Exxon's violations: A US federal court ruled that a human rights lawsuit against ExxonMobil can move
forward, concluding that there is sufficient evidence for a jury to consider whether the oil giant is responsible for killings and torture committed by
security forces who were guarding the company's gas fields in Indonesia. ExxonMobil had argued that there was insufficient evidence to tie the
soldiers guarding its assets to the atrocities in Indonesia's Aceh village. Aceh villagers filed the lawsuit in 2001, against ExxonMobil, two of its
US affiliates and its Indonesian subsidiary, ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia.
Don't hike bus fare: A Los Angeles Superior Court denied a legal challenge blocking increased bus fares
in low-income towns. Conservation and community groups had argued the fare hike should not go forward until an environmental assessment is
complete. Higher fares could make public transportation unaffordable for most people commuting by bus are from low- or middle-income groups,
said the ruling. The decision could force more people into cars, despite high gas prices, the court said.
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