The Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to amend the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867 to streamline age-old processes and address certain issues governed by its print media policy and guidelines and rules on this sector.

Not giving the government any leeway on the black money issue, the Supreme Court virtually gave the Centre a last opportunity on Thursday to “make up its mind” on disclosure of the 26 names submitted to the court in a sealed cover to enable it to pass a formal order in this regard. The court also asked the government to ensure action under the law against a Pune-based businessman in whose several Swiss accounts around $6 billion is allegedly deposited.

The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, in their 2G scam status reports, gave elaborate details about alleged illegalities by former communications minister A. Raja and three other arrested accused to the Supreme Court on Thursday, which termed the scam as big as the Harshad Mehta securities fraud of 1991-92 and urged the government to set up a special court for its trial.

India will resume structured peace talks with Pakistan two years and two months after they were suspended following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
In a concession to Islamabad, all issues, including, but not limited to, Jammu and Kashmir, will be discussed, but without the label of composite dialogue.

More police stations in the national capital, which were inaugurated with much fanfare as a measure to reduce crime levels before the start of Commonwealth Games last year, are facing prospects of being shut down for the lack of forces and infrastructure, sources said.

Former telecom minister A. Raja and Shahid Usman Balwa, managing director of DB Realty, were both remanded to four days CBI custody till February 14 by a Delhi court on Thursday to enable the probe agency to interrogate them face to face to “unearth the entire criminal conspiracy” in the 2G spectrum scam.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for probity in public life saying that people are hurt when politicians and public servants deviate from integrity in personal action and behaviour.

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the validity of CVC P.J. Thomas’ appointment indicating that it might lay down guidelines to fill the gaps in the CVC Act to ensure that no person with doubtful credential is ever selected to be the country’s watchdog against corruption.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday asked the banks to provide credit to farming community at low interest rates so that they could be insulated from being exploited by money lenders.

Beleaguered Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa reached New Delhi on late Thursday night. He is expected to meet BJP top brass, including BJP parliamentary party chairman, L.K. Advani, party chief Nitin Gadkari and Arun Jaitley. Mr Jaitley has been asked to oversee party’s Karnataka affairs. Sources said Mr Yeddyurappa is also scheduled to meet other senior leaders and the main agenda of this visit is to discuss the JPC issue.