New Delhi, Sept 15 : The Supreme Court today refused to stay a Delhi High Court order barring advocates R K Anand and I U Khan from practising for four months after they held guilty in the BMW sting expose case.

A bench of Justices B N Agrawal and G S Singhvi also refused to pass any direction on the High Court''s verdict stripping them of their senior advocate status.

The BMW sting expose case, which was carried out by a private television channel showed nexus between defence, prosecution lawyers and a witness.

New Delhi, Sep 15 : Union Defence Minister A K Antony today said that India has developed the need, a legitimate interest and capability in securing supplies of external natural and energy resources, adding that an India specific waiver from NSG is a recognition of India''s relevance and profile in world affairs.

"For its further growth and prosperity, India clearly needs a secure and peaceful periphery and unrestrained sources of energy," said Antony at the seminar on Indian Experience in Force Projection organised by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) here.

New Delhi, Sept 15: Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda today met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the leader of the Opposition L. K. Advani and discussed issues of mutual interest.

Later, Prachanda called on President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Prachanda, who is here on a five-day official visit, will hold discussions with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on various bilateral and regional issues in the evening.

He is likely to seek India''s help in drafting the Constitution of his country.

New Delhi, Sept. 15 : President Pratibha Patil will preside over the Conference of Governors here on Tuesday.

28 Governors and three Lieutenant Governors of the States and Union Territories will attend the Conference.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Defence minister A. K Antony, Home minister Shivraj Patil, Finance minister P. Chidambaram, Human Resource Development Arjun Singh, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs minister Sharad Pawar will also attend the conference.

New Delhi, Sept 14 : Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, who is here on a five-day official visit, will hold discussions with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on various bilateral and regional issues today.

He is likely to seek India’s help in drafting the Constitution of his country.

During his talks, Prachanda will aim to review the 1950 Indo-Nepal Trade and Transit Treaty, besides crisis over the Saptakoshi embankment and other agreements.

New Delhi, Sept 15: The 15th Session of Indo-French Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) is scheduled to be held here today.

The meeting will be co-chaired by Dr. Rahul Khullar, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The JCM will be attended by G. K. Pillai, Secretary (Commerce); Ajay Shankar, Secretary (DIPP); and senior officials from the Ministry of Power, Railways, Telecommunications, Urban Development, Road Transport and Highways, Mines, Posts and Information Technology.

On Tuesday, there will be a bilateral meeting between Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce and industry and Anne Marie Idrac, French Minister of State for External Trade.