Due to the security threats following last month's Mumbai attacks, authorities in India's south-western resort state of Goa have banned beach parties. On Saturday after the discussions, the state government decided to ban the most popular beach parties during Christmas and New Year's holidays.

M Digamber Kamat, Goa Chief Minister announced, "There will be no beach parties from December 23, 2008 to January 5, 2009 due to security reasons. But hotel and traditional parties will be allowed."

New Delhi  - Authorities in India's south-western resort state of Goa have banned beach parties due to security threats following last month's Mumbai attacks, news reports said Sunday.

The state government decided to ban the popular beach parties during Christmas and New Year's holidays, after a security meeting on Saturday.

The Russian government has asked its citizens to reconsider their trips to the tourism hot spot Goa.

Nearly 45,000 Russian tourists visit Goa each season.

The Russian foreign ministry has specifically advised its citizens wishing to travel to Goa to “reconsider” their decision.

“We have not told them not to come to Goa, we have asked our citizens to reconsider their decision of coming to Goa in view of the security situation,” advocate Vikram Varma told to a news agency on behalf of the Russian consulate.

Renowned Kazakh film maker Sergei Dvortsevoy’s film “Tulpan” won the Golden Peacock award and a cash prize of Rs 4 million on the closing day of the 39th International Film Festival of India in Panaji.

In the past, ‘Tulpan’, has also won the best feature film and the Golden Eye awards at the Montreal Film Festival and Zurich Film Festival respectively.

The film is also Kazakhstan’s official entry for the forthcoming Oscar awards in the foreign film category.

Congress retained its Pale constituency seat by defeating BJP rivals in the by-polls. Polling for the seat was held on November 26.

Congress candidate Pratap Gawas defeated his nearest BJP candidate Pradip Sawant, by 1,534-votes. The results were declared on Saturday.

Gawas got 7,867 votes, while the BJP candidate was voted for by 6,333 persons. Rebel BJP candidate Suresh Amonkar, who contested independently, polled 3,682 votes.

The recent terror attacks in Mumbai cast its shadow on the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008 in Panaji.

The IFFI observed a moment of silence in the memory of those who died in the recent terror attacks in Mumbai.

“Wherever possible, I will personally go to the theatres to observe one-minute silence,” stated Festival Director S M Khan.

The state police have beefed up the security of hotels around the IFFI venue.