Finally, Anand Marriage Act gets Cabinet approval
Sikhs will be able to register marriages under 1909 Act 
New Delhi, April 12
Sikh couples will soon be able to get their marriages registered under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, instead of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Accepting the long-standing demand of Sikhs, the Cabinet today approved amendments to the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, to provide for registration of Sikh marriages. A Bill to this effect would be introduced in Parliament when the Budget Session resumes later this month.

Beleaguered AI to get Rs 30,000-cr boost
New Delhi, April 12
Beleaguered national carrier Air India today received a fresh lease of life in the form of additional infusion of Rs 30,000 crore in tranches till 2020 and induction of 27 Dreamliners. Apart from approving the long-pending Turn Around Plan (TAP) and Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP) for the government-owned carrier, the Cabinet also decided to formally hive off Air India's MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) business and Engineering Services as two wholly-owned subsidiaries to unburden the cash-strapped carrier of excess staff.

Maoists free Italian hostage
Bhubaneswar, April 12
After being in captivity for nearly a month, Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco was released by Maoists today under a swap deal with the Odisha Government for freeing five jailed ultras. However, the fate of ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka was still unknown with another Maoist group holding him hostage since March 24 refusing to release him unless 30 rebels, including the one accused in the killing of 55 policemen, are set free.

India willing to talk Kashmir with Pak
Washington, April 12
India is willing to advance its peace talks with Pakistan and discuss the Kashmir issue, but the main stumbling block is Islamabad's failure to clamp down on militant groups, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai has said. Mathai, in an interview to 'The Wall Street Journal published today, also said that Pakistan's recent moves, including an agreement to open its markets to Indian goods, was a signal that it was serious about improving ties with India.