The issues relating to the victims of endosulfan, sprayed in the plantations of Kasargod district in Kerala, have snowballed once again. “Earthworms emerged from the soil, and, subsequently, died. Then birds came to eat the earthworms and they died as well.”   “Some termites were killed in a cotton farm sprayed with endosulfan. A frog fed on the dead termites, and was immobilised a few minutes later. An owl which flew over...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took strong exception to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filing an “unsigned” status report about its investigations into the issue of black money stashed in foreign banks. The apex court returned the unsigned status report which was placed before it in the sealed cover to the investigating agency making it clear that “it will not accept the report which has not been signed by any official”. “We want...

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), probing alleged financial bungling in the Commonwealth Games-related projects, has referred certain cases to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to check whether there was violation of Foreign Exchange laws. Official sources said that projects like construction of Commonwealth Games Village near Akshardham temple and flyovers, hiring and procurement of medical and fitness equipment and conduct of outdoor publicity campaign by the Organising Committee may come under the...

The Karnataka High Court on Friday upheld the State Government's ban on transport and export of iron ore. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice S. Abdul Nazir passed orders upholding the Government Orders of July 26, 2010, and July 28, 2010, banning transport of iron ore and its export from ten minor ports. Thirty-two companies, including V.S. Lad and Sons, Kumaraswamy Minerals, Sesa Goa and others had challenged...

Gujarat government has calculated that the state's farmers suffered losses to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore last year as a result of export restrictions imposed by the Government of India on raw cotton. "Thanks to the restrictions, Gujarat's farmers, who exported most of the raw cotton being produced in the state, were forced to sell the commodity to the yarn mills of south India at a price which is...