14 dead, several others injured after pick-up truck meets with accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed condolence over the tragic road mishap and announced a financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the accident victims.
Clinton-era treasurer honored in Ohio hometown for 30th anniversary of inauguration
A history-making, record-setting former U.S. treasurer is being celebrated in her Ohio city this week as she marks the 30th anniversary of her swearing-in ceremony. Democrat Mary Ellen Withrow, 93, plans six appearances Thursday and Friday around Marion, about 50 miles north of Columbus, to mark the occasion. The city is also home to a museum collection of her memorabilia. HILLARY CLINTON CLAIMS TRUMP WILL WITHDRAW US FROM NATO IF ELECTED: ‘HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS’ Withrow was nominated by former President Bill Clinton and sworn in March 1, 1994. The first person to serve as a local, state and federal treasurer, Withrow served in her Washington role until 2001. She has her signature on more U.S. currency than any other person, setting a mark recognized by the Guinness World Records. The anniversary festivities include an appearance on WGH Talk radio Thursday to discuss her life and career, as well as appearances Thursday and Friday at four area middle and high schools, including Elgin, on whose school board she got her start in politics in 1969. Withrow plans to deliver her original acceptance speech at a celebratory reception Friday at the Kingston Residence that is open to the public.
Big Oil companies ask Supreme Court to intervene in high-stakes climate case
A coalition of major oil companies are asking the Supreme Court to rule on a key aspect of numerous ongoing nationwide lawsuits filed by cities, counties and states, accusing the companies of deceiving the public about their role in causing global warming. In a petition for writ of certiorari filed Wednesday, the oil companies — including Sunoco, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon Petroleum, ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66, among others — asked the high court to intervene in a climate case filed against them by the City and County of Honolulu. They said a Supreme Court judgment in the case could have far-reaching impacts on the other similar cases filed by other jurisdictions. “Rarely does a case of such extraordinary importance to one of the nation’s most vital industries come before this Court,” the companies wrote in the filing. “Energy companies that produce, sell, and market fossil fuels are facing numerous lawsuits in state courts across the Nation seeking billions of dollars in damages for injuries allegedly caused by global climate change.” “This case presents the Court with its only foreseeable opportunity in the near future to decide a dispositive question that is arising in every climate-change case: whether federal law precludes state-law claims seeking redress for injuries allegedly caused by the effects of interstate and international greenhouse-gas emissions on the global climate,” the filing continued. BILLIONAIRE-FUELED ROCKEFELLER FUND COORDINATED CLIMATE LAWSUITS WITH DEM STATE AG: INTERNAL DOCUMENTS The companies requested the Supreme Court specifically “review and clarify” whether state law is able to impose the costs of global climate change “on a subset of the world’s energy producers” chosen by plaintiffs in the case. “Without this Court’s intervention, years might pass before another opportunity to address this pressing question comes along,” it added. TED CRUZ PROBES LEFT-WING GROUP OVER EFFORT TRAINING FEDERAL JUDGES FOR CLIMATE CASES The case dates back nearly four years when, in March 2020, Honolulu officials announced they had sued the companies for damages related to climate change and for deceiving the public about their fossil fuel products’ potential impact on global warming. Honolulu is one of more than a dozen major jurisdictions to file such a lawsuit against oil companies in recent years. Overall, states and cities including California, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Minnesota, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Baltimore, which collectively represent more than 25% of Americans, are pursuing similar litigation. The fossil fuel industry has unsuccessfully attempted to move some of the cases from state courts, where they have been filed, to federal courts. In January, the Supreme Court declined to weigh in on that question, forcing the cases back to state courthouses. But the filing Wednesday represents the first time the Supreme Court has been asked to review issues around the merits. It particularly calls on the court to recognize that the federal Clean Air Act effectively preempts state law and that state laws are unable to provide “relief for global climate change.” CONSUMER GROUP REVEALS LEFT-WING GROUPS INCREASINGLY USING COURTS TO PUSH GREEN NEW DEAL “State court litigation is not a constitutionally permissible means to establish global climate and energy policy,” Theodore Boutrous, who serves as counsel for Chevron Corporation, said in a written statement to Fox News Digital. “As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held in dismissing a similar New York City lawsuit, ‘such a sprawling case is simply beyond the limits of state law.’” In a separate statement, Phil Goldberg, special counsel for the National Association of Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, called for the Supreme Court to grant the petition. “Regulating the worldwide production and use of energy — as the plaintiffs’ case attempts to do — is simply beyond the limits of any individual state’s law,” Goldberg said. “Trying to apply Hawaii state law to climate change here is directly at odds with these rulings, and the Supreme Court should take this case to make sure that states properly follow its jurisprudence.” TOP REPUBLICANS LAUNCH PROBE INTO LEONARDO DICAPRIO-FUNDED BLUE STATE LAWSUITS AGAINST BIG OIL The Honolulu case, along with a large share of the other similar cases filed by state and local governments, is being spearheaded by the California law firm Sher Edling. Sher Edling, which was founded in 2016 with the stated goal of taking on such litigation, states on its website that its climate practice seeks to hold oil companies accountable for their alleged “deception” about climate change. Sher Edling’s work has received the support of environmentalists and nonprofit groups that argue climate litigation is an important tool for fighting global warming. “In light of the growing body of evidence of Big Oil’s climate fraud and deception, and lower courts’ continued rejection of their efforts to escape trial, it’s no surprise that fossil fuel companies are once again attempting to escape accountability,” Alyssa Johl, vice president of legal and general counsel at the Center for Climate Integrity, told Fox News Digital. “Communities across the country deserve their day in court to hold Big Oil accountable for their climate lies and the damages they’ve caused.” Sher Edling didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Northern Ireland judge rules ‘Troubles’ violence amnesty breaches rights
A new law that gives immunity from prosecution for most offences committed during Northern Ireland’s decades of sectarian violence is not compliant with human rights, a judge in Belfast has ruled. The British government’s Legacy and Reconciliation Bill, passed in September, stops most prosecutions for alleged killings by armed groups and British soldiers during “the Troubles” – the period in Northern Ireland from the 1960s to the 1990s during more than 3,500 people died. The law has been widely opposed by people in Northern Ireland, as critics say it shuts down access to justice for victims and survivors. Ruling on Wednesday in a legal challenge brought by victims and their families, Justice Adrian Colton said the law’s provision for conditional immunity from prosecution breaches the European Convention on Human Rights. The judge also said the law will not contribute to peace in Northern Ireland. “There is no evidence that the granting of immunity under the act will in any way contribute to reconciliation in Northern Ireland; indeed the evidence is to the contrary,” he said at Belfast High Court. However, Colton ruled that a new body set up to probe Troubles killings, to be loosely modeled on South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, could carry out human rights-compliant investigations. The United Kindom’s government said it will consider the ruling carefully but added that it remained “committed” to implementing the legacy bill. Northern Ireland was the only part of Ireland to remain in the UK after the partition of the island in 1921. However, Catholics – who were once a minority but now form the majority of the population of Northern Ireland – generally wished to join the Republic of Ireland, whereas Protestants predominantly wished to remain in the UK. That divide eventually lead to the Troubles, and to sectarian divisions that splintered towns and cities, and continue – in less entrenched forms – to this day. John Teggart – the son of Daniel Teggart, who was killed during the Ballymurphy massacre in Belfast in 1971 – holds a banner in support of relatives and victims of the conflict known as ‘The Troubles’ in Belfast, Northern Ireland [Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters] ‘Big questions’ for the UK government Amnesty International said there were “significant questions” for the UK’s government to answer, and urged officials to repeal the law. “The core part of this legislation was the immunity from prosecution. That has now been stripped out, struck out from the law. So it’s back to Parliament and back to the UK government about what they are going to do next,” said Grainne Teggart of Amnesty. “There are big questions for the secretary of state for Northern Ireland to answer how he plans to proceed,” Teggart told Al Jazeera. “As Amnesty, we would urge him to now go back to the drawing board, to think again, to repeal this legislation and replace it with something that actually prioritises and respects victims’ rights.” Al Jazeera’s Harry Fawcett, reporting from Belfast, said there is potentially further action in the court. “There is another action being brought in Europe by the Irish government as well, so this is not over yet,” Fawcett said. “The judge did endorse that view, that by not addressing the claims for justice by victims, that itself could inhibit reconciliation going forward.” In December, the government of the Republic of Ireland launched a separate legal case against the UK government over the Troubles law at the European Court of Human Rights. The 1998 Good Friday peace accord largely ended violence in Northern Ireland, and British authorities say the law will allow the country to move on. But those who lost loved ones have said the law would airbrush the past and allow killers to get away with murder. Dozens of legacy inquests have yet to be heard. Martina Dillon, who was among those who brought the case, said she will “fight until I get truth and justice”. Her husband, Seamus, was shot dead in 1997. Ongoing lawsuits include a case brought against Gerry Adams – the former leader of the nationalist political party Sinn Fein, which seeks the reunification of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – by three people who were wounded in bombings attributed to the Irish Republican Army more than 50 years ago. The case is likely to be one of the last court efforts by victims seeking justice. Adblock test (Why?)
US McConnell to step down from leadership post
NewsFeed US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was emotional as he announced plans to step down as Republican leader in November. The 82-year-old is the longest-serving Senate leader in history. He plans to serve out his Senate term through January 2027. Published On 28 Feb 202428 Feb 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
BJP’s central election committee likely to announce names of Lok Sabha candidates today
The Delhi BJP’s election committee has forwarded a list of 25-30 potential candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the capital to the national leadership.
Illinois judge removes Trump from state ballot, citing ‘insurrectionist ban’
An Illinois judge announced late Wednesday that former President Trump has been removed from the state’s 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot, citing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots. Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter barred Trump from the Illinois ballot one month after the anti-Trump challenge was dismissed by the Illinois State Board of Elections. Illinois goes to the polls March 19. Illinois is now the third state where Trump was booted from the ballot, after Colorado and Maine. But those decisions were paused pending the appeal of the Colorado case to the U.S. Supreme Court. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Haley says Trump should not be ‘entirely immune’ from criminal penalties
EXCLUSIVE: Former President Trump’s 2024 Republican primary rival Nikki Haley is backing the Supreme Court’s decision to take up his immunity case, arguing that commanders-in-chief should not be ‘entirely immune’ from criminal penalties. “The Supreme Court should take up this question and settle it once and for all. No person should be entirely immune from penalties for crimes committed, not even a president – not Clinton, not Biden, and not Trump,” Haley told Fox News Digital on Thursday. In a win for the former president, the court agreed to hear his appeal, citing presidential immunity. The court, stacked with three justices nominated by Trump, moved to expedite the matter, planning to begin arguments the week of April 22 and producing a ruling by late June. TRUMP ASKS SUPREME COURT TO EXTEND DELAY IN ELECTION CASE, CLAIMING PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY Trump foes, meanwhile, criticized the Supreme Court for being willing to hear the case. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., claimed the court is “placing itself on trial” with the decision and questioned “whether the justices will uphold the fundamental American value that no one is above the law – not even a former president.” Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., also slammed the court’s plan to review Trump’s claim of presidential immunity. “Delaying the January 6 trial suppresses critical evidence that Americans deserve to hear,” she wrote on X. TRUMP TRIAL DELAYED IN CASE STEMMING FROM SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH’S JAN. 6 INVESTIGATION “Donald Trump attempted to overturn an election and seize power. Our justice system must be able to bring him to trial before the next election. SCOTUS should decide this case promptly,” she added. Cheney was a part of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack before her House term ended. She ran for reelection but was defeated in her Republican primary by Rep. Harriet Hageman. R-Wyo. An impeachment manager for Trump’s second impeachment trial, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., predicted the Supreme Court taking up the case could help guarantee a “blue wave” in November. “My view of the SCOTUS action: if the trial is delayed until after November, we will see THE LARGEST BLUE WAVE IN HISTORY,” Lieu wrote on X. “If November becomes a referendum on whether Trump faces justice, then Democrats will absolutely flip the House. keep the White House and expand the Senate.” Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., said on the social media platform that the Supreme Court decision will “help Donald Trump run out the clock and avoid justice.”
Kentucky Senate passes a top-priority bill to stimulate cutting-edge research at public universities
A top-priority bill intended to turn researchers at Kentucky’s public universities into teammates collaborating on cutting-edge research won overwhelming approval in the state Senate on Wednesday. The measure, sponsored by Republican Senate President Robert Stivers, won Senate passage on a 36-0 vote to advance to the House. Details about start-up funding for the initiative will come into focus in coming weeks. The Senate is working on its version of the next two-year state budget, but the final version will be hashed out by Senate and House negotiators. Stivers will be a key participant in those talks. KENTUCKY BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW CHILD SUPPORT TO START WITH PREGNANCY ADVANCES The legislation is meant to stimulate research capable of attracting lucrative federal grants and other support while lifting Kentucky’s research profile. Projects could focus on achieving medical breakthroughs and building on schools’ existing strengths in other types of research as well. The goal is to spur research breakthroughs with lasting impacts on improving lives, Stivers said. “That’s the hope of this bill, that we will know we made a difference,” the Senate’s top leader said. “A difference in the trajectory of this state, in the lives of people here in this state and well beyond the geographic confines of the state of Kentucky.” Sen. Gerald Neal, the Senate’s top-ranking Democrat, hailed the bill as “the most visionary action that we’ve undertaken this session.” The measure was designated as Senate Bill 1, signifying its top-priority status. Seed funding from the state would help nurture the research projects, but the expectation is that the work would prove successful enough to attract outside funding. “Pooling our resources means greater opportunity for additional federal grants or private funds by investors who want to support cutting-edge research,” Stivers said in a news release after the Senate vote. The bill would create an endowed research fund administered by the state Council on Postsecondary Education. Supporters haven’t yet discussed any specific dollar amounts to support the research. The council would solicit and review joint funding applications submitted by two or more public universities to enhance collaboration among Kentucky schools often seen as competitors. The council would select five research consortiums to receive funding for an initial five years. Interest earnings from the research fund would be transferred into accounts supporting each project. Each research team’s performance would be reviewed by the council to determine whether its funding support should be renewed for up to five more years. If a research team’s funding is discontinued, the council would review other applications to fill the vacancy. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The state’s research reputation got a boost last year when the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center achieved the highest level of recognition from the National Cancer Institute. That elevated status will bolster research and patient care in a state plagued by some of the nation’s highest cancer rates.
Congressional leaders strike short-term deal to avoid government shutdown
Congressional lawmakers reached a short-term deal to avoid a government shutdown this week while kicking several appropriations bills down the road to be decided later. The deal announced Wednesday will fund six bills that fall under the departments of Agriculture, Justice, Commerce, Energy, Interior, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development through March 8. “We are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement on Wednesday. The first round of bills would be voted on as a package. A remaining six bills would be extended to March 22. CONGRESS LIKELY TO PUNT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DEADLINES AGAIN, SOURCES SAY “To give the House and Senate Appropriations Committees adequate time to execute on this deal in principle, including drafting, preparing report language, scoring and other technical matters, and to allow members 72 hours to review, a short-term continuing resolution to fund agencies through March 8 and the 22 will be necessary, and voted on by the House and Senate this week,” the lawmakers said. Under the terms of the deal, the House is expected to vote Thursday and the Senate soon after. If passed, the deal would avert a partial government shutdown slated to take effect on Friday. TOP HOUSE REPUBLICANS FLEE CAPITOL HILL AMID RISING CHAOS, DIVISION: ‘A BAD WORKPLACE’ “We’re gonna prevent the shutdown. We’re working on it,” Johnson told Fox News on Tuesday. President Biden is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union speech on March 7, a day before the deadline to avoid a government shutdown. A government shutdown could mean government offices abruptly close and many federal employees being furloughed — if it lasts beyond the weekend. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “We have been working in good faith around the clock every single day, for months and weeks, and over the last several days, quite literally around the clock, to get that job done. We’re very optimistic,” Johnson said after a White House meeting Tuesday.