New Delhi, Jan 5 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today condoled the passing away of the former Chief Minister of Tripura and Senior Congress leader Sudhir Ranjan Majumdar.

In his condolence message, Dr. Singh recalled Majumdar''s contribution of the development of the state.

"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the members of his bereaved family and to all those who followed him and respected him as their friend and leader," Dr. Singh said.

New Delhi, Jan 5 : Students Federation of India (SFI), students'' wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist), staged protest here today against Israeli offensive in Gaza and to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

The SFI protestors blamed the United States for the Israeli attack and accused United Progressive Alliance government for not strongly condemning the attacks on Gaza.

New Delhi, Jan 5 : Defence Minister AK Antony today inaugurated the Army College of Medical Sciences here at Delhi Cantonment.

The plan to open the Army College of Medical Sciences (ACMS) was initially conceptualized in the year 2003. Then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and then Army Chief jointly laid down the foundation stone on January 28, 2004.

Inaugurating the medical college, Antony appreciated the excellent infrastructure and state of arty building of the ACMS, and mentioned the continuous support of the government to the Army to open more educational institutions for their wards.

New Delhi, Jan 5 : Director-General NCC Lt.

New Delhi - India has signed a 2.1-billion-dollar contract with United States aerospace major Boeing for eight maritime aircraft, news reports said Monday.

The aircraft are expected to strengthen the Indian Navy's intelligence-gathering capacities.

It is India's largest defence purchase from the US and comes a little over a month after a terrorist attack on financial hub Mumbai. Indian investigators claim the terrorists took a sea route from neighbouring Pakistan.

New Delhi, Jan 5 : Home Minister P Chidambaram today visited the Delhi Police headquarters to review the security scenario of the city and the functioning of the force.

Chidambaram met senior police officials, including Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal.

Dadwal is understood to have briefed Chidambaram about the strength of the force, its deployment and future plans, besides raising the issue of staff shortage.

Senior police officials also briefed him about the steps taken to improve policing in the national capital.

Delhi Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna also attended the meeting.