Author: Olive Metuge

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said he will approve plans to build more than 3,000 homes in a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank – a move he said will prevent the creation of a Palestinian state.The so-called E1 project between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim settlement has been frozen for decades amid fierce opposition internationally. Building there would effectively cut off the West Bank from occupied East Jerusalem and significantly obstruct its territorial contiguity. “The plan will bury the idea of a Palestinian state,” Smotrich said, according to Israeli media.Settlements are considered illegal under international law,…

Each weekday, we select a short list of news articles and commentary related to the Supreme Court. Here’s the Wednesday morning read: Recommended Citation: Zachary Shemtob, The morning read for Wednesday, August 13, SCOTUSblog (Aug. 13, 2025, 9:00 AM), https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/08/the-morning-read-for-wednesday-august-13/ Source link

Flying in or out of Dubai Airport (DXB) soon? Make sure your hand luggage meets airport security rules to avoid delays, confiscations, or finesDubai airport authorities have strict regulations on what you can carry in your cabin baggage, including liquids, electronics, power banks, and even certain personal items. Here’s what you need to know.Security tips for smooth screeningTo breeze through airport security: Minimise metal accessories: Remove belts, watches, or jewelry before passing through the scanner and place them in the designated tray. Mobile phones: You may pack up to 15 mobile phones in their original packaging. Personal devices are exempt.…

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. A task force appointed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is recommending that the state spend at least $15 million per year and create state-level oversight to bolster its troubled guardianship system, in which judges assign individuals or organizations to care for some 30,000 residents deemed incapable of looking after their own affairs. If adopted, the plan would represent a major change in how the state government cares for some of its most vulnerable residents. New York currently…

Getty ImagesLai is on trial for breaching national security and colluding with foreign forcesHailed by some as a hero and scorned by others as a traitor, Hong Kong’s pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai is in the final stage of his national security trial. Closing arguments were scheduled to start on Thursday for Lai, who is accused of colluding with foreign forces under a Beijing-imposed national security law.However, the morning hearing has been postponed by a “black” rainstorm warning – Hong Kong’s highest level of warning – as a typhoon swept the city on Thursday. Hearings will remain adjourned for the…

In 2015, shortly after the Supreme Court recognized a constitutional right to same-sex marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges, a local county clerk from Kentucky made national headlines when she refused on religious grounds to issue a marriage license to a gay couple, David Moore and David Ermold. That clerk, Kim Davis, is back in the news again this summer, this time because she has asked the justices to overturn their 2015 decision. Although, as a statistical matter, Davis may face tough odds on convincing the Supreme Court to grant review, the real question is whether there are four votes to…

Dubai Airports is set to welcome families and students returning from vacations ahead of the academic yearStudents and their families are set to return back to Dubai over the next two weeks as the start of the school year approaches, leading to one of Dubai Airports’ busiest seasons.According to an announcement by the Dubai Media Office, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is expected to welcome more than 3.6 million guests, with daily averages reaching 280,000. Its busiest day is forecasted for Friday, August 15, with traffic set to exceed 290,000. Dubai International Airport is set to welcome over 3.6 million guests…

This article is co-published with The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan local newsroom that informs and engages with Texans. Sign up for The Brief Weekly to get up to speed on their essential coverage of Texas issues. For about eight years, a Houston private school has followed a unique pattern when appointing members to its governing board: It has selected only married couples. Over 200 miles away, two private schools in Dallas have awarded more than $7 million in combined contracts to their board members. And at least seven private schools across Texas have issued personal loans, often reaching $100,000…

European leaders appeared cautiously optimistic after holding a virtual meeting with Donald Trump on Wednesday, two days before he meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.Trump reportedly told the Europeans that his goal for the summit was to obtain a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.He also agreed that any territorial issues had to be decided with Volodymyr Zelensky’s involvement, and that security guarantees had to be part of the deal, according to France’s Emmanuel Macron.Speaking to Trump had allowed him to “clarify his intentions” and gave the Europeans a chance to “express…

ScotusCrim is a recurring series by Rory Little focusing on intersections between the Supreme Court and criminal law. Please note that the views of outside contributors do not reflect the official opinions of SCOTUSblog or its staff. Last month I wrote about what I called 14 “pure” criminal law cases from the Supreme Court’s 2024-25 term. But there are another 13 decisions that I consider “related to criminal law.” Together, these 27 decisions* comprise 40% of the term’s 67 “Opinions of the Court” merits docket. That’s a pretty normal percentage – every year I’ve been doing this (30 or more),…