The Union Civil Aviation Ministry today issued an order naming the domestic terminal at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, after N T Rama Rao, the founder of the Telugu Desam Party, the ruling party of Andhra Pradesh.

CBI today arrested three CPI-M activists in connection with the September 1 murder of RSS leader E Manoj in the district, official sources said.

The police is investigating the role of other relatives of a 21-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered here by her parents as they were against her marriage with a youth from a different caste. 

The water level in Mullaiperiyar dam touched the contentious 142 foot mark for the first time since the Supreme Court allowed Tamil Nadu to raise it to that level as Kerala continued to voice concern over the safety of people living downstream in that state.

The Election Commission has taken strong exception to engagement of children in various poll- related activities and held it as highly objectionable forcing Jammu and Kashmir government to issue a circular on violation of children's rights during elections.

At least six were injured as a protest by Banaras Hindu University students turned violent with the protesters setting two vehicles on fire and damaging properties on the campus, forcing police to resort to lathicharge. 

The inaugural function of the 45th International Film Festival of India today was marked by chaos with megastars like Amitabh Bachchan and 

It begins with a speedboat. The pilot is crawling upriver. The scenery suggests an estuary.

Snow-bound residents of western New York awoke to as much as another foot of accumulation on Thursday with possibly another 30 inches expected, meteorologists said.

From the BBC: An average of 13 people have been killed daily in eastern Ukraine since a 5 September ceasefire came into place, the UN human rights office says.

An Indian-origin entrepreneur and social activist has taken the lead by donating the biggest sum of money yet for the proposed statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Parliament Square in London.

The Gujarat High Court today granted temporary bail to two convicts of Godhra train burning case of 2002 to attend family obligations.

Three militants were killed in an encounter in south Kashmir Tral town, 45 kms from Srinagar on Thursday evening.

Garry Kasparov, the world's most renowned chess master, has branded Vladimir Putin 'the most dangerous man in the world' in a passionateinterview with Yahoo News, in which he stressed that the Russian President is more dangerous that Islamic State and 'all the al-Qaedas in the world'.

From the CNN: A new website based in Russia is streaming video live from thousands of private webcams around the world, including images of babies and hospital patients.

From the CNN: A new website based in Russia is streaming video live from thousands of private webcams around the world, including images of babies and hospital patients.

Scientists have released a brief recording of the sound that Europe's space probe Philae made when it became the first to land on a comet last week.

A Swedish appeals court has upheld an arrest warrant against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, wanted for questioning in a sexual assault case.

Read full story here.

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency has apprehended 56 Indian fishermen and seized ten of their boats near Jakhau port off the Gujarat coast.

Former CBI director, Dr Karthikeyan on present CBI director Ranjit Sinha being told to quit the 2G probe: "SCs observations are very serious, it questions the credibility of the CBI hugely. The appropriate way for him to save his reputation and the reputation of the organisation is to offer resign."

Home minister Rajnath Singh criticises China: China has illegally occupied Aksai Chin and the incursions don't augur well for maintaining cordial ties.

Rajnath Singh said thanks to the wrong policies by the erstwhile government India has lost territory to China. "India wants to maintain good relations with its neighbours but the gesture should be reciprocated by its neighbours. Congress lost Tibet to China which acted as the Buffer State between both the countries and Pakistan handed over Aksai Chin area to China," Rajnath Singh said today.


The home minister's comment comes even as BJP MPs and MLAs embarked on a week-long tour of China.

A city court today remanded Myanmarese national Khalid Mohammad in eight days of NIA custody along with two other accused in the Burdwan blast case. Khalid, one of the prime accused in the Burdwan blast, Sk Rahmatulla and Amjad Sheikh will be in NIA remand till November 28.

"A former President but a friend always. Former Afghan Prez Hamid Karzai met PM Narendra Modi," tweets MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.  

CBI Director Ranjit Sinha says he will abide by the Supreme Court order directing him to recuse from the 2G probe. 

Kotak Mahindra Bank announced its ING Vysya Bank today. Ahead of the announcement, shares of the two companies saw sharp gains, with Kotak rising 8 per cent and ING Vysya soaring as much as 14 per cent. Both stocks hit their 52-week highs and outperformed the broader markets.

Anand Mahindra, chairman and MD, Mahindra Group posted this confirmatory tweet moments ago: @anandmahindra  Congratulations @udaykotak on a brilliant merger move. The enormous synergies are obvious..

If you've just joined us, Mike Nichols, who won an Oscar for directing the 1967 film, The Graduate, has died aged 83.

The BBC reports that the German-born US director was also Oscar nominated for his work on Working Girl, The Remains of the Day, Silkwood and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Nichols was one of only 12 stars to win all four major US entertainment awards - an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.His last film was 2007's Charlie Wilson's War, starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

The director was married to ABC News presenter Diane Sawyer - his fourth wife - whom he wed in 1988.

Just in: Mike Nichols, Oscar-winning director of iconic film, The Graduate, has died aged 83, US media reports.

Denying that there was any bitterness in its approach towards its former ally Shiv Sena on the issue of the Sena's participation in the Maharashtra government, BJP today said it was sure something good will emerge out of the talks between the two parties.

"Deliberations (with Shiv Sena) are definitely on. I am confident the deliberations will have a good result," Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

Rudy, who was BJP in charge of Maharashtra said, "We are in alliance at the Centre. I agree that there may be some issues at the state level. We welcome support of all parties and individuals as far as Maharashtra's development is concerned."

AAP leader Yogendra Yadav on the SC removing CBI chief Ranjit Sinha from probing the 2G scam. "It's a welcome step by the SC, he must resign from his post," Yadav said. 

Just in: Officials confirm that all three victims injured at the Florida State University shooting are students. 

SN Vashisht, DGP, Haryana says the Satlok ashram (godman Rampal's ashram) has been completely vacated now and 459 people have been arrested. Some of them are being interrogated now. 

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa called early elections today, seeking an unprecedented third six-year term in office amid signs of a drop in popularity and demands of his powers to be curbed. Rajapaksa - who was elected in 2005 and in 2010 - called for snap elections, a full two years before his tenure ends. 

Sonakshi Sinha on her Tamil debut, Lingaa, with Rajinikanth. No, she wasn't embarrassed. Read 

Why children studying in schools in Karnataka may soon believe that the technology for test tube babies was developed in India. Read more

Here's why reality queen Kim Kardashian will not be able to make it to Bigg Boss 8. And yes, that means, it is confirmed -- she of the big butt, will not be on the show. Kim who was in Australia promoting her perfume, got into visa wrangles and was refused permission to fly out to India directly. She will be making a statement shortly.

Staying with Kardashian, the reality queen was supposed to enter the Bigg Boss 8 house on 22 November. In fact, this is what Kim had tweeted on November 16: "Just touched down in Australia!!! My perfume world tour begins for my new fragrance Fleur Fatale! Next stop India then Dubai! All in 1 week!"

Aarya Babbar is the latest contestant to be eliminated from the controversial reality show Bigg Boss. The actor found himself in a tricky situation when it was revealed that he had tried to get evicted contestant Minissha Lamba to pretend they were romantically linked in order to survive on the show for a longer time.  Aarya tells Rajul Hegde/ Rediff.com why Kim Kardashian will need security inside the house.  Read

American reality TV star Kim Kardashian may NOT be making an appearance on Bigg Boss 8.  Sources tell us that Kardashian has been facing visa issues.

Kardashian, who is married to rapper Kanye West and is best known for her famous curves recently broke the internet by going nude for Paper magazine.

Like Pamela Anderson and the late Jade Goody before her, Kim is expected to get the TRPs up and about.

Details awaited.  

In the second part of the Bigg Boss series, we bring you the profound thoughts of former Bigg Boss contestants on the impending arrival of Kim Kardashian on the show's current season. See

Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan says that while he is not in a position to say who leaked the documents and file notings to him, Ranjit Sinha's claim that DIG, Santosh Rastogi, who is in charge of the 2G scam probe, was the mole in the case, was not true. 

The Supreme Court directs the CBI chief 'not to interfere in the 2G probe'.
The court also said that prima facie it appears that there is credibility in the allegations leveled against Ranjit Sinha. 

The entry logbook at his residence showed that Sinha frequently met accused persons involved in the 2G scam at his residence even as the CBI was investigating and prosecuting them.

With just a few days left for retirement, the CBI Director had on Monday, urged the SC to direct the disclosure of the identity of the whistleblower who leaked the visitors' register maintained at his residence.

The Supreme Court directs CBI Director Ranjit Sinha to recuse himself from the 2G case investigation. The order comes on the basis of a petition filed by senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan saying Sinha was interfering in the 2G scam probe. Bhushan had said the CBI director was trying to protect influential accused in the scam.

Anupam Gupta, who is the amicus curiae in the case, says the court has directed the Director General of police, Haryana, to submit an affidavit spelling out the operation conducted by the police. The nature of resistance put up, casualties, injuries and all relevant facts including recovery of arms and ammunition from ashram to be documented.

SK Garg, who is Rampal's lawyer says his client is a law abiding citizen. He said Rampal respects the judiciary, so people who held him captive were responsible. "It's true he was sick. He couldn't appear before the court because he was held in captivity," Garg said. 

Inside Baba Rampal's 12-acre ashram, mattress rolls for followers. Over 10,000 followers had camped inside, some, police say, were used as human shields. 

BJP President Amit Shah addressed a rally in Ramban (J&K) earlier today. He said a government of clear majority has been formed in the nation after 30 years. "Jammu and Kashmir will also witness a major change in the same year. Mission 44 is not just a slogan, it will turn into a reality very soon. (Mission 44+ refers to the BJP's aim of winning at least 44 of a total 87 seats in the J-K assembly).

"Do you get 24-7 power supply? Why? These two families are responsible. If the corruption done by these two families is investigated, it will turn out to be the biggest corruption scam of nation," he said.

Yesterday, union minister JP Nadda campaigned in the state. BJP is set to hold five mega rallies of its star campaigners Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Nadda, and BJP President Amit Shah.

Just in: Godman Rampal sent to judicial custody (jail) till the next hearing, which is scheduled for November 28. The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday cancelled his bail in a 2006 murder case, a day after he was nabbed from this ashram in Hisar.

The 63-year-old, who kept Haryana authorities on tenterhooks for a fortnight and triggered a major law and order situation, was arrested on Wednesday night in connection with non-bailable warrants issued against him by the high court for not appearing in a contempt of court case.

The court today observed that there should be checks and measures in place for other deras and ashrams as well. The court also praised the police for handling the situation effectively.

The CBI today carried out searches at three locations in Kolkata in connection with its probe into the Saradha chit fund scam.

CBI sources said that searches had been carried out at the offices of the Saradha group companies from where documents have been seized by the agency.

Update on the Florida university shootout.

The lone gunman who opened fire on campus has been shot and killed by the Florida university campus police.

The gunman injured three people, of which one is believed to be in a critical condition.

It is still unclear whether the shooting took place inside or near the Strozier library which is in the centre of the campus.

'Godman' Rampal in the witness box in the Punjab and Haryana High court, right now. Rampal, who faces contempt of court, murder and attempt to murder cases in various courts, has skipped hearings 42 times. He was brought in a police van to court.

Yesterday, Rampal was given a medical examination at the Government General hospital at Panchkula, with a doctor describing his major health parameters as 'stable'.

Rampal is accompanied by five followers.

Just in: Five fishermen released by Sri Lanka to fly in to Delhi today.

Two senior-level departures in the media have been reported, both with a Rediff.com connection.

One, Nitin Gokhale, who we in Rediff have known for a long time and regard very highly as a professional - there is no better voice on internal security and defence, either in print or on TV, trust us - moves on from NDTV after an eight-year stint as its editor, strategic affairs.

Nitin tweeted today: 'Time for new beginning! Moving on from @ndtv to do more writing, training and think tanking! Taking many pleasant memories of 8-yr plus stint'.

Nitin has also been an off-and-on contributor to Rediff.com.

And Prem Panicker, managing editor at Yahoo India who was part of Rediff.com's founding team for over 13 years, has also put in his papers.

While Prem, whose passionate writings remain unmatched, has not announced his decision formally, Medianama has reported on his departure.

Confirming the news of Prem's departure, Yahoo said in a media statement: 'We thank Prem for his valuable contribution to Yahoo and wish him the very best for the future. Prem will stay on till mid December to support the handover of responsibilities.'

Michael Schumacher is paralysed and has memory and speech problems from the brain injuries he sustained in a skiing accident, according to Philippe Streiff, a friend and ex-Formula One driver who was himself left in a wheelchair by a crash.

Schumacher, 45, suffered head injuries in the December 2013 fall and was placed in an induced coma by doctors.  Read more

CNN reports: Florida State University warned of a "dangerous situation on campus" early this morning, and asked students to stay away from windows.

"FSU Alert Dangerous situation main campus-Tallahassee," a text sent to students read. "Seek shelter immediately, away from doors and windows.

"Perry Kostidakis, a sports editor for the campus newspaper, said the library is surrounded.

"The entire campus is empty; I've seen one or two people come up and look at the scene. Everyone who is in a campus building is under lockdown right now. Policemen are still surrounding the library,"he said.

"Yeh jhuthee ilzaam hein (these are false allegations)," 63-year-old Rampal told reporters after his medical examination was conducted at the hospital in Panchkula, Haryana.

Asked about claims of his followers that they had been kept hostage by his private armed commandos and other henchmen, Rampal in his first reaction after his arrest, said, "No, this is not true...."

As journalists fired a volley of questions at him, Rampal kept walking towards a waiting police vehicle, jostling his way through the battery of mediapersons who surrounded him.

He will be produced before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a contempt case later today.

ABC reports that student Toni Haywood, says she was on the second floor of the library at about 12:30 am, when she she heard gunshots. Minutes later, people on the first floor ran upstairs, telling students to hide, Haywood said.

"The police came on the intercom and said that there was a gunman in the lobby, and I think he said two people had been shot," Haywood said.

"He said to stay away from doors and windows and to stay where we were. We all waited then the police came back on and said the gunman was in custody and to stay where we were."

Details awaited.

Just in:  A shooting alert has been sounded at Florida State University. At least two people reported shot at in the library. People have been asked to take shelter in nearby buildings away from doors, windows.

The patients' conditions are not known, and it's unclear whether those injured are students. The university sent emergency alerts to students, classifying the incident as a "dangerous situation" and telling students to seek shelter.

Police have not released additional details on the incident.

Just in: First reactions from Rampal, quite expectedly say, allegations against him are false. Rampal, 63, who was arrested from his ashram in Haryana last night, said he regrets the deaths of six of his followers, but stressed that he did not use his devotees as a human shield. 

As police moved in to arrest Rampal on Wednesday night, many of his injured supporters, admitted to the Maharaja Agrasen Medical College in Agroha some 20 km away from the ashram, provided graphic and bizarre accounts of the Barwala cult.

Followers said Rampal was bathed in milk which was later used to make kheer for prasad. This ritual, they claimed, was key to the "miracles' he performed. Read more

The Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) launched in 2011 to enumerate castes along with socio-economic data, is progressing, and is likely to be completed soon. Read

Finally, it was Rampal's followers who did him in. Thousands of supporters, who had been holed up in the 12-acre ashram with their guru, told the management late last night that they wanted to leave. Even though many supporters had already left the ashram, over 2,500 supporters who were still inside, challenged the ashram management daring them to stop their departure.

The management told them that they could indeed leave but would never be able to return to their guru. When they choose freedom over their guru, the Haryana police force camped outside the ashram for two days escorted them to the bus stand, reports the Times of India.

The police had also cut off electricity to the ashram for the last 10 days and no power supply, suffocation, shortage of food and lack of drinking water, broke their resolve.

In addition, the six deaths in the ashram -- five women and a child -- had scared the supporters.

The police went in to the ashram late last night and found Rampal hiding in a bunker and arrested him. 

The followers who were still inside the ashram also came out following his arrest and spoke of their confinement.

They narrated how they were virtually confined there along with thousands of others who too desperately wanted to leave the premises.

They said Rampal's private commandos did not allow them to leave. Some of the followers who had been held hostage in the ashram by Rampal's commando force told how they had come for a Satsang a few days back and had been forced to stay on.

They said some of them managed to escape on the pretext of buying medicine, but thousands more were still inside.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier this week issued a fresh non-bailable warrant (NBW) for November 21 against Rampal after he failed to appear in the contempt case, with his counsel saying he was "unwell".

It had also directed the governments of Haryana and Punjab, the Union Government and the Chandigarh Administration to file a statement detailing the expenses incurred in making security arrangements for Rampal's court appearance.

Instead of choosing the easier and more sensible option of surrendering to the police, Rampal put at risk the lives and limbs of his band of supporters. Read

BJP leaders accorded a rousing reception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport in Delhi this morning after he returned from a nine-day, three-nation tour of Myanmar, Australia and Fiji.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was among those who received Modi at the Indira Gandhi International airport after the special Air India plane landed at 7:15 am.

Delhi BJP in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Prabhat Jha led party leaders from the city. Hundreds of supporters reached the airport to greet the Prime Minister.

A Manipuri youth was allegedly assaulted by three unidentified drunk men when he tried to rescue a girl whom they were harassing in Kothanur area here.

The incident happened when the three men passed lewd comments on the girl and the youth who was passing by confronted them for their misbehaviour last night, police said.

As the trio persisted with their misbehaviour, the 21-year-old youth, an undergraduate student at a city college, warned them against it, following which they allegedly assaulted him, police said.

The youth, who suffered head injuries, was taken to a hospital by the passersby. Police said the culprits would be nabbed soon.

It promises to be a terrible Thursday for controversial godman Rampal. Hours after he was arrested last night and whisked away in an ambulance for medical check-up at a hospital, he has now been produced in court.
His bail has been dismissed by the court and his case will come up for hearing at 2 am.

10 days, six deaths and after scores were injured, the controversial godman was arrested from the Satlok Ashram in Hisar, Haryana.

Police sources said Rampal was found hiding in a bunker in the ashram.

Rampal was produced in a court in Panchkula where his medical exam was conducted. Doctors at the hospital said that his health was fine.

A major fire has shut down Uri-II power project, a hydro-power generating station in Baramullah in north Kashmir. The fire was detected early this morning and fire tenders have reached the spot. The 240-megawatt station located near the Line of Control had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A senior government official speaking to Rediff.com, said they were having difficulty in entering the complex as the entry is through a tunnel. 

JUST IN: A woman has been admitted to hospital after she was thrown off the Malwa Express train in Bhopal for resisting a robbery attempt. 

In what some are considering being another hate crime against north easterners, a PhD student identified as Zingran Kengoo has been found dead in his apartment in Kotla, Delhi. The 33-year-old was a student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in the national capital. According to the police, the victim had throat and head injuries and a knife has been recovered from his room in the apartment. 

Democrat Congressman Ami Bera has beaten Republican Doug Ose by more than 1,400 votes to retain his California District 7 seat in the US House of Representatives.The Registrar announced that Bera had a 1,432 vote lead over Ose, with virtually all the ballots counted. Reacting to the news, Bera said, "It's been my honour serving this community as a doctor for the last 19 years, and I am grateful I will have the opportunity to continue serving as the representative for California's 7th Congressional District in Congress."

Wasima, a Class VI student from a village of Mewat, has been made the brand ambassador of Bal Swachhta Mission for Haryana. HRD Minister Smriti Irani made the announcement. Irani met Wasima at the stall of a NGO during an exhibition set up to mark the conclusion of Bal Swachhta Mission at Mewat Model School, Nuh. During their interaction, Wasima told Irani that she wanted to become a teacher on completing her education.

Five Thai students who flashed a salute inspired by Hollywood film The Hunger Games at Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha have been detained. The three-fingered salute was widely used by protesters against Thailand's military coup in May.

After visiting Myanmar, Australia and Fiji, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is back in New Delhi this morning. He used his first stop, Myanmar for the Asean summit of Southeast Asian nations. From there, he moved on to Australia where he charmed politicians and masses alike. He also attended the G20 summit and also addressed Indians at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, similar to his New York's Madison Square Garden event. Finally, Modi went to Fiji, for a day-long visit, the first by an Indian premier to the country in 33 years after Indira Gandhi in 1981.

From the Indian Express: After two days of gunshots, teargas shelling and clashes with followers of Sant Rampal in Barwala, the Haryana police arrived at the conclusion that they were fighting a well-armed force of at least 300 'commandos' trained by retired army and police personnel, and even former officers from elite units such as National Security Guard and Special Protection Group.

BBC reports: At least two security guards have been killed in a suicide car bomb attack at a foreign-run compound in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, local officials say.

With more than 300 million of its citizens expected to access the internet by December 2014, India will actually have more web users than the US soon.

The new US ambassador to Moscow presented his credentials to Vladimir Putinon Wednesday, less than a day after the Russian president declared the US 'wants to subjugate us' but would never succeed.

From The Guardian: Islamic State has consolidated its grip on oil supplies in Iraq and now presides over a sophisticated smuggling empire with illegal exports going to Turkey, Jordan and Iran, according to smugglers and Iraqi officials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has added about seven million new followers on popular social networking site Facebook to become world's second most popular leader even as his Twitter following expanded to 8 million.

France has named a second Frenchman in a video showing the killing of Syrian prisoners by Islamic State militants as Mickael Dos Santos, 22.

NBC has dropped the planned Bill Cosby comedy pilot in wake of increased allegations by several women who claimed that he raped and sexually assaulted them.

Two Naxals, one of them carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, were arrested from separate places in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bastar region today, the police said.

Officials say a fifth death is being blamed on an unrelenting lake-effect snowstorm that has blanketed parts of western New York.Erie County authorities said Wednesday that a 46-year-old man has been found dead in his vehicle, which was buried in snow in Alden, 38 kilometres east of Buffalo.

Rampal arrested from his ashram, to be produced in court on Thursday
Women safety: Delhi govt merely 'shuttling files', says HC
Ashram showdown: Supporters being evacuated, several hundreds held
Indore: Pilot killed as plane on training sortie crashes
Steiner reaches out to Sangh to resolve German language row
I too became a TV talking head!
Sri Lanka releases 5 Indian fishermen on death row