March: News in the world

MAINE

A lawsuit potentially resulting in the loss of $10 million for the defendants was turned on something even smaller than a dime: a comma. Truck drivers in Maine sued Oakhurst Dairy, asking for millions of dollars in overtime pay. The law states that for every hour worked over 40, workers must be paid at 1.5 times their normal rate; however, numerous exceptions are made. The law does not apply to “the canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of” certain foods, including perishables that the drivers transported.

The truck drivers argued that the law was uncertain as to whether it intended to exempt the shipment or simply the packing of certain foods. An appeals court sided with the drivers, overturning a ruling from a lower court made in 2014.

The case mirrors one from 2006, where two Canadian companies battled over $1 million as a result of an unclear clause in their contract.


FRANCE

A French student who reportedly was having trouble integrating into his new high school opened fire on his classmates, wounding the school principal and 13 others. Student Killian Barbey, armed with a rifle, several pistols and a small grenade, shot three students at the Alexis de Tocqueville school in Grasse on March 16. Several others discovered shrapnel in their bodies after.

As of now, French police have not discovered links to any terror groups, though president Francois Hollande said that the shooting “justifies the state of emergency,” which will remain in place until July 15.


UNITED STATES

In his first budget proposal as president, Donald Trump proposed eliminating both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Created by president Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, the combined endowments only equal $300 million, a small portion of the $1.1 trillion budget, and provide major grants and award honors to artists, musicians and writers.

While nothing will change immediately since Congress has yet to approve the plan, the Republicans, who have proposed closing the endowments in the past, are poised to close the agencies due to their control in both houses.


TURKEY

In the midst of a diplomatic conflict between Turkey and other European countries, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to end a deal with the European Union on readmitting illegal migrants.

The deal forces Turkey to readmit migrants who had entered traveled through it to Greece in return for allowing Turkish citizens to travel to many EU countries without a visa. The deal was renewed last year, when Turkey received funds to help deal the refugees.

Erdogan’s comments come on the back of Germany and the Netherlands barring Turkish ministers from attending campaign rallies held in their countries.