The highest court in the US has ruled that the government was wrong to say it did not have the power to regulate exhaust gases from new cars and trucks.
Twelve states and 13 campaign groups brought the landmark case against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The US Supreme Court said the EPA had offered “no reasoned explanation” for refusing to regulate carbon dioxide and other harmful gas emissions from cars.
The ruling was close, with five judges voting in favour and four dissenting.
The justices had been asked to consider whether carbon dioxide (CO2) should be defined as a pollutant and therefore subject to a law regulating emissions.
(snip)
In arguments before the court, the EPA, backed by 10 states, four motor trade associations and two coalitions of utility companies, argued that it did not have the authority to control greenhouse gas emissions.
However, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, giving the majority ruling, wrote that the EPA’s position was “arbitrary, capricious or otherwise not in accordance with the law”.
The EPA argued that it did not have authority to regulate- WTF!!
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian diplomat in Iraq seized two months ago by uniformed gunmen has been released, Iran reported Tuesday, while in Baghdad a senior foreign ministry official said his government was ”intensively” seeking the release of five Iranians detained there by the U.S.
The developments came as British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the next two days would be ”fairly critical” to resolving the dispute over a British navy crew seized by Iran.
The Iraqi official also said Iraq had exerted pressure on those holding the Iranian diplomat, Jalal Sharafi, who was released Monday and returned to Tehran on Tuesday. The official would not say who had held the diplomat.
A senior government official, however, said Iraqi intelligence had held the Iranian diplomat. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.
…
Iran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency confirmed Sharafi’s release but gave no indication of the circumstances surrounding his Feb. 4 disappearance or his release. In January, the U.S. military seized five Iranians in a raid in northern Iraq, accusing them of links to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard faction that funds and arms insurgents and militias in Iraq.
…
Iran had insisted that the five detained Iranians were engaged exclusively in consular work.
”We are intensively seeking the release of the five Iranians,” the Iraqi foreign ministry official said. ”This will be a factor that will help in the release of the British sailors and marines.”
They tried so hard. The Bushey neocons arranged an arrest hoping to precipitate an incident. But the Iranians (mistake or uncanny cunning) retaliated by arresting Brits instead–knowing their pressured government would be just a tad more rational?
A French train with a 25,000-horsepower engine and special wheels broke the world speed record Tuesday for conventional rail trains, reaching 357.2 mph as it zipped through the countryside to the applause of spectators.
Roaring like a jet plane, with sparks flying overhead and kicking up a long trail of dust, the black-and-chrome V150 with three double-decker cars surpassed the record of 320.2 mph set in 1990 by another French train.
It fell short, however, of beating the ultimate record set by Japan’s magnetically levitated train, which hit 361 mph in 2003.
PS…the pretzeldent is currently having a presser in the Rose Garden to complain about what the Democrats have done to him…and to remind us all about 9/11, 9/11, 9/11.
BEIJING – China and Sudan vowed here Monday to boost military exchanges and cooperation in various sectors.
“Military relations between China and Sudan have developed smoothly,” said Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan at a meeting with Chief of Joint Staff of Sudanese armed forces Haj Ahmed El Gaili.
China and Sudan have enjoyed profound friendship though the two countries are far apart, said Cao, who is also vice chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission and state councilor.
China cherished the traditional friendship with Sudan and would like to further promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, said Cao.
US ‘must regulate car pollution’
The EPA argued that it did not have authority to regulate- WTF!!
Iranian Diplomat Is Said to Be Released in Iraq
They tried so hard. The Bushey neocons arranged an arrest hoping to precipitate an incident. But the Iranians (mistake or uncanny cunning) retaliated by arresting Brits instead–knowing their pressured government would be just a tad more rational?
sets record: Guardian
PS…the pretzeldent is currently having a presser in the Rose Garden to complain about what the Democrats have done to him…and to remind us all about 9/11, 9/11, 9/11.
Bad news for Darfur:
China, Sudan vow to boost military exchanges
http://www.eurotrib.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2007/4/2/213437/5328
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070401&articleId=5246
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CAR20070401&articleId=5244
And did Bush make a deal with the Russians to “stay out of it”?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070328&articleId=5205
And is Chimpface himself always “on vacation” during a planned disaster.
Yup, it’s on the agenda definitely for tomorrow, every plastic gas can I own.