Hussey out, Warner in ODI squad for South Africa

MELBOURNE, Australia: All-rounder David Hussey made way for big-hitting David Warner in the Australia limited-overs squad announced Wednesday for next month’s tour of South Africa.

Chief selector Andrew Hilditch said as the Twenty20 and ODI squads were released that Hussey did not make the most of his inclusion in the recent series in Sri Lanka.

“We did not think that David (Hussey) quite took his opportunity in Sri Lanka and his place has been taken by David Warner,” Hilditch said in a statement. “David (Warner’s) form has been irresistible recently and he deserves this opportunity in the one day squad.”

Wicketkeeper batsman Matthew Wade will replace Brad Haddin in the T20 squad, while Mitchell Marsh — brother of new test batsman Shaun and son of former opener Geoff — was also included. Haddin and Michael Clarke have opted out of T20 cricket, and paceman Mitchell Johnson wasn’t selected for the shortest form of the game.

“The retirement of Brad Haddin from international Twenty20 and the injury to Tim Paine, has given a well-deserved opportunity to Matthew Wade,” Hilditch said.

Patrick Cummins replaces injured allrounder John Hastings in the one-day squad, while Doug Bollinger comes in for Johnson in the T20 squad.

“It is an extremely exciting time in Australian cricket to see such young talent forcing its way into the Australian squads,” Hilditch said.

China, India to Boost Investment

New Delhi: China and India are slated to boost economic cooperation and mutual trust through dialogue as bilateral trade surges, officials said Monday at the one-day first meeting of China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in Beijing.

China and India face similar problems as both countries undergo rapid industrialization and urbanization, said Zhang Ping, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top economic planner.

The SED, which is partly aimed at boosting mutual trust, will enhance cooperation between China and India in various fields and help the two countries find solutions to common problems, Zhang said.

This will help promote the long-term economic development of the two economies and will have a profound impact on people in China and India, Zhang said.

Closer cooperation will not only benefit the two countries, but also help improve the power and confidence of all developing countries, he said.

The healthy development of the Chinese and Indian economies will exert a positive influence on the growth and recovery of not only Asia, but also the rest of the world, Zhang added.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission of India, said the strategic dialogue reflects enhanced economic engagement between the two countries.

“As we try to take our relationship to a new level, a further opening of markets and improvement of investment climate are challenges that we need to address together,” Ahluwalia said.

He said the growing India-China relationship is an important element of changes that are taking place in the global order.

“As emerging economies, we are making our viewpoint increasingly felt on important global issues,” Ahluwalia said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh agreed to establish a regular bilateral strategic economic dialogue mechanism during Wen’s visit to India last December.

Govt to Control Excess Pricing of Rat Fever Medicines

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Health Minister Adoor Prakash today said in Assembly that the excess pricing of medicines for the treatment of rat fever would be controlled.

He said that the companies are using tactics that whether they give any price, the people would be forced to buy medicine. Media always pointed out the same. The availability of medicine is ensured for rat and dengue fever.

For controlling the price of medicines, a discussion lead by Chief Minister would be held with drug companies. Chief minister Oommen Chandy said in assembly that the drug companies are looting the patients and stern action would be taken against such companies.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Adoor Prakash apologized in the assembly for his statement that among the dead of fever, some deaths occurred due to liver cirrhosis.

Deputy leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan brought the issue in the assembly soon after question hour. Kodiyeri asked the Minister to withdraw his statement and the opposition trooped to the well of the house and shouted slogans.

When the situation turned worse, Adoor apologized for the statement. But as the opposition was not satisfied with that, the chief minister apologized on behalf of him.

Mamata wins as HC upholds Singur Act

Kolkata: The Calcutta high court today said that the Singur Land Rehabilitation Act is constitutional and valid, which means a huge victory for West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, and a setback for the Tatas.

The Act was constitutional and valid, said the High Court. It said the act provided sufficient public purpose. The court appointed special officers to oversee the of land transfer to West Bengal.

The act was introduced in June by Mamata shortly after she became West Bengal chief minister. It allowed her government to cancel a 99-year-lease signed with Ratan Tata for nearly 1000 acres for his Nano factory.

The court maintained that the company may apply for compensation for damages, if they have suffered any. The verdict was delivered by justice Indraprasanna Mukhopadhyay, who stayed his verdict for a month to enable either party to appeal against it to the higher court. The justice also directed the Tatas to remove all their articles within two months from the plot. The Tatas can apply for compensation before the Hooghly district judge within six months.

Honda Launches Its Small Car Brio at a Starting Price of Rs 3.95 Lakh

New Delhi: Honda Siel Cars India Ltd launched its much-awaited small car, the Honda Brio in the Indian market. Honda Brio is being manufactured at HSCI’s facility in Greater Noida, U.P. with localisation level of more than 80%. The localisation level is expected to reach 90 percent soon.

With a starting price of Rs 3.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), Brio is Honda’s cheapest offering and is being launched in the middle of a trying period for the Japanese carmaker.

“We have been able to launch the Brio at a competitive price due to our concerted efforts to control costs, maximize production efficiencies and minimize impact of currency fluctuations. And we have achieved this through pure localization – localization of critical components, using local suppliers, local materials, local machines and dies, by localized drawings and our Indian associates,” said Takashi Nagai, President and CEO, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd.

Honda’s export turnover for components from India stands at Rs 112 crore rupees for the current fiscal year. The company has already begun exporting Brio components to Thailand from its Rajasthan factory.

Honda says that the Brio has been designed for India and Indian consumers. Indian engineers were involved for the first time in developing a Honda car. They assisted in designing and developing many parts according to Indian preferences

The Brio has a four cylinder 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine that delivers maximum output of 88 PS @ 6000 rpm and Torque of 109 Nm (11.2 kg-m) @ 4600 rpm, while giving a fuel economy of 18.4 km/l, as per test data.

30 students among 37 killed in school bus crash in Pakistan

Islamabad: As many as 37 people, mostly schoolchildren, died on Monday as an over-loaded passenger bus overturned on the on the motorway southeast of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad Monday, police said.

The bus, which was carrying pupils from a private school on their way back from an excursion, is understood to have come off the road and fallen into a ravine.

The bus overturned after its brakes failed, trapping all students and teachers inside it, DPO Syed Ali Mohsin told media. Bodies of the victims and the injured students were taken out of the vehicle after cutting open body of the bus, Kamran Rasheed, district in-charge of Rescue 1122, said.

He said all bodies and the injured people were taken to Fauji Foundation Hospital, Kallar Kahar, and DHO hospital, adding that the rescue agency was shifting some of the critically injured people to hospitals in Rawalpindi and an emergency had been declared in all hospitals concerned to cope with the situation.

An official said the driver, his helper and the vice principal of the school were among the dead.

A government official said an inquiry had been ordered and an investigation team will examine the scene of the accident on Tuesday to examine the cause.

Pakistan has one of the world’s worst records for deadly traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

Achuthanandan’s plea for CBI probe in sex scandal dismissed

Kochi: The Kerala High Court Tuesday dismissed a petition of Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into what has come to be known as the Kozhikode ice cream parlour sex case, involving state minister P.K. Kunhalikutty.

The court had earlier this month asked Kerala Police to submit its case diary and investigation report in the sex scandal that dates back to the early ’90s and allegedly involves Kunhalikutty, an Indian Union Muslim League leader.

After going through the police documents, the court found that the investigation was going on smoothly and hence dismissed the plea of Achuthanandan, who is a Marxist leader.   (IANS)