• National News

Raw Cotton exempted from customs duties

The Government has fully exempted raw cotton from custom duties w.e.f. 8th July, 2008. The drawback benefit on export of raw cotton has also been withdrawn w.e.f. 8th July, 2008.

Europe slowly opens doors to legal Indian workers

The government has been negotiating a slew of labour treaties so that the Indian workers may find job-hunting in the continent relatively painless. India has also agreed to join the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) this month, further paving the way for smoother labour movement to Europe.

Company law changes to catalyse fusion with global norms

The government is proposing to go in for quick amendments to the existing company law so that the country meets the April 2011 deadline for convergence with international financial reporting standards (IFRS) rather than to wait for the new company law to get legislative accord. Accounting convergence would make it easier for investors to compare the financial health of companies in more than 100 nations that follow IFRS. This requires reclassification of some financial instruments in line with global practices.

Law commission says no proposal for uniform civil code

The Law Commission of India has said there is no proposal before it for enacting a uniform code for the minority community, thereby setting aside concerns that the government was considering enactment of a uniform civil code of the Shariat or Muslim law.

Law soon to permit limited liability partnerships

The government is considering enactment of a law which would permit limited liability partnerships for professions like chartered accountancy for India Inc to compete globally. Unlike public and private limited companies, India does not permit limited liability clause for partnership firms, as a result of which all its partners are jointly and severally liable in the event of losses.

• International News

US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: Federal court refuses to interfere with US Forest Service logging plans

An en-banc panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled granting broad deference to the National Forest Service when making decisions regarding the impact of logging on national forests.

US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit: Federal court upholds anti-psychotic drug injections as condition of release

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that the government can require convicts to receive injections of anti-psychotic medication as a condition of their supervised release. The Court held that an order to involuntarily medicate an individual may be necessary if "any alternative, less intrusive treatments are unlikely to achieve substantially the same results."

US SC: Tenn. inmate released after 22 years on death row

A former death row inmate has been freed from a Nashville prison for the first time in nearly 23 years after an anonymous donor paid his bail.

US SC: Supreme Court strikes down D.C. handgun ban

The Supreme Court says Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the justices' first definitive pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history.

US SC: Supreme Court strikes down 'millionaire's amendment'

The Supreme Court has struck down the "millionaire's amendment" as an unfair way to help opponents of wealthy candidates who spend from their personal fortunes. The law allows candidates to receive larger contributions when their wealthy opponents spend heavily from their personal fortunes.

US SC: Court says right to lawyer begins soon after arrest

The Supreme Court says an indigent defendant's right to a lawyer begins when he is brought before a judge and informed why he has been arrested and jailed. The issue before the court was at what point in the legal process the constitutional right to a lawyer kicks in.

US SC: Court puts limits on mentally ill defendants

The US Supreme Court ruled that criminal defendants with a history of mental illness do not always have the right to represent themselves, even though they have been judged competent to stand trial. The states can give trial judges discretion to prevent someone from acting as his own lawyer if they are concerned that the trial could turn into a farce.