More than 10 months '"precisely 328 days'" after it went missing with 239 passengers and crew on board, Malaysian investigators Thursday declared the disappearance of Flight 370 an accident, clearing the way for families to pursue compensation claims.

Unidentified persons allegedly pelted stones at the short firing range complex on the premises of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, police said today.

Amid a heightened security alert, Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah has passed on a message to Israel that it is not interested in any escalation, a day after claiming responsibility for an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers at the border and injured seven others.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has stoked a controversy by paying tributes to two militants who were killed in an encounter in Tral area of Kashmir, in which an army commander and a policeman died.

Observing that secularism was in the blood of Indian people, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said the government was "committed to secularism" and there was 'no thinking to remove it' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

Gorkha National Liberation Front founder Subhash Ghisingh, who spearheaded the Gorkhaland movement in the 1980s, died here today at the age of 78.

Gorkha National Liberation Front founder Subhash Ghisingh, who spearheaded the Gorkhaland movement in the 1980s, died here today at the age of 78.

Pakistani security forces today gunned down seven more terrorists in an ongoing operation in the restive northwestern part of the country, bringing the toll to 14 since the start of the operation on Tuesday.

As Aamir Khan's blockbuster film 'PK' gears up for its release in the multi-billion dollar Chinese market, director Rajkumar Hirani says the movie will be a great success in Communist China as its controversial religious theme can resonate well with the audience.

The number of new Ebola cases reported in the three worst-hit countries fell to its lowest level since late June, the World Health Organisation has said.

Over two crore toilets will be built in select villages across the country under a programme of making India open defecation-free by 2019 which the government decided to link to MNREGA.

Over two crore toilets will be built in select villages across the country under a programme of making India open defecation-free by 2019 which the government decided to link to MNREGA.

A court in Bhuj today granted bail to suspended IAS officer and former Kutch collector Pradeep Sharma in a case filed against him by the anti-corruption bureau of the Gujarat police.

As many as 21 people lost their lives due to swine flu in Telangana this month, the state government said here today. 

Former foreign secretary Sujatha Singh in a statement accessed by CNN IBN says it was a privilege to have worked in the Foreign Services.

External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was in the loop on the appointment as it was she who informed Singh on the change, sources tell CNN IBN. She was asked to choose another posting, but refused a transfer, media reports say.

S Jaishankar replaced Singh as foreign secretary. 

Singer, actor, theatre director, composer and lyricist Shekhar Sen has been appointed as the Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Sen has been appointed as for a term of 5 years with immediate effect.  He is famous for his mono-act musical plays "Tulsi',' Kabeer', "Vivekananda', "Sanmanti', 'Saahab' and "Soordas'.

Sonia Gandhi's letter to Colonel MN Rai's widow condoling his death at the hands of terrorists in Tral, south Kashmir.

"I share your grief with all my heart -- I know what it is to lose a beloved husband to a terrorist attack and for children to be  robbed of the love and guidance of their father at a young age."

Read the full letter here.

Colonel M N Rai, killed in a gun battle with militants in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, was on Thursday cremated with full military honours.

Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh placed a wreath as hundreds gathered to pay their last respects to the officer at the Delhi Cantonment.

See the slideshow here.

An Imam, who appeared in a small role in Vishal Bhardwaj's Kashmir-set film 'Haider', has been sacked by the management committee of the mosque over a marriage scene.

Ghulam Hassan Shah claimed he was tricked into performing the 'nikah' scene in the Bollywood film and has now sent a legal notice to Bhardwaj, also the producer of the movie, demanding an apology and Rs 50 lakh in compensation.

Shah, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district, had been leading the prayers at a mosque in Nowhatta area of the city for the past eight years."The management committee of the mosque sacked me' I was tricked as I was told that the footage will be used for educational purposes. I did not know that it was being used in the movie,' Shah said.

The 65-year-old man has engaged a lawyer and sent a legal notice to Bhardwaj.

If you aren't anywhere near a TV, watch the majestic Beating Retreat ceremony live right here.

The Republic Day celebration ends officially with the Beating Retreat ceremony on the 29 January every year at Vijay Chowk. The Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Army become a part of this three-day ceremony and give National Salute to the President of India.

During the ceremony, the live performances are given by the three wings of the military and a hymn is played by the bands collectively called 'Abide with me'. On the day of the Beating Retreat Ceremony in Delhi, at 6 o'clock in the evening the bugles call the retreat sound, the National flag is lowered, and the National anthem is sung in musical harmony.

In a move towards effective implementation of the tobacco control laws, the Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer has declared all polling stations in Delhi as no-smoking zones in the upcoming assembly polls to be held on February 7.

The CEO Chandra Bhushan Kumar has issued instructions to all district electoral officers-cum-district magistrates to ensure prohibition of smoking at booths.

The district electoral officers have also been asked to display signs outside the polling booths informing voters about the booths being no-smoking zones.

After winning a million-dollar prize from Google GOOGL -1.68% this week, a team of Indian engineers -- some young, some retired from the Indian space program -- are now a step closer to their goal of becoming the world's first private-sector group to land on the moon. Read more

Search for Flight MH 370 that went missing in March 2014 has been officially called off. All 239 people on board presumed dead.

A statement by authorities in Kuala Lumpur said the underwater search for the wreckage of the plane would continue.

The declaration by the Malaysia government clears the way for families to seek compensation payments and for Malaysia Airlines to make insurance claims, but is a heavy blow to relatives who have lived in torment for 10 months without knowing the fate of their loved ones.

The plane, with 239 passengers and crew on board, was en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur when it went missing in March 2014. There has since been no trace of the plane, despite a vast search operation.


That's why you should read this story on Rediff.com: 12 weird conspiracy theories on Flight MH370

Yogender Yadav, senior leader, AAP, reacts to BJP's five-question strategy with this quip: "Khoda pahad aur nikli chuhiya, woh bhi mari hui. They must raise some new questions, shows they are nervous/scared."

The battle for Delhi has just got fiercer.

The BJP in a change of strategy has decided to go on the offensive to counter the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which, according to an
opinion poll by ABP NewsNielsen showed the BJP trailing AAP by nine points (50% to 41%). There is also open dissent by many local Delhi BJP leaders over chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi.

BJP senior leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy at a just-concluded presser has said that every day, the party will ask AAP five questions.

Says Rudy, "We believe that Arvind Kejriwal has tried to create falsehood in his campaign and the people of Delhi need to know the answers.

The five questions are:

Q1.  Why did AAP compromise on principles for the sake of power?

Q2. What happened to AAP's promise of taking action against Sheela Dixit?

Q3. What happened to AAP's promise that they won't take VIP benefits?

Q4.  He went to take oath travelling in the metro, then why did he use SUVs for work?

Q5. Arvind Kejriwal had said that travelling in a private jet was against his principles, then why did he travel in a private jet?


The BJP hopes to do two things with this questionnaire for AAP, one, counter Bedi's refusal to a debate with AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal, and two, it will heat up a lacklustre campaign. All the questions are directed at Kejriwal's aam aadmi image, if you notice.

There will five more questions tomorrow, and will continue till Delhi goes to the polls.

The US does not consider the Afghan Taliban as a terrorist outfit, describing it as "an armed insurgency".

It called the Islamic State as a "terrorist" group, drawing a controversial distinction between the two outfits.

"The Taliban is an armed insurgency. ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant) is a terrorist group. So we don't make concessions to terrorist groups," White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz told reporters in response to questions at the daily press briefing yesterday.

When asked for a second time whether the Taliban is a terrorist group, he replied, "I don't think that the Taliban, - the Taliban is an armed insurgency."

Colonel MN Rai's daughter shouts the 29 Gorkha war cry as she says goodbye to her father this morning.

The BJP is apparently not happy that the chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi launched her own vision for Delhi yesterday.

Loosely termed 'Kiransblueprint', Bedi's principal focus remains women's security. Some of the measures she has highlighted include handing out pepper sprays to women, better street lighting and a more effective beat police, apart from self defence classes in school curriculum.

However, this has left party leaders who have been told to contribute to the draft manifesto whether the formal document will still be relevant when it is out.

Meenakshi Lekhi categorically told TV channels that not every point in the manifesto gets implemented and not every point which gets implemented has to be in the manifesto.

It is believed that major infighting in the Delhi BJP over Kiran Bedi's candidature has cost Delhi a manifesto. Senior BJP leader Anantha Kumar has announced that the BJP will have a Vision Document instead of a manifesto for Delhi.

Union minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, the BJP's former chief ministerial candidate, was in charge of the manifesto committee, but differences over what should be flagged in the manifesto, remained unresolved. 

Just yesterday, the CM candidate Kiran Bedi, in several tweets, revealed her own agenda for Delhi. She tweeted a 25-point programme for Delhi and it is believed that some of her programmes will be part of the vision document. 

The BJP has said it will release it's Vision Document not manifesto for the Delhi polls.

Meanwhile, Amit Shah has slammed the party for the lack of passion in the poll campaign, and the tardy distribution of campaign material.

Nitin Gokhale tweets: Have any one of the Human Rights outfits condemned the murder of Col MN Rai by subterfuge? I haven't seen any statement or have I missed it?

BJP president Amit Shah is believed to be upset at the lackluster campaigning for the Delhi polls and has asked party leaders to hit the ground running.  

The BJP will hold 250 rallies in the next seven days. Modi to hold four rallies from January 31.

BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi has two voter identity cards with separate addresses and the Election Commission has started an inquiry into the alleged violation even as AAP and Congress demanded a thorough probe into the issue.

According to Election Commission's record, Bedi was issued separate voter identity cards with addresses in Uday Park and Talkatora Lane. When asked about the issue, Bedi refused to comment.

Election Commission officials said procuring two voter identity cards was a violation and the entire issue is being inquired. They said the Commission was examining whether Bedi had applied for cancellation of the first card with Talkatora Lane as her address.

We are inquiring into the issue and a final conclusion will be arrived at soon. Having two voter cards is a violation of law, said a senior election official.

On time, every time. Amul's take on PM Modi's name-emblazoned suit during the Obama visit. 

S Jaishankar today took charge as Foreign Secretary, replacing Sujatha Singh whose tenure was abruptly "curtailed" late last night, a move which evoked a sharp reaction from Congress.

"My priorities are the government's priorities. So, I think at this time let's leave it at that.... This is a big responsibility. I would say that I am very honoured that I have been assigned this responsibility," said Jaishankar, a 1977-batch IFS officer, when asked about his sudden appointment.

Singh was not present when Jaishankar took charge at the South Block office. Jaishankar will have a two-year tenure as per rules.

Before his appointment as Foreign Secretary, the 60-year- old diplomat was India's Ambassador to the US. He had also been posted as Ambassador to China, Singapore and Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, with barely a week for the Delhi polls, PM Narendra Modi has agreed to address three more rallies in the capital over eight key constituencies.

With the lackluster, even grudging support among the Delhi cadre for Kiran Bedi, the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Modi has sent in senior leader and finance minister Arun Jaitley to firefight and calm bruised egos.

Modi's presence should inject some energy into the campaign and motivate the state cadre.

Jaitley and 18 Union Ministers will be holed in at the BJP HQ, 11 Ashok Road, from 3:30 pm and 8:30pm every day. BJP President Amit Shah will interact with these leaders about the New Delhi  assembly poll campaign.

An army can't march on empty stomachs, so dinner has been ordered from two restaurants. And this is the way it's going to be from today till February 10, when the votes will be counted.

Delhi police chief BS Bassi on the Sunanda Pushkar case: The assessment has to be made by SIT, after the SIT conveys anything to me only then can I comment.

Brahma Chellaney tweets: First the DRDO head -- a first-rate missile scientist -- was fired and now the foreign secretary. Why was it necessary to publicly humiliate them?

Even as the BJP HQ at Ashoka Road is buzzing with activity, 24 Akbar Road the Congress party headquarters wears a deserted look. Nobody visits the HQ nowadays. The Congress Party in private conversations accept their third position in the Delhi polls. However, they take consolation from the fact that the party may win at least 12 to 13 seats. The gain of four or five is basically from AAP.

Col MN Rai's funeral on right now. RIP, Sir. 

Defending the move to replace Sujatha Singh as Foreign Secretary, BJP today ruled out any political motive and said the government had acted well within its right to decide on appointment of officers.

"I don't see any reason for the hue and cry. A government is within its rights to decide how it would like to appoint what officers and with what responsibilities. And this is not the first time..... Preceding governments have taken (such) decisions," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

Singh was removed late last night from the crucial post of Foreign Secretary eight months before her tenure was to end and replaced by S Jaishankar, Ambassador to the US.

"I do not see any reason that anyone can attribute any political motives. This is the right of the government," Kohli said.

A month before it happened, on December 28, Sheela Bhatt/ Rediff.com revealed that S Jaishankar was likely to replace Sujatha Singh as foreign secretary! Read the story if you missed it.

Did Sujatha Singh oppose some travel plans of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, especially to Fiji, which caused a rift between the Prime Minister's Office and the ministry of external affairs?

Or is it connected with her father, former IB chief TV Rajeshwar bringing pressure on the Manmohan Singh government to appoint her as foreign secretary?

Whatever be the reason, the Congress party has criticised the Modi government for replacing Singh, conveniently forgetting that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had sacked A P Venkateswaran in a televised press conference.

To silence the main opposition party, however, some file notings to Dr Singh by his advisor may be 'leaked' to the media, say sources.


Pic: Foreign secretary S Jaishankar meets his immediate boss External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj this morning

The last rites ceremony of Col Rai has begun at the Delhi Cantonment. NDTV speaking to Col Rai's colleague in the Gorkha Regiment says that when he went to Col Rai's home to deliver the awful news of his death, Col Rai's daughter tells her mother, 'be brave.'

Gun salute for Col Rai as the funeral pyre is lit. The Gorkha regiment leaves.    

Col Rai's body being taken to the funeral pyre amid the sound of conches. No shortage of pall bearers for this brave, brave man. His daughters being led away from the pyre.

Col Rai's batchmate and close friend Colonel Amit Aul remembers him as a brave and daring soldier. CNN IBN reports, "He was a great colleague, we underwent training together and he volunteered to join the Gorkha Regiment. Then we both were given the command of two battallions of Rashtriya Rifles. He was a fine commanding officer. I always envied him that he took his regiment to newer heights."

Heartbreaking scenes of 11 year old daughter raising Gorkha war cry after seeing her father's dead body. Rai's daughter let's out 29 Gorkha Rifles war cry "Ho Ki Hoina, Hone he Parcha"(We are ready for the task).

Chief of Army staff pays tribute and promises Col Rai's family that true to tradition, the army will always stand by the family. General Dalbir Singh hugs Col Rai's children and father and speaks to the family members.

The wreath laying ceremony is over and the colonel will be cremated shortly.

The body which was laid in state will now be taken to the funeral pyre. 

On its 66th Republic Day, during a mighty parade in the national capital, India showcased "woman power' with all-women contingents of the three Services for the first time. A day earlier, Wing Commander Pooja Thakur became the first woman to lead a ceremonial tri-service guard of honour, which the visiting US President inspected. Read

Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag paid tribute yesterday saying, "He (Col Rai) was a brave officer, he was awarded the YSM for it, he showed example of leadership. I must say Army men lead from the front."

The funeral is expected to take place at noon.

Pic: Col MN Rai's father at the funeral. With him in uniform is Col Rai's brother.

Constable Sanjeev Singh, who was also killed in the encounter in Tral, was also known for his guts and his commitment to his duty. Singh's WhatsApp status, posted 48 days ago read: "It was my duty to shoot the enemy, and I don't regret it. My regrets are for the people I could not save: soldiers, buddies, innocents, etc."

Col Rai's family -- his wife (pictured), elder daughter Alka (11) and his father, were inconsolable. Col Rai's brother is also in the army and was injured in a militant attack in Kashmir.

Rai's last status on the mobile messaging service WhatsApp, posted two months ago, read: "Play your role in life with such passion, that even after the curtains come down, the applause doesn't stop."

The last rites of Colonel Munindra Nath Rai, commanding officer of 42 Rashtriya Rifles, being held at Delhi Cantonment. Col Rai died in hospital after being hit by bullets at a village in Tral, 36 km from Srinagar, on January 27.

A policeman accompanying a search party was killed, too, as militants hiding in a house suddenly fired at them.

Col Rai was among the gallantry medal awardees announced on the eve of Republic Day.

He was awarded Yudh Seva medal for his role in a gunbattle with militants in south Kashmir last year, an army spokesman said. Originally from the Gorkha Rifles, he was on "deputation'.

Col Rai is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

Army chief General Dalbir Singh paid tribute.

Minutes after he took charge as India's new foreign secretary, Dr S Jaishankar said that he was honoured by the responsibility. When asked if the appointment came as a surprise, the new foreign secretary said, " I don't think this is the time to get into those kind of questions."

Minutes after he took charge as India's new foreign secretary, Dr S Jaishankar said that he was honoured by the responsibility. When asked if the appointment came as a surprise, the new foreign secretary said, " I don't think this is the time to get into those kind of questions."

Apple, the company that Steve Jobs had co-founded, has scooped up a profit of $18 billion (Rs 1.1 lakh crore) in the first quarter that ended on December 27. The profit of $18 billion is the biggest ever reported by a public company worldwide, according to S&P analyst Howard Silverblatt. 

As new Foreign Secretary Dr S Jaishankar takes charge, the Congress questioned the timing of the appointment. Manish Tewari said, "Why wait till US President Barack Obama's departure? The timing of the appointment is questionable."

Colonel MN Rai of the Rashtriya Rifles, who died on Tuesday during a fierce encounter with militants in south Kashmir's Tral area, will be accorded the Guard of Honour today in the nation's capital. 

Shireen Dalvi, editor of an Urdu daily newspaper, was arrested by the Mumbra police, for allegedly reprinting a cartoon of Prophet Mohammed that was originally published in Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly magazine. The arrest came following a complaint by Nusrat Ali, who alleged that Dalvi's daily -- the Awadhnama-- had reprinted cartoons originally published in Charlie Hebdo. 

Dr S Jaishankar, who was made the new Foreign Secretary last night in a sudden announcement, will take charge today. Former Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh's services were curtailed last night 'with immediate effect. She had eight more months to serve. 

A hostage who died during the siege in a downtown Sydney cafe was killed when she was struck by fragments of a bullet fired from a police officer's gun as authorities stormed in to end the 16-hour standoff. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has confirmed his attendance at Russia's celebrations in May marking the Soviet victory over Germany in World War Two, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on Wednesday quoting a Kremlin spokesman.

Cuban leader Raul Castro said Wednesday the US trade embargo was the main stumbling block to normalizing ties between the two nations.

EU foreign ministers will add names to a blacklist of individuals sanctioned over the Ukraine crisis when they meet but stop short of new measures targeting Russia's economy. 

The United States stood by Israel today as it exchanged fire with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon in their most serious clashes in five years. 

Kurdish fighters' expulsion of Islamic State forces from the Syrian town of Kobani helped stop the momentum of the Islamist group but is not a significant turning point in the overall campaign, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday.

More than 14,000 people fleeing Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria have streamed into Chad since the beginning of 2015, according to a United Nations report today. 

At least two Israeli soldiers and a Spanish UN peacekeeper were killed and seven others injured when a missile fired by Lebanese Hezbollah group hit an army convoy today, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to threaten a retaliation similar to the one carried out in Gaza last year. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting today in emergency session with Israel's security chiefs to discuss options after a Hezbollah missile attack killed two Israeli soldiers, his office said.

Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt reports that current Ambassador to Paris Arun Singh is likely to replace Jaishankar as India's Ambassador to the United States.   

UN relief efforts in war-torn Syria are struggling to reach 40 per cent of civilians in need and face a major funding shortfall, a senior UN aid official said today. 

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