In court

Clemenceau stranded again: Citizens groups can now go to court against the French warship Le Clemenceau docking in the UK water for dismantling in the country. UK's Court of Appeal has reversed an earlier decision by the UK High Court and granted the Friends of Hartlepool, a citizens' group, permission to apply for judicial review. The group had filed a case against UK's Health and Safety Executive for "unlawfully" allowing the entry of the ship for dismantling.

Protected area for Polar bear: The US government has pledged to designate protected areas for polar bears in the Arctic by June 2010, so that they are not harmed by oil exploration activities in the region. The commitment was part of a recent legal settlement of the US Interior Department with environmental groups.

Princess' penalty: The owner of MV Princess of Stars has sued the air-and-freight services firm that had loaded endosulfan cargo onto the passenger vessel, which capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon on June 21. Amending its complaint in a regional court in Manila, Sulpicio Lines Inc accused Ceva Logistics Inc of violating the terms and conditions of the contract by not informing them of the hazardous nature of the cargo. The original suit was filed against Del Monte Philippines, the consignee of the cargo.