U.S. industry groups file lawsuit to block 'forever chemicals' drinking water regulations
(Reuters) — U.S. manufacturing and chemical industry groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to block federal rules announced this year that for the first time set drinking water standards to protect people from harmful “forever chemicals.”
The rule aims to reduce exposure to about 100 million people from 15,000 chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which the EPA says could prevent PFAS-related deaths.
Often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not easily break down in the human body or the environment, PFAS are found in hundreds of consumer and commercial products, including non-stick pans, cosmetics, firefighting foams and stain-resistant clothing.
In a brief petition filed Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Chemistry Council said the rule is “arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion.”
The groups argued that the rule exceeded the EPA's authority under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, which gave the agency the power to set water quality regulations.
Apple breaks record as AI features boost iPhone sales
(Reuters) – Apple Inc shares surged more than 7 percent to a record high on Tuesday, a day after the company unveiled new AI features aimed at reviving demand for iPhones, nearly reclaiming the title of the world's most valuable company from Microsoft.
Tuesday's stock price gains came as Apple is underperforming the S&P 500 index in 2024 amid falling iPhone sales and Wall Street concerns that the company is falling behind other big tech companies in the race to dominate emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
Apple shares rose 7.3% to close at $207.15.
Apple's market capitalization is $3.18 trillion, second only to Microsoft's $3.22 trillion and slightly ahead of AI chip giant Nvidia's $2.97 trillion.
These three companies are in a fierce competition to become the world's most valuable company.
Microsoft's market cap most recently surpassed Apple's in January, and Nvidia's market cap briefly surpassed Apple's last week.
Elon Musk drops lawsuit against OpenAI
(Reuters) — Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Tuesday filed a motion to dismiss his lawsuit against ChatGPT developer OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, arguing that they had abandoned the startup's original mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity rather than for profit.
According to documents filed in San Francisco Superior Court, Musk's lawyers asked a California court to dismiss the lawsuit, which was originally filed in February, but did not give reasons why.
A superior court judge there was prepared to hear OpenAI's motion to dismiss the lawsuit at a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Lawyers for OpenAI and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Musk had the lawsuit dismissed without prejudice, which means he can refile it another time.
Malawi's Vice President Chilima and nine others killed in plane crash
BLANTYRE, Malawi (Reuters) – Malawi's Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine people on board, including former first lady Shanile Zimbili, were killed when a military plane they were flying crashed, President Lazarus Chakwera said on Tuesday.
The plane carrying Chilima, who was seen as a leading candidate in next year's presidential election, went missing on Monday.
The plane took off from the capital Lilongwe at 9:17am (7:17am GMT) on Monday but was unable to land at Mzuzu airport as scheduled at 10:02am due to poor visibility.
The plane was ordered to return to Lilongwe, but it disappeared from radar and aviation authorities were unable to make contact with it.
Chakwera said all passengers were killed in the crash and that the military was transporting their bodies to the capital.
