“President Donald Trump issued a 60-day waiver of a longstanding U.S. shipping law in an attempt to stabilize oil markets amid the Iran war, the White House confirmed to CNBC on Wednesday. The temporary suspension of the Jones Act ‘will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow freely to U.S. ports for sixty days,’ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. … The Jones Act, signed into law in 1920 by then-President Woodrow Wilson, requires that the transport of goods between U.S. ports must be conducted by U.S. vessels.” [editor’s note: He should just ask Congress to repeal the law, then sign the bill that does so – TLK] (03/18/26)
“India could soon get a lot thinner – at least in theory. On Friday the patent on semaglutide – the molecule behind Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic – expires in the country. This will allow domestic pharmaceutical companies to release cheaper copies or generics, triggering a rush of competition that could slash prices by more than half and rapidly expand access for people in India, and eventually in other countries too. Investment bank Jefferies has called it a potential ‘magic-pill moment’ for India, predicting the semaglutide market could eventually reach $1bn domestically with the right pricing and uptake. Analysts expect around 50 branded semaglutide generics to enter the market within months – a familiar pattern in India’s fiercely competitive pharmaceutical industry. When the diabetes drug sitagliptin went off patent in 2022, about 30 branded versions appeared within a month and nearly 100 within a year.” (03/18/26)
“Scottish lawmakers on Tuesday evening rejected a bill allowing [sic] terminally ill adults to access assisted dying. Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) opposed Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur’s legislation which would have given [sic] terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live assistance to end their lives. The bill fell by 69 votes to 57, with Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray abstaining. MSPs previously backed the initial principles of the bill and allowed it to progress through the parliament last May by 70 votes to 56.” (03/18/26)
“One person is dead, and thousands of acres have been set ablaze after four wildfires started across the state of Nebraska. Communities near the fires were also evacuated due to the dangers they pose, according to a news release published on Friday, March 13, from the office of Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. … Four wildfires, Morrill, Cottonwood, Anderson Bridge and Road 203, have set around 827,933 acres ablaze across the state, according to USA TODAY’s data.” (03/18/26)
“Steve Hilton, a legal immigrant and political newcomer running as a Republican for governor of California, said the ‘absolute failure on every front’ by current Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats means the GOP has a real shot at pulling off an upset in the Golden State. Though California has long since been written off by many as a progressive stronghold, the most recent polling indicates Hilton may be right. On Wednesday, Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies released a poll showing Hilton leading California voter preferences at 17 percent. Another Republican, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, follows at 16 percent. Both Republicans are ahead of the two top Democratic names, Rep. Eric Swalwell [D-CA] and former Rep. Katie Porter, who are each at 13 percent.” (03/18/26)
“As sports fans wager billions of dollars on the NCAA basketball tournaments, Wisconsin lawmakers are taking a shot at an expanded sports betting plan that could bank big bucks for the state in the future. A measure given final approval Tuesday would let the state’s tribal gambling sites start offering online sports betting to people anywhere in Wisconsin. But the bill is contingent on the signature of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, which is no sure bet. And it wouldn’t take effect until after the state negotiates new deals with American Indian tribes who would run the sports betting — long after the current basketball tournaments wrap up.” [editor’s note: If it’s online, it’s interstate/international. Even if it WAS any government’s business whether you bet online (it isn’t), the government in question would be the US Congress, to which the Constitution assigns power to regulate interstate/international commerce – TLK] (03/18/26)
“The top Republican on the Senate committee considering Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to run the Department of Homeland Security criticized his ‘machismo’ Wednesday and said he should ‘explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues’ to lead the agency. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) used his opening statement at the confirmation hearing to launch a withering critique of Mullin (R-Oklahoma) for saying he understood why Paul’s neighbor violently attacked him in 2017. Leaning forward on the dais, Paul chastised Mullin, saying he suffered six broken ribs and had part of his lung removed after the assault …. Paul’s sparring with Mullin set an early tone for the hearing. President Donald Trump nominated Mullin to replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem, who is set to leave the position at the end of the month after the president removed her amid growing bipartisan criticism of her oversight of the department.” (03/18/26)
“A Chinese man and his Kenyan associate have been charged with illegally dealing in wildlife species after they were caught trying to smuggle more than 2,000 live queen garden ants out of Kenya. Zhang Kequn was arrested at the international airport in the capital Nairobi last week after authorities discovered the large consignment of ants in his luggage – each of them either stashed in a test tube or wrapped in tissue. On Tuesday, a court in Nairobi heard that Zhang bought the ants from Charles Mwangi at 10,000 Kenyan shillings ($77; £58) for every 100 of them. Kenyan authorities have been warning about of a growing demand for garden ants in Europe and Asia, where collectors keep them as pets. Officials have not said if this were the case for the insects Zhang tried to bring out of the country, but his luggage was bound for China.” (03/18/26)
“Georgia’s Patriarch Ilia II, the longtime head of the Georgian Orthodox Church and one of the country’s most influential figures, has died. He was 93. Ilia II died late Tuesday after being hospitalized in critical condition with internal bleeding. … Ilia II led the church for nearly five decades. He assumed the leadership role in 1977, when Georgia was part of the Soviet Union and religious practices were restricted, and remained a dominant spiritual and public figure after Georgia regained independence.” (03/18/26)
“BP announced Tuesday night that it will initiate a lockout for more than 800 United Steelworkers Local 7-1 employees as the two parties still haven’t come to a contract agreement. In a Tuesday update, the company said it provided notice to cancel the 24-hour rolling contract extension, provided lockout notice, and sought commitment from the union to help facilitate a safe handover of operations. The lockout becomes effective at midnight Thursday. … BP has trained replacement workers — consisting of current and former employees — to operate the refinery safely and in compliance with regulatory requirements, and the company doesn’t expect disruptions to its operations or production.” (03/18/26)
