities investigate an outbreak of Salmonella linked to imported jalapeno peppers from Mexico. This outbreak, which began earlier this week, sickened 345 people in 27 states and resulted in 36 hospitalizations. Chipotle Mexican Grill, QDOBA and other restaurant chains have stopped using the peppers. Coast Citrus has recalled and informed customers of the remaining product. Taylor 'Farms has not received any reports of illnesses related to the voluntary recalled products, the statement added. Salmonella infections cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, which can be severe for young children, elderly people, or those with weakened immune systems. The recall is being conducted amid increased scrutiny on food safety following an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic disease linked to iceberg lettuce served by Taco Bell. It also coincides with renewed attention given to Chipotle’s previous foodborne illness outbreaks.
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British Columbia receives federal assistance when wildfires force evacuations
The Canadian federal Government said that it would assist British Columbia in the wake of a raging wildfire forcing thousands to flee. It will provide shelter and accommodation for residents who are displaced around Summerland, Peachland. Bald Range Wildfire has spread over 10,300 hectares as firefighters continue to fight the fire. Eleanor Olszewski is Canada's Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience. She said in a post on social media that she approved British Columbia's request for federal assistance to provide accommodation for those who were forced to flee their homes because of wildfires. The minister stated that he had asked federal officials to work with the provincial government to make sure the support reached those in need. Wildfire Service of British Columbia said that the hot, dry weather in southern British Columbia has continued to cause fires to spread. It said that poor visibility and "increasing" fires created new challenges for aviation and ground crew response. The turbulence, thick smoke and large fires hampered the operation of ten helicopters, including a night vision helicopter. It said that the province has 34 firefighters from Australia, five from New Zealand and 214 from Mexico who support 'hundreds' of provincial firefighter. Additional international resources are expected to arrive in the next few days. Reporting by Nivedita Balu, Toronto; Editing and proofreading by Alison Williams
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After 18 months of negotiations, Syria and Russia have reached an agreement on the future of Tartous & Hmeimim Bases
After?18 months? of intensive negotiating, Syria and Russia have reached an agreement to settle the future of Russian base?at Tartous?and Hmeimim?, according the Syrian Foreign Ministry. The ministry announced that the Syrian state will take over the management of civil facilities, such as Hmeimim Airport and the commercial berth at Tartous Port, allowing for their gradual integration into the civilian administration. The military sites would be converted into joint training and qualification centres, under new arrangements that preserve the interests of both parties. This transition was to be completed in three months. The Russian naval base at Hmeimim and?Tartous air?base has long been Moscow's main military footholds throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean. Since former President Bashar Al-Assad's ouster in December 2024, their future has been a subject of negotiation with Syria’s new leadership. In a separate statement, Syria's General Authority for Ports and Customs announced that Syria would assume control of the commercial sites operated by Russia in Tartous Port, including Pier No. In a separate?statement, Syria's General Authority for Ports and Customs said that the country would take over the commercial sites previously operated?by Russia at Tartous port, including Pier No. Last month, it was reported that Russia wanted to create a 'commercial logistics hub' at Tartous Port using the pier No. The restricted zone 4 is located outside the naval base. Both sides agreed that the hub would remain under Syrian control and all operations would be subject to approval from Syria's General Authority for Ports and Customs. Reporting by Tala Ramadan, Kinda Makieh, and Feras Dalatey; editing by Alison Williams
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Aramco Jazan facility fire extinguished, Saudi Arabia reports
The Saudi Energy Ministry reported that firefighters extinguished the fire at Saudi Aramco Jazan refinery, which broke out early Sunday morning. The fire was brought under control by Aramco's Industrial Security Teams and the authorities are completing the procedures to handle the incident. This is what the Saudi Energy Ministry said on X. The ministry did not say what started the fire. Jazan lies on the Red Sea, near the border of Yemen. Aramco closed its 400,000 barrels-per-day Jazan'refinery' on July 27, following an attack from Yemen's Houthi militants, which damaged the plant’s Integrated 'Gasification Combined Cycle' (IGCC) and tank farm 'area. The Houthis claimed to have struck Aramco facilities in Jazan and Yanbu at the time. The attacks raised concerns that the U.S./Israeli war on Iran, and Iranian attacks against shipping around the Strait of Hormuz could cause global disruptions. Amin Nasser, Aramco's chief executive officer, said that recent attacks on Aramco facilities caused production interruptions. However, he is confident that operations can be quickly restored. He claimed that the attacks had no financial or operational impact. Houthis have declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia at the Red Sea in response to what they claim is a Saudi siege against Yemen. Riyadh has denied this allegation. Reporting by Hatem Mahar; Editing and proofreading by William Mallard & Lincoln Feast.
The top cases in the US Supreme Court docket
During its current term, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide a number of important cases involving voting rights, presidential power, tariffs and birthright citizenship. Other issues include 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 in several cases that challenge President Donald Trump's policy.
VOTING RIGHTS ACT On April 29, the court gutted a crucial provision of the Voting Right Act, making it harder for minorities who want to challenge electoral maps under the landmark civil right law as racially biased. The court blocked a map that would have given Louisiana a U.S. Congress district with primarily Black constituents. The court's ruling undermined Section 2 the Voting Rights Act which Congress passed to prevent electoral maps from diluting minority votes. The ruling opened the door for Republican-led Southern States to demolish Democratic-held districts with majority-Black or majority-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 questions to the administration's lawyer about Trump's executive orders and their practical implications. The lower court blocked Trump’s order which instructed U.S. agencies to not recognize citizenship for children born in the U.S. when neither parent was an American citizen, or a legal permanent resident (also called "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 "birthright citizenship" rights. The Supreme Court will likely rule by June's end.
TRUMP'S TARIFS The Supreme Court ruled on February 20, 2018 that Trump's tariffs were illegal because they were imposed under a law intended to be used in emergencies. This ruling has major implications for global economics. The ruling, which was 6-3 in favor of the lower court decision, confirmed that Trump had exceeded his legal authority by using this 1977 law. 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" by the president, though it does not define this term or establish procedures 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. Some justices questioned also the challengers' claim that the administration didn't follow mandatory protocols when making decisions in accordance with the law governing TPS. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
FEDERAL COMMISSION FIREING The conservative justices of the court have signaled that they will uphold Trump's legality in firing a Federal Trade Commission Member and also give a historical boost to president power, while also putting at risk a 90-year old legal precedent. The court heard arguments in December regarding the Justice Department’s appeal against a lower-court decision that said the Republican president had exceeded his authority by dismissing Democratic FTC member Rebecca Slaughter before the term of her appointment was due to end. The conservative justices seemed sympathetic to the Trump Administration's argument that tenure protections granted by Congress to heads of independent agencies illegally 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 in appeals filed by Idaho and West Virginia regarding decisions of lower courts siding transgender students in their challenge to the bans imposed in both states for violating the U.S. Constitution as well as 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 whole 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 the ban as an intrusion into free speech rights. 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 handguns from being carried on public property, 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 judicial decision that Hawaii's Democratic-backed measures likely comply with the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right. Hawaii's law demands that a property owner "expressly authorize" the bringing of a handgun on to a 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 On March 2, the justices heard arguments in a case in which a dual American/Pakistani national in Texas was defending a federal gun law that prohibits users of illegal drugs to own guns. 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 ruled on restrictions on how much money can be spent on campaigns by parties with input from candidates who support them, a type political expenditure 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 of 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 to process 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 officers to stop asylum seekers and refuse to process their applications indefinitely. The decision is expected to be made by the end June.
WEEDKILLER CAUSES CANCER The court seemed divided on Bayer AG’s attempt to close down thousands of lawsuits alleging 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 to Roundup glyphosate. 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 that accused the company of developing technology that enabled China's government to monitor and persecute Falun-Gong members. 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, it seeks the recovery of profits from illegal activities. On April 20, the majority of justices seemed to be receptive of a defense put forth by the Trump Administration of the SEC’s broad disgorgement powers. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
FCC fines wireless carriers
Justices seemed to be inclined to maintain the Federal Communications Commission system for levying fines, despite a challenge from major wireless carriers against the agency's regulatory powers. During the April 21st arguments, the majority of justices appeared skeptical about the claims made by Verizon Communications and AT&T's lawyers that the Federal Communications Commission's internal proceedings deprived them of their constitutional right to a trial by jury. 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?potential criminal suspects by using data from mobile phones near crime scenes is in violation of the Fourth Amendment's bar against unreasonable searches. Geofence warrants approved by the court compel companies, such as Alphabet’s Google in this instance, to search for mobile devices near crime scenes. 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 obstruct a state investigation as to whether these facilities engage in misleading practices. First Choice Women's Resource Centers brought a lawsuit against a subpoena issued by the state attorney general in 2023, which sought information about the organization's doctors and donors. The lawsuit had been thrown out by a lower court. First Choice's facilities are designed to discourage women from getting abortions.
RASTAFARIAN INMAT 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. On November 10, the case was brought before a federal statute protecting prisoners 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 he could not sue officials individually for monetary damages. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
DEATH ROW INMATE The court heard arguments in December in an attempt by Alabama officials in order to pursue the execution for an inmate who was convicted of a murder in 1997 after a lower judge found him intellectually disabled, and therefore ineligible to receive the death penalty. The Republican-led state has appealed a lower court ruling that Joseph Clifton Smith was intellectually disabled based upon his intelligence quotient (IQ), test scores, and expert testimony. In a 2002 Supreme Court decision, the court ruled that executing a person intellectually challenged violates the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
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)