Panesar’s grandfather delighted to see the spinner in action

MOHALI - England spinner Monty Panesar’s grandfather was delighted to see the left-arm spinner in action during the second cricket Test against India at Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Tuesday.

MCD will sack errant sweepers: Delhi mayor

NEW DELHI - The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is moving to sack 25 percent of its errant safai karamcharis (sweepers) as ‘they have been drawing salaries sitting at home’, city Mayor Arti Mehra said Tuesday.

Maldives is a model for democracy in Islamic world: Nasheed

NEW DELHI - Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Tuesday said his country was a model for bringing democracy into an Islamic nation.

Andhra villagers clash with police over land acquisition for SEZ

HYDERABAD - Villagers protesting against Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday clashed with the police as authorities allegedly tried to forcibly acquire their lands.

Poojashri qualifies for second round of Women’s ITF

NEW DELHI - Poojashree Venkatesha was the only Indian Tuesday to qualify for the second round as her compatriots Shalini Sahoo and Parul Goswami lost their first-round matches in the $50,000 Women’s ITF tournament at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA).

Police step up patrolling on Goa beaches

PANAJI - Police patrolling of Goa’s pretty beaches has been stepped up ahead of the busy festive season that kicks off from Christmas eve, but the police have denied reports that the army may be deployed.

India reclaim second spot from South Africa in Test rankings

DUBAI - India reclaimed the second position from South Africa in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship after their 1-0 win in the two-match series against England in Mohali Tuesday.

Amrish Singh Gautam elected deputy speaker Delhi assembly

NEW DELHI - Congress’s Amrish Singh Gautam was elected deputy speaker of the Delhi assembly Tuesday, the last day of the first session of the newly elected legislature.

Motorbike riders rob couple of jewellery, cash in Delhi

NEW DELHI - Two motorbike-borne men Tuesday robbed a couple going in an auto-rickshaw in the heart of the national capital Tuesday evening, the police said.

UTV suspends all commercial deals with Pakistan

NEW DELHI - UTV Software Communications Tuesday temporarily deferred all deals with Pakistan in an endeavour to support the Indian government in demanding stricter action against terrorism emanating from across the border.

R.R. Patil elected NCP Maharashtra unit chief

NAGPUR - Former deputy chief minister R.R. Patil was unanimously elected president of the Nationalist Congress Party’s Maharashtra unit here Tuesday.

Defending champion Tania held by Bhakti in national chess

NEW DELHI - Defending champion Tania Sachdev suffered a dent in her defence of the title, as she was held to a draw by last seed Bhakti Kulkarni of Goa in the 35th Parsvnath National Women’s chess Championship here Tuesday.

Hauritz may not be played in Melbourne Test

MELBOURNE - Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz who was included in the squad for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa might not get a place in the playing eleven.

British economic slowdown faster than expected in third quarter

LONDON - The British economy slowed down faster in the third quarter of 2008 than previously estimated, official figures showed Tuesday.

Consumers in Gujarat get toll free number for complaints

AHMEDABAD - With Dec 24 being celebrated as National Consumer Day, Gujarat will get a toll free number, 1800 233 0222, to help consumers get free advice on all consumer-related issues.

England team leaves for Dubai

CHANDIGARH - The England Test squad left here Tuesday night on a chartered plane for Dubai from where the team will board a direct flight to England.

Obama to take oath on Lincoln’s Bible

WASHINGTON - US president-elect Barack Obama will be sworn into office with the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used for his oath taking ceremony in 1861.

Ensure strike-free politics, Dhaka businessmen urge Hasina

DHAKA - Bangladesh’s business community Tuesday urged former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, leading a nine-party coalition into the parliamentary poll next Monday, to ensure political activities without violence and industrial strikes.

Court stays worldwide release of Aamir-starrer ‘Ghajini’

CHENNAI/MUMBAI - The much-awaited release of Aamir Khan-starrer Hindi film ‘Ghajini’ has been nixed with the Madras High Court Tuesday staying its worldwide screening Thursday after the producers of the Tamil film on which it is based filed objections.

Victoria Beckham gifted 40,000-pound bag by D&G

LONDON - Former Spice girl Victoria Beckham has been gifted a new designer bag by Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana on her arrival in Italy with husband ace soccer star David.

HuJI chief gets death term for 2004 grenade attack on British envoy

DHAKA - The chief of Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI) and two others of the banned militant outfit were sentenced to death Tuesday for a grenade attack that seriously injured British envoy to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury and killed three people in May 2004.