Bezalel Smotrich Faces Election Battle as Israel’s Far-Right Vote Fractures 
Rubio, UK’s Miliband Stress Stronger European Security Role in Washington Talks 
Joe Biden’s Prostate Cancer Has Spread Further, Hunter Biden Says 
Iran-Oman Near Strait of Hormuz Deal as Shipping Tensions Persist 
Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On 
US Expands Social Media Vetting to Foreign Journalists Seeking Visas 
Trump Administration Plans $1 Billion Security Aid Package for Colombia 
Mark Carney Jokes About Teleprompter, Takes Swipe at Trump 
US Continues Ukraine Patriot Missile Production Talks Despite Trump Doubts 
New Zealand MMP Electoral System Faces Fresh Referendum Debate 
ICE to Complete Nationwide Body Camera Rollout by End of August 
Colombia President Abelardo De La Espriella Pledges Drug Crackdown, Economic Reforms 
Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary, Sets Up Key Midterm Showdown 
Russian Strikes Kill Six in Eastern and Northern Ukraine, Dozens Injured 
North Korea May Deploy 120 Missiles to Russia 
US-Backed Venezuela Government, Opposition Talks Begin 
Trump Unveils $3 Billion U.S. Critical Minerals Push 
One of the first orders made by President Joe Biden shortly after getting sworn in was to sign an executive order shutting down the Keystone XL Pipeline. While the action has drawn criticism from Congressional Republicans, 21 GOP-led states have taken action to file a lawsuit against Biden.
A lawsuit against the Biden administration was filed in the US District Court for South Texas Wednesday. The suit named Biden, Secretary of state Antony Blinken, and other members of the Cabinet so far as defendants.
The plaintiffs being the states of Montana, Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. It should be noted that many of these states are nowhere near the Keystone XL pipeline that Biden had shut down.
It should be noted that the pipeline would carry oil from tar sands in Alberta to oil refineries along the gulf coast of Texas.
The Montana attorney general’s office argued that shutting down the pipeline would create a ripple effect that would affect the country’s economy as well as the environment in states that are not near the pipeline.
The Republican-led states argued that Biden overstepped his authority due to a provision made by Congress in the 2011 legislation by then-President Barack Obama to either approve the pipeline within 60 days or issue a determination that the pipeline was not in the nation’s interest.
12 of the states involved have filed another lawsuit against Biden over his climate change directive that would issue a binding determination of the “social cost” of carbon.
This week, Biden held a traditional bilateral meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin on St. Patrick’s Day. A statement from the White House said that the two leaders discussed efforts in combating COVID-19 while reaffirming relations between the two countries, addressing global challenges and commitments such as the European Union, which Ireland is a member of.
Biden and Martin also addressed the importance of an economic policy framework that is predictable, transparent, and open and would encourage two-way foreign investments while promoting fair trade and competition.
