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Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency says strict air quality standards were introduced without sufficient review.

United States President Donald Trump’s administration has moved to roll back tougher limits on deadly soot pollution, prompting condemnation from environmental groups.

The Trump administration’s latest bid to weaken environmental standards comes after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a court motion arguing that former President Joe Biden’s administration exceeded its authority when it tightened air quality standards in 2024.

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In a motion filed on Monday, lawyers for Trump’s EPA asked a Washington, DC, appeals court to throw out the tougher standard, arguing it was introduced without the “rigorous, stepwise process” required under the 1963 Clean Air Act.

The EPA initially defended the tougher standard amid a flurry of legal challenges from Republican-led states and business groups, which argued the rule would raise costs, before reversing course under Trump appointee Lee Zeldin.

“EPA has concluded that the position it advanced earlier is erroneous,” lawyers for the EPA said in the filing, arguing that the agency should complete a “thorough review of the underlying criteria and corresponding standards” before revising the limit.

Under Biden appointee Michael S Regan, the EPA last year substantially lowered acceptable soot levels, from 12 micrograms per cubic metre of air to 9 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

The agency said at the time that the tougher standard would prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays by 2032.

Upon taking office earlier this year, Zeldin, a former Republican lawmaker, pledged to roll back dozens of environmental regulations as part of what he dubbed the “largest deregulatory action in the history of the United States”.

Patrice Simms, an environmental lawyer at the nonprofit organisation Earthjustice, said lowering air quality standards would harm public health.

“Trump has made it clear that his agenda is all about saving corporations money, and this administration’s EPA has nothing to do with protecting people’s health, saving lives, or serving children, families or communities,” Simms said in a statement.

“We will continue to defend this life-saving standard.”

Patrick Drupp, the director of climate policy at the Sierra Club, also condemned the EPA’s move, calling it “reckless” and “a complete betrayal” of the agency’s mission.

“While this administration continues to strip away access to affordable healthcare, they are simultaneously allowing fossil fuel companies to cut corners and make Americans sicker,” Drupp said.

The Trump administration announced it is rolling back some protections under the Endangered Species Act, which covers animals such as Kali, pictured, a polar bear that lives at the Saint Louis Zoo. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 20 (UPI) — The Trump administration announced that it plans to roll back protection for some animals and plants under the Endangered Species Act, changes that officials say will make the law less confusing.

The U.S. Department of the Interior proposed four rules under the act that it says will strengthen U.S. energy independence, improve regulatory predictability and ensure federal actions align with “the best reading of the law.”

“This administration is restoring the Endangered Species Act to its original intent, protecting species through clear, consistent and lawful standards that also respect the livelihoods of Americans who depend on our land and resources,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said Wednesday in a press release.

The four proposed rule changes affect how endangered species are determined, listed and delisted; change the definitions for phrasing that describes the effects of a species being listed; eliminate the “blanket rule” in favor of requiring species-specific rules; and clarify how economic, national security and other impacts are weighed when deciding whether to list a species under the act.

In all four cases, the department is rolling back changes made under the Biden Administration to broaden the species that can be protected under the act. The Biden era changes were a restoration of changes made during the first Trump administration.

Although the changes are meant to simplify complying with the act, critics have challenged the changes are not about protecting animals to prevent them from going extinct.

“This isn’t about protecting endangered species,” Stephanie Kurose, deputy director of government affairs at the Center for Biological Diversity, told The Hill.

“This is about the biggest companies in the country wanting to drill for oil and dig coal, even if it causes wildlife like the polar bear and other iconic species to go extinct,” she said.

The proposed rules have been published in the Federal Register and are open for public comment for 30 days starting on Nov. 21.

The official cause of death for Ace Frehley, the guitarist who was a founding member of hard-rock band Kiss, has been released, confirming details his family shared in October.

The medical examiner for New Jersey’s Morris County said in a report, published by TMZ, that Frehley died of “blunt trauma injuries” to his head suffered during a fall. His death was ruled an accident. The report listed injuries including a brain bleed and fractures to his skull.

Frehley’s death on Oct. 16 was announced by his family, which said he had recently suffered a fall. “In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth,” the family said in a statement at the time. Frehley was 74.

“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others,” the statement continued. “The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension.”

Frehley, known also for his Spaceman alter ego, died less than two weeks after canceling the remainder of his 2025 live performances due to undisclosed “onging medical issues.” He was also hospitalized in late September after suffering a “minor fall” in his studio, his tour manager John Ostrosky announced. Though the rocker was “fine,” doctors urged him to take time from the road to recover, prompting him to cancel his appearance at the Antelope Valley Fair.

The musician was among the original members of Kiss, playing with the band for about a decade, from 1973 — when he formed the group in New York with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss — until 1982, when he quit not long after Criss left.

The band, which had its final show in 2023, was known for flamboyant performances, and costumes and heavy makeup. Despite his relatively short tenure, Frehley proved instrumental in creating the band’s stomping and glittery sound, as heard in songs like “Detroit Rock City,” “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “Strutter” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” He was part of a reunion tour with the band from 1996 to 2002.

“He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history,” the band said of Frehley following news of his death. “He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

The 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is survived by his wife, Jeanette; his daughter, Monique; his brother, Charles; his sister, Nancy; and several nieces and nephews.

Times pop music critic Mikael Wood contributed to this report.

CHAPPELL Roan was left gasping in horror when she dropped an F-bomb live on air at the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The singer, 27, appeared on stage at the glitziest night in the rock and roll calendar in Los Angeles at the Peacock Theatre on Saturday evening.

She was tasked with introducing Cyndi Lauper, who was receiving the honour, but things went from bad to worse for Chappell as she struggled to read the prompter.

The songwriter, who sported a huge headpiece and glittery costume began: “I think we can all agree that the best art comes from the most authentic people.

“When artists stay true to themselves, even when some people say they’re too much, too loud, too eccentric, or all of the above, their honesty becomes their greatest strength.”

At this point, the Good Luck, Babe! singer began to squint as she went silent and attempted to read the prompter.

She then said: “I f**k,” before putting her hand over her mouth, in shock at what she had just said.

The audience began laughing and cheering as she attempted to compose herself after her blunder.

Chappell admitted: “I messed up so bad by refusing to get contacts. Holy cow.”

She attempted to carry on as she was clearly struggling to read what was written and said: “It’s that courage that not only creates incredible art, it gives everyone who experiences the permission to be themselves.

“It opens their hearts, it changes their minds and that is it’s power. Tonight we honor a woman who redefined what a pop star could look like, sound like, sing like and be.”

Putting the faux pas behind her and ending on a high note, Chappell concluded: “A music legend whose authenticity has inspired us for the last four decades with her four octave range and the amazingly fabulous Cyndi Lauper.”

Fans flocked to social media to share their reactions to Chappell’s F-bomb mic drop moment as one joked on Instagram: “Someone get her glasses.”

Another supportive fan commented: “Even with the difficulty to read, the speech was beautiful! @chappellroan is the best thing that happened to the music world lately!”

Somebody else enthused: “Her speech was the best part of the night hands down.”

Yet another said: “She looks like she’s doing some major multi taking with the speech and balancing that thing on her head.”

She made sure all eyes were on her for different reasons also as she a huge skirt made out of newspaper clippings which she paired with a glitzy bralette complete with chain detailing.

As if her look wasn’t dramatic enough, she donned a massive diamond headpiece reminiscent of a chandelier, on her head and opted for her signature heavy make-up with eyeshadow and a red lip.

Chappell has had a phenomenal year after playing her biggest headline show ever in August for 60,000 fans at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre as part of Summer Sessions.

The two-night shows saw concert-goers attend in their thousands to see the songstress live, a stark difference to her UK debut two years prior, in which she performed for an intimate 600-person crowd in London.