New Delhi

Antony asks security agencies to plug gaps in coastal security

Antony asks security agencies to plug gaps in coastal securityNew Delhi, Mar 31 : Union Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Tuesday asked all concerned agencies to plug gaps in coastal security within a definite time frame.

Antony, who chaired a high-level meeting of officials of various ministries and forces, called for speedy implementation of the maritime security plan, approved by the Government recently.

He said utmost vigilance must be maintained all along the coastline so that the `Mumbai like' incidents don't recur.

Dalai Lama begins ''Thank You India'' campaign

Dalai Lama begins ''Thank You India'' campaignNew Delhi, Mar 31 : Having completed 50 years of Tibetans stay in India, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama started a ''Thank You India'' campaign, here in the capital on Tuesday, by offering prayers at various religious shrines.

On this occasion, the Nobel laureate leader offered prayers at a gurudwara, a church and a temple and thanked India for providing political asylum to him and thousands of other exiled Tibetans over the last five decades.

He also appreciated the institutions in India for providing education to the Tibetan youth.

President presents Padma awards

President presents Padma awardsNew Delhi, Mar 31 : Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Atomic Energy Commission of India (AECI) chief Anil Kakodkar were among the recipients of the Padma awards from President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday.

Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World and now a member of the Bachchan family, received a Padma Shree award for her contribution to the field of entertainment.

Akshay Kumar, a globally acclaimed actor, also received a Padma Shree.

Pakistan has to show visible results on 26/11 probe to hold talks with India: PM

Can Obama push the Pak envelope any further?New Delhi, Mar 31 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that composite dialogue with Pakistan would only be possible if Islamabad shows visible results on the Mumbai terror attack probe.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of Padma Awards function in Rashtrapati Bhawan before leaving for London to participate in the G-20 summit, Singh said, "They have to show visible results with regard to investigation in the 26/11 attack and that the government of Pakistan is doing everything possible to bring culprits to book."

India's supreme court bars film star Sanjay Dutt from polls

ndia's supreme court bars film star Sanjay Dutt from polls New Delhi - India's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was convicted for involvement in the 1993 Mumbai bombings, cannot contest the upcoming elections.

The court rejected Dutt's plea to suspend his conviction and allow him to contest the general elections that begin on April 16.

"We are not inclined to suspend his conviction ... It is not a fit case to grant stay of conviction," a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan ruled.

Manmohan Singh leaves for London to attend G-20 summit

 Manmohan Singh leaves for London to attend G-20 summitNew Delhi, Mar. 31 : The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday left for London to attend G-20 summit.

In his departure statement, Dr. Singh said that he is looking forward to his meetings with both US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the sidelines of this week's Second G-20 summit in London.

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