Lakes and Waterways Development officials have initiated a massive drive against the houseboat owners and hoteliers around Dal Lake, who are allegedly polluting the lake by discharge of liquid and human waste.

Acting on the directives of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the authorities have directed to stop the operations of hotels, houseboats and commercial units as mentioned in the state pollution board's report filed on January 31.

The child actors of the Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire" returned here on Thursday to a chaotic but rousing heroes' welcome.

Over 500 shantytowns gathered outside airport here and danced to the Oscar-winning score of the movie to fete the child actors outside airport here.

The child stars of 'Slumdog Millionaire' were feted like true celebrities here as the nation celebrated the film's Oscar haul.

Mohammad Azharuddin was ecstatic to be the part of the film and said if he would speak further, tears will roll down his cheeks.

Keeping in mind the global slowdown, the government on Thursday decided to relax the fiscal gap target of states to 3.5 percent.

Talking to reporters Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said, "In view of the slowdown and pressure on resources, this gap was first relaxed to 3.5 percent for the present year, 2008-2009. But the slowdown is likely to continue next year. So, the gap has been relaxed to 3.5 percent also for 2009-10."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Thursday assured that India would not suffer extensively from the ravages of the global economic meltdown.

In a statement, read out by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha, Singh, who is recuperating from a cardiac bypass surgery, said," Today we are addressing the global downturn with the same resolve and imagination. Let me assure this House, that India would emerge the least affected among the countries of the world from the current economic crisis."

The Union Cabinet today approved the signing of an agreement between India and Bulgaria on exemption from visa requirement for the holders of Diplomatic and official/service passports.

The agreement is scheduled to be signed during the visit of the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria to India on March 3.