The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected the new federal rules for smog reduction on Friday, stating that the Environmental Protection Agency "has failed to heed the restrictions on its discretion set forth in the Clean Air Act."

The smog standards were introduced in 2004 and required roughly 470 counties designated as "non-attainment" areas to reduce the level of smog within a three to seventeen year period. The court said the time period did not align with the federal Clean Air Act and held that EPA enforcement was not strict enough in states where smog levels have increased.

According to EPA spokeswoman Jennifer Wood, the EPA has not yet determined if it will seek an en banc rehearing of the case, stating that the "EPA is committed to ensuring our nation's ozone air quality standards are implemented to protect public health and the environment."

The sentence “must be implemented within 30 days,” chief judge Aref Shahin. “From tomorrow, any day could be the day of implementation.”

A spokesperson for the court said Tuesday that the decision still had to be ratified by President Jalal Talabani and Vice Presidents Adil Abdul-Mahdi and Tariq Al-Hashimi before an execution could be carried out, but noted that if the leaders do not ratify the decision "we'll implement the verdict by the power of the law."

The decision of the appeals court must be ratified by President Jalal Talabani and Iraq's two vice-presidents. Mr. Talabani opposes the death penalty but has, in the past, deputized a vice-president to sign an execution order on his behalf, a substitute that has been legally accepted.

Hussein was sentenced to death by the trial court on November 5. He and six co-defendants are currently standing trial on additional genocide charges in connection with attacks against Kurds during the so-called "Anfal" campaigns. Last week, two of Saddam's co-defendants denied using chemical weapons against Kurds, insisting that any action taken was by order of their superiors.

The proposed property law is the most controversial measure to come before parliament in recent years. Earlier versions prompted an outcry by leftists, who complained it would undermine state control of the economy and worsen the growing gap between an elite who have profited from China’s reforms and the poor majority.

The controversial bill has already sparked public debate on whether the law represents a serious departure from Communist values or a realistic modern view of the nation's economic position. The legislation has been in revision since its introduction in 2002 and has had more reviews than any other in the NPC's history. A review of its sixth version was completed in October. In March 2004 the NPC officially enshrined private property protection in the Chinese constitution by approving an amendment declaring "legal private property is not to be encroached upon." The NPC Sunday also considered legislation that would equalize tax rates paid by Chinese and foreign companies, many of which get tax breaks that some say hurt domestic entrepreneurs.

It said that when various tax breaks are taken into account, the average Chinese company pays taxes at a 24 percent rate, while foreign companies pay 14 percent. 

Researchers led by Cheon Jin-woo and Seo Jin-seok said in a paper published on the Internet site of Nature Medicine on Monday that their new technology allowed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to find cancer cells less than 2 millimeters in size. Conventional MRI tests could only distinguish cells of a larger size, which are found only after the cancer is further developed.

A nano-particle is a microscopic particle whose size is measured in nanometers, or one billionth of a meter. Recent scientific research has proved nano-particles to be useful in detecting tumors due to their abilities to act as imaging agents and make cells and tissues more visible in MRI scans.

The nano-particles developed by the Korean researchers could be swallowed like a pill or injected through a catheter into the human body. Their function is to detect cancer and other diseases in their early developmental stages.

Among the commonly used nano-particles in MRI imaging is CLIO, which was developed by scientists at Harvard University. In their paper in Nature Medicine, the Korean scientists claimed that their new nano-device performed better than CLIO in MRI experiments, generating a signal that was about 10 times more intense.

The UN Security Council voted 15-0 Saturday to impose its first sanctions on Iran for continuing to enrich uranium past an August 31 deadline imposed by Security Council Resolution 1696. In unanimously adopting Resolution 1737 the Council cited reports submitted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the August 31 deadline as well as a November 14 update  which showed that Iran had not "established full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities as set out in resolution 1696" or otherwise complied with IAEA instructions.

The resolution calls for the end of all uranium enrichment and heavy-water research, imposes a ban on the import or export of related dangerous materials, and moves to freeze the international assets of individuals and organizations connected to the nuclear programs. The sanctions fall under Chapter VII Article 41 of the UN Charter, making enforcement mandatory but restricted to non-military measures. The IAEA will submit a report on Iran's compliance with the resolution in 60 days, at which point further sanctions will be considered.

ThyssenKrupp AG of Germany has initiated summary legal proceedings against Mittal Steel Company N V. The proceedings were initiated in district court of Rotterdam on December 22 alleging Mittal Steel breached a January 26, 2006 letter of agreement between Mittal Steel and ThyssenKrupp with respect to sale of Dofasco Inc., the Canadian steelmaker to ThyssenKrupp.

ThyssenKrupp has alleged that Mittal Steel breached the letter of agreement by failing to cause Arcelor SA to initiate litigation against Strategic Steel Stichting, an independent Dutch Foundation which currently holds 89% of Dofasco’s shares, to force Stichting to transfer the Dofasco shares to Arcelor so as to permit their sale to ThyssenKrupp, a Mittal Steel statement issued from Rotterdam said..

The lawsuit seeks a court order directing Mittal Steel to cause Arcelor to commence summary proceedings in Dutch courts to force Stichting to return the Dofasco shares to Arcelor and impose a penalty of 500,000 euros per day for each day that Mittal Steel fails to do so.

The statement quotes Simon Evans, Mittal Steel’s general counsel as having said: “ThyssenKrupp’s suit is entirely without merit. Mittal Steel is very surprised and disappointed that ThyssenKrupp has initiated a lawsuit since Mittal Steel has taken all reasonable actions to comply with the letter of agreement and to obtain dissolution of Stichting. Moreover, ThyssenKrupp is well aware from ongoing discussions, neither Mittal Steel nor Arcelor has yet made a final decision regarding possible litigation against Stichting.”

“Mittal Steel is continuing to consider the possibility of litigation against Stichting with its Dutch legal advisors , although Mittal Steel has been advised that the prospects for success of such litigation are remote,” the Mittal Steel statement said.

Incidentally the January 26, 2006 letter of agreement between ThyssenKrupp and Mittal Steel had said that if Mittal Steel was successful in its tender offer for Arcelor and was able to exert management control “with ability to sell Dofasco,” Mittal Steel would cause Arcelor to sell Dofasco shares to ThyssenKrupp.

During March-April 2006, Arcelor acquired 100% of Dofasco shares. On April 3 Arcelor had transferred 89% of shares of Dofasco to Stichting and independent foundation under Dutch la, thereby removing Arcelor’s ability to sell or dispose of such shares without Stichting’s consent. On June 25, Mittal Steel and Arcelor agreed to terms of a recommended offer and later Mittal Steel acquired 94% of Arcelor stock.

On August 1, to resolve certain US competition concerns, Mittal Steel agreed to use its best efforts to sell Dofasco to ThyssenKrupp or, if Dofasco cannot be sold due to Stichting , to sell certain alternative assets.

Subsequently on September 25 and October 11 boards of Mittal Steel and Arcelor formally requested that the Stichting be dissolved and return Dofasco shares to Arcelor. On November 10, the Stichting board of directors unanimously decided not to dissolve and to retain the Dofasco shares, thereby continuing to prevent their sale.

A federal appeals court Friday suspended a November order by US District Judge Richard Leon requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reinstate certain housing payments  to Hurricane Katrina victims. The US DC Circuit Court of Appeals suspended the order in response to FEMA's request to allow the agency to delay action on the shelter program at least until March when the appeals court will hear arguments in the case.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) filed the lawsuit on behalf of displaced hurricane evacuees alleging violations of their due process rights. Leon granted the plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction against the payments stoppage, maintaining that FEMA had failed to provide evacuees with adequate explanations for their denials of housing assistance and their means of appeal under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Leon's order also required FEMA to explain to evacuees in plain English why they are no longer eligible for funding.