Two Moscow malls evacuated after terror alert

Moscow, January 29:Visitors were evacuated Saturday from two shopping malls in Moscow after they received a terror threat, police said.

Police evacuated the Mega-Belaya Dacha shopping centre in southeast Moscow after they found a written message saying an explosion would occur at 9 p.m. (1800 GMT), a spokesperson said.

Another bomb threat caused the evacuation of the Mega-Tyopli Stan shopping complex in the southwest of the Russian capital.

The evacuation caused large traffic jams in both the areas.

India protests as students of sham US varsity tagged

Washington/New Delhi, January 29:After being duped by a ‘sham’ university in California, some of the affected Indian students have been forced to wear radio-trackers around their ankles to the chagrin of the Indian community. India Saturday said it has told US that the use of monitors was “unwarranted” and demanded the immediate removal of the measure.

Some 1,555 students of Tri-Valley University, 90 percent of them from India, mostly Andhra Pradesh, face the prospect of deportation following the closure of Tri Valley University in Pleasanton on charges of selling student visas.

Buddhadeb attacks Mamata on railway factory promises

Kakdwip (west Bengal), January 29:Taking a potshot at Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Saturday said there were advertisements in newspapers every day that new railway factories were being set up while the railway ministry said there was no money for projects.

Soldiers, troopers arrested for molesting woman in train

Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh), January 29:Six people, including army soldiers and paramilitary personnel, were arrested here Saturday for molesting a woman passenger in a train, officials said.

Two soldiers, a trooper each of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF), an employee of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and a civilian, molested a young woman in the general coach of the Vaishali Express.

Cash van robbery: Photos of driver, gunman released

New Delhi, January 29:Delhi Police Saturday released the photographs of the driver of a cash van and a gunman who fled with Rs.67.5 lakh a day earlier. The duo have a bounty of Rs.50,000 each on their head. The cash van was recovered in Faridabad Saturday.

“We have released the photographs of the two men,” a senior police officer said.

The accused are identified as Ram Kumar, the driver, and Sanjeev, the gunman.

Dalmiya meets Pranab on Eden fiasco

Kolkata, January 29:Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya Saturday called on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and discussed with him the Eden Gardens fiasco.

Dalmiya held a closed-door meeting with Mukherjee for about 25 minutes.

Chitrangada wants to work with Aamir Khan

Kolkata, January 29:Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh Saturday made a candid confession about wanting to share screen space with superstar Aamir Khan.

“If you ask me to name one actor with whom I want to work, then its Aamir Khan. If Sudhir (Mishra) makes a film with him then I would stand in line with a hope that I will get a chance,” she giggled.

Chitrangada, along with director Sudhir Mishra and actor Arunoday Singh, was in the city to promote their upcoming film “Yeh Saali Zindagi”.

Egypt unrest: Mubarak fires cabinet, appoints new vice president

Cairo/London, January 29:Hosni Mubarak directed his cabinet to resign Saturday and appointed intelligence chief Omar Suleiman as deputy president, as US President Barack Obama told his Egyptian counterpart to avoid a violent response to the growing nationwide protests to end his 30-year rule.

Mubarak also appointed Ahmed Shafik, the former aviation minister, as prime minister Saturday evening, Xinhua reported.

“Omar Suleiman has been sworn in as deputy to President Hosni Mubarak,” the government-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA) confirmed.

Injured Australian fast bowler Bracken calls it a day

Sydney, January 29:Australian fast bowler Nathan Bracken Saturday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket due to a persistent knee injury.

Bracken represented Australia in 116 One-day Internationals (ODI), taking 174 wickets at an impressive average of 24.36. Bracken also played five Tests but was never able to cement his place in the side. The left-arm seamer shouldered New South Wales attack in his successful first-class career.

The highlight of his career came when he was ranked the No.1 ODI bowler in 2008.

Truck rams 10 vehicles, eight people killed

Hyderabad, Jan 29:In a ghastly accident, a truck spun out of control and hit 10 vehicles, crushing eight people to death at Nagole on the outskirts of Hyderabad Friday night, police said.

The truck hit a van, an auto-rickshaw and eight two-wheelers. Twenty people were injured in the accident.

The injured were admitted to various hospitals and the condition of 10 is stated to be critical.

Couple threatened by ADG paid Rs 4 lakh compensation

Hyderabad, Jan 29:Following a direction from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Andhra Pradesh Police today paid a sum of Rs 4 lakhs to a couple here who was allegedly threatened and beaten up by Additional Director General of Police (Sports) Tejdeep Kaur Menon in 2002.

CBI questions Raja’s aide in 2G scam

New Delhi, January 28:CBI today questioned Sadiq Pasha, a close aide of former Telecom Minister A Raja, in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Official sources said Pasha was questioned by the agency about his links and possible business deals with the former minister.

Pasha owned certain firms which had alleged links to certain relatives of Raja. Pasha’s firms were also raided by the CBI late last year.

His firm is also under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate as part of its probe into the scam.

BJP activist’s torture claims concocted, says police

Srinagar, January 28:The claims of kidnapping and torture made by a BJP woman activist in Budgam district of Kashmir took a new turn late tonight as police said investigations have revealed that she had concocted a politically-motivated story.

“The details of the cellular phone towers on the SIM cards used by the woman show that she was present in Bemina area of the city throughout the period she claimed to be in custody of her alleged kidnappers,” a police spokesman said.

ITBP jawan killed in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, January 28:A jawan of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was today killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district, police said.

The incident took place when Maoists opened fire on a joint party of the district police, Chhattisgarh armed force and ITBP near Khunera village in Ambagad police limits, IGP R K Vij said.

The Maoists attacked the contingent around noon, which was on an anti-Naxal operation in the area, leaving an ITBP jawan dead, he said.

The deceased jawan was identified as Bhoop Singh, who died on his way to Raipur district hospital.

JNTU, Synopsis to launch new software design programme

Hyderabad, January 28:Synopsys, the US-headquartered world leader in software designing, and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) in Hyderabad Friday signed an agreement to establish microelectronics programme at the JNTU.

The programme is aimed at training local talent and providing highly skilled specialists that can address the complex design requirements of semiconductor industry companies, an official said.

Four arrested, CMS suspended in Firozabad rape case

Lucknow, January 28:Two police officials and the two accused were today arrested while the Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the district hospital was suspended in connection with the self-immolation attempt by a backward caste girl in Firozabad after being raped, official sources here said.

Ganga Sharan, SHO Nagla Khangar police station, and sub inspector Siyaram were arrested after an FIR was lodged against them for not performing their duties effectively and destroying evidence, the sources said.

The two were earlier placed under suspension.

Andhra seeks help for students stuck in US

Hyderabad, January 28:With many students from Andhra Pradesh facing the possibility of being deported from the United States following the closure of Tri-Valley University, the state government Friday urged the Indian government to take up the issue with the US authorities.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has requested the ministry of external affairs to pursue the matter with the US government for giving all possible assistance to the students affected by the closure of the SanFrancisco-based university.

After Mumbai Indians, Modi questions IPL auction changes

New Delhi, January 28:After Mumbai Indians, suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi questioned the last-minute changes made to the January 8-9 players’ auction in Bangalore.

“The changing of players auction order as pointed by some franchisees is an issue which I highlighted when I saw the rules changed last minute. The order changing – should not have been allowed – as it gives advantage to teams that knew of it before,” Modi wrote on social networking site Twitter.

Brown sugar worth Rs 1 crore seized; 4 held

Bangalore, January 28:Four drug peddlers were arrested and brown sugar worth Rs one crore in the international market recovered from their possession, police said today.

The four were arrested yesterday and 875 grams of brown sugar worth Rs one crore, some cash and four mobile phones were recovered from them, a police release said.

–PTI

Five dead, 13 injured in Ahmedabad building collapse

Ahmedabad, January 28:Five people, including a woman, were killed and 13 others injured when a five-storey newly-constructed building collapsed here Friday morning, leading to the partial collapse of two adjoining buildings as well, officials said.

While six people have been admitted for treatment of fractures, seven others are being treated in the outpatient department.

Alonso and Massa unveil new Ferrari for 2011 season

Maranello (Italy), January 28:Former Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso and team-mate Felipe Massa Friday unveiled the Ferrari for the 2011 season.

The car for the Spaniard Alonso and Brazil’s Massa is named F150 as Ferrari chose to pay tribute to the 150th anniversary of Italian unification this year, with the nation’s flag placed on the rear wing of the new model.

“We developed the F150 with one single aim, we only have to reach it,” said team boss Stefano Domenicali in reference to the title ambitions.

Watch ‘Dabangg’ free on YouTube

Kolkata, January 27:The Salman Khan starrer ‘Dabangg’, a box-office hit, can now be viewed for free on YouTube.

Released today on the Google-owned online video sharing site, it will remain available for free viewing to netizens in India.

Produced by Arbaaz Khan and directed by Abhinav Kashyap, ‘Dabangg’ will be the first Indian blockbuster movie to be released on YouTube in advertisement supported model.

Internet users will also be able to enjoy short clips from the movie like popular scenes, songs and other footage from the making of the movie.

India win Asian juniors golf team championship

Kuala Lumpur, January 27:The Indian team led by S. Chikkarangappa,
Trishul Chinnappa, Saqib Ahmad and Tarundeep Chadha won the Asian Juniors
Golf Team Championship at the Damai Laut Golf and Country Club here
Thursday.

Indian juniors were placed tied second with South Korea, two strokes behind
Thailand after the second day. Some superlative golf from Tarundeep with a
par round on the final day helped India tie with Thailand on a three day
cumulative score of 665. India won the gold medal on a count back.

Chikkarangappa missed the individual gold by one stroke which was won by