• NATIONAL

Fresh Reports on Olive Ridley turtles, seeks Orissa Court

The state government of the Orissa has been asked to submit a fresh report on the actions taken by it to protect endangered Olive Ridley turtles. In relation to the petition filed by the lawyer Rajiv Dasgupta, the division bench of the High Court moved forward and directed the State Chief Secretary to do so.

Court directed makers to delete scenes on Manoj Kumar

In connection to a spoof played by Shah Rukh Khan on veteran actor Manoj Kumar in the movie "Om Shanti Om", a session court has directed the producer Shah Rukh Khan and director Farah Khan of the movie to delete the scene ridiculing Kumar's image before telecasting the film on Sony Entertainment Television. The court upheld Kumar's application seeking either a stay to the telecast or deletion of the scene.

Lower price for sugarcane, ruled by Allahabad High Court

Going against an earlier Supreme Court order, the Allahabad High Court ordered for a reduction in the government supported minimum prices of sugarcane thus creating a piquant situation in India's largest sugarcane producing state. The High Court ruling prescribes a rate of Rs.86 per quintal against the apex court's earlier order approving a price of Rs.110.

Vedanta got approval of Indian court to mine in tribal hills

Britain's Vedanta Resources Plc has been allowed by India's Supreme Court to mine bauxite in sacred hills in the east of the country. Vedanta plans to dig open-cast mines in the Niyamgiri hills in Orissa state as part of an $800 million project to feed an alumina refinery it has already built. The local Dongria Kondh tribal people and voluntary groups strongly oppose it and say the mine will destroy hills, thus force them from their homes and destroy their forest-dependent livelihoods.

Supreme Court allows forestland for POSCO plant

According to a company official, India's Supreme Court has allowed South Korean steel firm POSCO to use the large swathes of forestland in the country's east to build a $12 billion plant. Due to stiff opposition from local farmers and their angriness over losing their land, this project was left hanging for more than two years despite of being India's single biggest foreign investment.

Google faces defamation charges over blog spot

The domestic subsidiary of the high-profile Silicon Valley web search company- Google India faces defamation charges from a Mumbai-based firm, Gremach Infrastructure Equipments & Projects. The lawsuit is filed against Google for hosting a series of articles on its blogging site, which campaign against the company's mines in Mozambique. This case outcome will have deep implications in the development of cyber law in India.

Troikaa's drug patent of generic drug upheld by Gujarat High Court

Ahmedabad-based Troikaa Pharma got its pain-relief medicine Dynapar patented for its D-shaped, blue-coloured tablet. The pain reliever is a mixture of diclofenac sodium and paracetamol and is a generic pain management drug. The Gujarat High Court has upheld the design patent that will prevent look-alike versions from flooding the market, in a landmark judgement.

• INTERNATIONAL

Court unfreezes assets: Impregilo

As per Italian builder Impregilo, in Naples, an Italian court had ruled to unfreeze assets. This had been sequestered as part of an inquiry into waste management contracts in the Campania region. In relation to the probe, near about 750 million euros had been frozen in payments to Impregilo.

Open - Air cremations: Yet to be decided by UK court

In Britain, the Hindus, Sikhs and Jains are eagerly awaiting for the outcome of the Judicial review on cremation laws in the country. Currently, laws prohibit natural open-air rites and thus the dead from these communities are cremated in gas crematoriums. Elders from these communities often expressed their distress while cremating as per their traditions. They also often take ashes to India for immersion in the holy Ganges and other rivers.

Settlement of former Apple exec with end stock-option probe

The last civil case against a former Apple Inc. executive accused of stock-option fraud, has been settled down by The Securities and Exchange Commission, thus closing the investigation into one of Silicon Valley's highest profile companies. The investigation of the backdating of grants of The Securities and Exchange Commission led to millions in fines

Award of $ 8.2m in Parkinson's Disease Drug Mirapex by the jury

A plaintiff has been awarded with $8.2 million in compensatory and punitive damages by a Minneapolis federal jury. The claim was made on the Parkinson's disease drug Mirapex, which led a husband to gamble compulsively.