In the wake of a Maoist threat to its trains and the Union home ministry issuing an alert to it, the Railways has decided to increase the security measures for its trains, particularly those that run through Naxal-affected states.

The government is all set to bring in amendments in the Indian Penel Code (IPC), Hindu Marriage Act and Indian Evidence Act to make them stricter to deal with “honour killings”. In recent times many parts of the country were rocked by such killings.

Once built, the bridge across the Anji Nullah in J&K will be the longest and tallest single span arch bridge in the country. The railways is hoping that its construction, delayed by two years owing to safety concerns, is resumed, now that the safety issues have been addressed.

The National Archives wants the country’s noted painters and writers to share their personal collections of letters, diaries or other items of archival value. With this aim in mind, NA is currently busy talking to over 100 eminent painters and writers based in India and abroad.

The CBI has recommended the defence ministry to blacklist six firms, including four foreign companies dealing in arms supply, following its probe into the graft charges involving former director-general of Ordnance Factories, Kolkata.

Several government servants as well as police officials of the Jammu and Kashmir government are under the scanner of the Central intelligence agencies following reports that certain elements within the state administration, who have a “soft corner” towards separatists as well as militant outfits, are reportedly indulging in flaring up the current situation in the state, which is highly volatile.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat has indicated that it is a transgression of the party line to give prominence to an expelled member, in this case Mr Somnath Chatterjee who is to be the main speaker at the first Jyoti Basu Memorial Lecture, sources disclosed.

The Congress has decided to contest all the 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, sending a clear message to the ruling BSP, SP and the BJP that it is prepared to face them singly or collectively.

Senior RSS leader Suresh Soni, who is the Sangh’s political observer in the BJP, is likely to be replaced by one of his colleagues.
Sources disclosed the suggestion to replace Mr Soni, the RSS joint general secretary, came up during a recent meeting between senior RSS leaders. The issue was also discussed with the BJP’s top brass, sources said, adding that Mr Soni’s colleague Madan Das Devi could replace him soon. RSS general secretary Bhaiya Ji Joshi m

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, already receiving flak for poor management during the monsoon season, on Wednesday claimed that more than 1,700 samples of water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board was unfit for drinking.