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U.K. privacy watchdog probes claims Princess Kate's hospital notes were breached

The medical files of Catherine, Princess of Wales, are reported to have been accessed without authorization at the London Clinic recently, leading the UK's independent authority on data privacy to launch an inquiry. This development follows increased public curiosity about Catherine's well-being, especially after her absence after a scheduled abdominal operation at the renowned facility in mid-January.

This investigation unfolds while Catherine addresses controversies surrounding a digitally altered photograph she posted, featuring her and her children, intended to mitigate rampant speculation about her health. Additionally, a recently circulated image showing the late Queen Elizabeth II with her grandchildren was found to be similarly altered.

Since the holiday season, Catherine has maintained a low profile, though she has been observed in public, including in a video from Sunday, on a few occasions. She is anticipated to resume her official engagements in the coming month.

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EPA issues new auto rules aimed at cutting carbon emissions, boosting electric vehicles and hybrids

Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency established new regulations aimed at curbing tailpipe emissions from passenger vehicles and light trucks, a move aligned with the broader agenda to shift the United States towards electric vehicle adoption.

These regulations mandate that automakers allocate a certain percentage of their new vehicle sales to various electric vehicle categories beginning in 2027, with these quotas escalating through 2032. These standards are designed to be performance-oriented, allowing vehicle manufacturers the flexibility to choose their preferred technological pathways to achieve progressively lower emission figures across their product lines. In 2023, electric vehicles constituted 7.6% of all new vehicle sales in the U.S.

Transportation remains the predominant emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.S., responsible for 29% of the nation's emissions, with light-duty vehicles alone contributing to 58% of emissions from transportation. The newly finalized regulations are projected to significantly lower the U.S.'s aggregate carbon dioxide output, responsible for pollutants like soot and smog, by around 7.2 billion metric tons from 2027 to 2055. This reduction is roughly equivalent to the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions for one year.

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Disagreement and confusion on display in hearing over Texas’ new immigration law

Yesterday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed a contentious Texas statute that permits local law enforcement to detain and charge migrants who are apprehended after entering the U.S. illegally. This hearing followed a recent Supreme Court ruling that let the law stand, which was then countered by a subsequent lower court decision to pause its enforcement.

Typically, there are two primary methods by which migrants can enter the U.S.: through designated checkpoints or by illicitly crossing at other locations along the border. Those intercepted by federal agents often seek asylum. Under the new Texas legislation, unauthorized border crossing outside of designated points is classified as a misdemeanor offense.

Supporters of the legislation argue that it provides Texas with an additional mechanism to manage the escalating number of migrant arrivals—a figure that reached one million in just the past four months at the southwest border. Conversely, opponents contend that the law burdens local authorities with the challenging tasks of identifying offenders and orchestrating their detention and legal proceedings.

Representatives for the Biden administration maintain that jurisdiction over illegal border crossings resides at the federal level, underscoring the debate over state versus federal authority in immigration enforcement.

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