• NATIONAL NEWS

Maintenance for Live-in Partner

As stated by the National Commission for Woman a woman in a live-in relationship, if deserted by her man should be entitled to maintenance. The Commission has sought a change in the definition of 'wife' - as described in Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which deals with the maintenance and suggested that it include women involved in a live-in relationship.

American award for Indian lawyer

Member of Chicago based American bar association, Mr. Raj Panjwani has been chosen for the award for Excellence in Advancement of Animal Law. Apart from his immence contribution in securing animal rights in India, he also made a mark in protection of Olive Ridley turtle rookeries, prohibition of ivory trade and seizure of illegal ivory stocks, prohibition of trade in furs and skins of endangered wild animals, prohibition of manufacture and sale of shahtoosh shawls from the wool of the endangered Tibetan antelope 'Chiru', improving conditions of circus and mobile zoo animals and improving the conditions at slaughter houses for animals and use of scientific slaughtering methods.

Post complaints dowry laws being checked

Union ministry would be organizing a consultation programme for men from all works of life where misuse of section 498A would be looked into. The section primarily deals with dowry laws.

CJI: no political interference in appointment of judges

While addressing a session at Kochi the CJI stressed that the appointment of judges was free from political influence and that any chief minister or politician ha never approached him for the same.

Madhya pradesh High Court gets Additional Judge

President appointed Shrimati Indrani Datta as the additional judge of Madhya pradesh High Court for a period of two years while exercising its powers under article 224(1) of the constitution.

Air service agreement with Japan undergoes significant changes

Both India and Japan agreed to expand their bilateral Traffic entitlements. Among other things Japan agreed on to allot 20 additional slots at the congested Narita international airport at Tokyo for the Indian carriers to operate w.e.f. March 2010. Also Indian carriers will be able to operate up to 28 services/week from points in India to Tokyo.

Awards for Indian ministry of tourism

India bagged the award for leading destination in Asia at shanghai, china. It was also a hit at the 55th International Advertising Festival held at Cannes, France where it received the " Bronze Lion Award".

Amendments in seeds bill, 2004

The amendment includes regulation of quality of seeds and planting materials to ensure availability of quality seeds to the farmers, curbing the sale of spurious and poor quality seeds, increase private participation in seeds production, distribution, seed testing, liberalizing imports of seeds and planting materials and to protect the rights of farmers.

Economic cooperation extended between India and Myanmar

India and Myanmar recently signed four economic agreements, which include a bilateral

Investment Promotion Agreement (BIPA), credit line agreement between the Exim Bank of India and the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank, credit line agreement between the Exim Bank of India and the Myanmar Trade Bank and The fourth agreement is between the United Bank of India and the Myanmar Economic Bank.

Supreme Court gets a new judge

President appointed Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court as the judge of Supreme Court while exercising its powers under article 124(2) of the constitution.

• INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US SC: execution unconstitutional for child rapists

While delivering the judgment in Kennedy v. louisana the Supreme Court termed the execution of child rapists as unconstitutional as they have not caused death of the victim. The judge further added that the crime cannot be compared to murder in its severity and irrevocability.

Collection agency can sue against long distance companies

The Supreme Court pointed out that they could only hear cases where plaintiffs suffer actual injuries that can be traced to defendant's conduct. A collection agency can now sue on behalf of its customers.

SC: right to counsel begins with first appearance before the court

The decision in the case of rothgery v. Gillespie county, Texas was welcomed by many it came through as an important assertion of the constitutional right to counsel that could aid defendants in interrogation and other proceedings before trial.

US high court struck down an 8 yr old labor law

The law that prohibited companies that take more than $10,000 in state funds from using that money to "assist, promote or deter union organizing." Was struck down by the court on the basis that the California law improperly attempted to regulate "a zone protected and reserved for market freedom."

German court held that the phobia of official letters is no excuse.

In a case where the woman could not appeal in time because she was not aware of the court notification as she never read official letters. Apparently she had a phobia of these letters and preferred not reading them. The court ruled that this could not be taken as an excuse as the lady had enough time to take psychological treatment.

New constitution for kosovo.

After nine years of UN administration, kosovo's constitution came into force. It came into force four months later after leaders declared independence from Serbia.

US and Mexico clash over executions in ICJ

Mexico has requested the ICJ to stop US from executing its 5 nationals as US failed to comply with the Vienna convention on consular relations which meant that US did not provide the inmates with access to their country's consular officials.