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Kanpur, Apr 13 (PTI) India made amends for the Ahmedabad debacle by thrashing South Africa by eight wickets within three days in a dramatic third and final cricket Test to level the three-match series 1-1 here today.
After two days of pulsating battle between bat and ball on an under-prepared Green Park track, the Indians tilted the balance decisively in their favour with a splendid all-round display to ensure that their impressive track record at home was kept intact.
The script could not have unfolded in a more heartening way for the hosts as they first took a crucial 60-run first innings lead by scoring 325 and then skittled out South Africa for a paltry 121 in just 55.5 overs in their second essay.
Needing 62 runs for victory, the Indians lost Virender Sehwag (22) and Wasim Jaffer (10) but former captains Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid steered the team home.
Rahul Dravid hit the winning runs by sweeping Paul Harris to the boundary at the fag end of the day, triggering off celebrations in the Indian dressing room.
None of the South African batsmen could hang around for long today on the deteriorating surface, making the defiant 46-run last wicket partnership between S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma all the more important.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 4-44 while Virender Sehwag returned with career-best Test figures of 8.5-2-12-3.
Ishant Sharma also played a big role taking two wickets for 18 runs.
Bopanna, Amritraj sat out due to injury: Paes
New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) Indian skipper Leander Paes today defended the decision to play himself and Mahesh Bhuapthi in the reverse singles of the Davis Cup tie against Japan, saying the move was aimed at protecting the injured Rohan Boapanna and Prakash Amritraj.
Both Paes and Bhupathi lost the inconsequential matches and India won the Asia/Oceania Zone tie 3-2 after it had taken an unbeatable 3-0 lead yesterday after winning the first two singles and the doubles to advance to the World Group Playoff in September.
"The boys (Bopanna and Amritraj) had injuries so we decided that we would play the singles," Paes said after the end of the tie at the R K Khanna Stadium here.
The veteran doubles duo were thoroughly outplayed in the respective singles matches with Bhupathi going down to teenage sensation Kei Nishikori 5-7 1-6 and Paes losing to Satoshi Iwabuchi 4-6 6-4 4-6.
Paes said a little bit of match practice ahead of the match could have seen him produce a winning result today.
"If I had more practice, I could have pulled it off. I needed to take my chances, especially in the second set, but lack of match practice meant I kept playing a safe game," Paes said.
Bhupathi, who does not even practice singles anymore, said he did not have the energy left to fight after losing the opening set.
"It was fun to go out there and play but in the second set I was tired and it showed," he said. PTI
Inflation to be high but could ease from mid-May: Economists
Mumbai, Apr 13 (PTI) Economists fear the country is in for a period of high inflation even though it may start easing from the current level of 7.41 per cent to around 6.4 per cent from mid-May onwards.
"There is a likelihood of inflation declining in about a month's time. But it will still be around the 6.4 per cent mark," Bank of Baroda Chief Economist Rupa Rege Nitsure told PTI here.
The economists peg inflation's yearly average (FY 09) at around 5.5 per cent, above the Reserve Bank's comfort level of 5 per cent but considerably lower than the present level.
"I see a cool down from May onwards. The Government's administrative measures should help pull down inflation by around 0.40 per cent. A cash reserve ratio (CRR) hike by the Reserve Bank would further help dampen inflation," Enam Securities Chief Economist Sachichidanand Shukla said.
"If supply-side constraints also show an improvement as expected, inflation could reduce to around 6.25 per cent by mid-June," Shukla said.
Edible oils are already showing signs of easing. Food supplies should improve and with recession gripping several economies in the world, commodity prices too could begin to cool, he said. PTI
No decision to hike prices of non-filter cigarettes: ITC
Kolkata, Apr 13 (PTI) Although the Budget has brought the excise duty on non-filter cigarettes on par with filter cigarettes, ITC Ltd is yet to take a decision on hiking the prices of the former.
Asked whether the company was contemplating hiking the prices of non-filter cigarettes, an ITC spokesman told PTI "no decision has been taken as yet".
Sources said that the twin incidence of VAT and increased excise duties on cigarettes was having a negative impact on the sales volume.
The non-filter cigarette portfolio of ITC consists of Bristol Standard, Scissors Standard, Berkeley Standard and Capstan Standard.
Equity research analysts tracking ITC were of the view that the company might go for conversion of non-filter cigarettes to filter cigarettes to avoid a price hike.
A price hike in non-filter cigarettes would make it uncompetitive vis-a-vis filter ones. PTI
TRAI enquiry on Virgin based on press reports unfair: Tatas
New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) Tatas have lashed out at telecom regulator TRAI for instituting an enquiry into a deal between Tata Teleservices and Virgin Mobile based on press reports, terming the action unfair.
"May we request that the enquiry of the nature instituted by TRAI at the behest of press reports is not in fairness of things," TTSL said in a letter replying point by point to the queries raised by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
Having a second brand is nothing new in the Indian telecom operations as almost all operators have had multiple brands including foreign brands, for example Essar Mobile had Orange brand from 2002-04, TTSL said in the letter.
"We are concerned of false propaganda because vested interests had meticulously planted totally false and baseless reports after launch of second brand Virgin Mobile for the youth segment. We had also described in our last letter that competition had even gone to the extent of fabricating DoT letter to TTSL...No such letter had ever been issued by it.
"TTSL has lodged a police complaint and the matter is under investigation by law enforcing agencies," Harish Kapoor, Additional VP (Corporate Regulatory Affairs), TTSL, said in the letter.
TTSL also said that its arrangement with Virgin is for operations that do not require Unified Access Service License.
"We, therefore, would submit that there is no need for us to furnish our agreements in respect of a separate company, Virgin Mobile India Pvt Ltd, which is like a consultant or channelising agent for value-added services and marketing inputs," the company said. PTI
78 LTTE militants killed as army tries to storm rebel lines
T V Sriram
Colombo, Apr 13 (PTI) At least 78 LTTE militants and 10 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed in some of the deadliest clashes the island's embattled north since the scrapping of a tattered ceasefire by the government in January.
The Tamil Tigers, however, claimed that least 30 soldiers were killed and 75 wounded after the military tried to storm rebel lines in northwestern Mannar.
Troops confronted several groups of LTTE militants in areas of Udaiyadi, Kattankulam, Puliyankulam, Ilanthaivan, Malikaittidal and Vannakulam in northwestern Mannar leaving 66 LTTE cadres dead and injured 30 others yesterday, the army said today.
"Troops conducted offensives to capture LTTE bunker line in those areas amidst heavy resistance of the terrorist who used maximum fire power in defence of their strong holds," it said.
"However, soldiers overpowered terrorist resistance and killed 66 terrorists so far while over 30 were reportedly injured," the army said in a statement.
Nine soldiers were killed and 32 injured during the mission, it said.
The military's fresh offensive came barely a week after the killing of a powerful Sri Lankan Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, chief whip of the ruling United People's Freedom Party, in a suicide attack by LTTE in Grampaha, about 25 kms from here.
At least 2, 800 rebels and 165 soldiers have been killed since Colombo dumped the 2002 ceasefire with LTTE in January accusing the LTTE of consistently violating it. PTI
14 killed in mine blast in China
Beijing, April 13 (PTI) Fourteen persons were killed and two others reported missing in a coal mine gas blast at Huludao city in China's Liaoning province, local authorities said.
The miners at the privately owned licensed company were digging coal beyond the officially approved limit causing the explosion, authorities said quoting preliminary investigation.
The local authorities have asked 77 other coal mines in the city to suspend operations for rectifying measures, official Xinhua news agency said.
The coal mining industry in China is the deadliest in the world with a high incidence of accidents. PTI
Maoist victory march continues, NC, royalists bite dust
Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Apr 13 (PTI) Sounding the death knell for the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, the Maoists consolidated their impressive lead bagging 61 of the 105 seats for which results were declared today, with several of the bigwigs of the Nepali Congress that dominated Nepal's politics biting the dust.
With 17 seats, the Nepali Congress (NC) of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was way behind the former rebels who are contesting their first election after giving up a decade-long armed struggle in 2006.
Several of NC's top leaders suffered humiliating defeats including acting President Shushil Koirala (Banke) and senior NC leader Sujata Koirala, daughter of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (Sunsari).
However, the other Left party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist Leninist), did not fare well winning 15 seats in the April 10 election for the 240 seats of the Constituent Assembly that will decide the country's future political system and the fate of the sideline Shah dynasty.
CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal lost from Kathmandu constituency and resigned from the post.
While the royalists have failed to open their account, the Maoists, who are seeking abolition of monarchy, continued their victory celebrations in the capital.
Prominent CPN (Maoist) winners included party chairman Prachanda alias Pushpa Kamal Dahal, second-in-rank leader Baburam Bhattarai, senior leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara, central members Dev Gurung, Barsha Man Pun, Hisila Yami and Pambha Bhushal.
Prachanda has won election from both Rolpa and Kathmandu constituencies. PTI
Ram Sampat schemed to make money out of me: Rakesh Roshan
Mumbai, Apr 11 (PTI) With 'Krazzy4' finally hitting the screens today, the film's producer Rakesh Roshan has hit out at music composer Ram Sampat who had slapped a copyright infringement case against him and later withdrew for an out-of-court settlement and alleged the latter had schemed to make money out of him.
In a statement issued here today, Roshan said it is interesting to note that 'Krazzy 4' music was launched in February 2008 and the promos containing the alleged infringed work was released on TV on all channels in the end of February 2008.
"All these days, Ram Sampat chose to wait and instituted the suit in the High Court just a few days before the release of the film. This was a well-planned scheme of making money. Having all the proof in my hand to defend, I was helpless for want of time", Roshan charged.
The filmmaker said he was required to be in the court when the prints of the film had already been delivered all over the world.
"Finding myself caught in a helpless situation and to keep up my commitment with distributors and to respect feelings of the audience, I had no way but to succumb to the pressure and to compromise on the matter, thereby seeing that the film is released on the announced date.
"To honor all these commitments, moral and professional, I paid the price to Ram Sampat who strangulated me just days before the release," he alleged. PTI
SC allows Sanjay Dutt to go abroad for film shootings
New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, granted bail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was today allowed by the Supreme Court to go abroad for film shootings.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan directed him to return by September 30 and submit his passport with a court.
The Bench also directed him to file an affidavit stating that he would return to the country after completing his work.
Dutt had approached the apex court on March 13, seeking permission to visit Malaysia, Thailand and the United States.
While granting regular bail to the actor on November 27 last year, the court had directed him to surrender his passport and asked him not to leave the country without its permission.
Dutt was convicted under the Arms Act for possessing illegal weapons in connection with 1993 Mumbai blasts case. He was, however, absolved of the serious offence under the TADA.
The CBI had not opposed his bail maintaining that he was entitled for the relief since he was guilty of a less serious offence.
The Bollywood star, who was sentenced in July last year, had spent 18 months in jail. PTI
They fought gender discrimination, are top leaders today
New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) Besides being top women corporate leaders, what do Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Kalpana Morparia and Naina Lal Kidwai have in common? All of them faced gender discrimination in the beginning of their careers but undettered, did not give up. While Shaw, now CMD of Biocon, would have ended up being a brewer, Morparia would be working as a solicitor, says a new book 'Karmic Divas' by Prerna Kaul Mishra.
Even though she was armed with an Australian degree known as best in brewing, various liquor firms in the country in late 70's "developed cold feet when it came to trusting her with a brewer" which finally paved the way for setting up of Biocon.
Another example is Morparia, Vice-Chair for ICICI's Insurance, Security and Asset Management Business, who would "have meandered into becoming a solicitor," had it not being for a failed interview with Hindustan Lever.
Along with both of them, Kidwai, CEO, HSBC India thanks her stars and also her being discriminated for her gender.
"Had I accepted the diktat, I would have ended up with some middle-sized accountant," says Kidwai on her being rejected for accountant's post which involved lot of travelling and hence was 'unsuitable for women' in the book.
The book which encapsulates the success stories of eight Indian businesswomen quotes Shaw as saying, "Very soon I realised I was in the wrong country with the right credentials. The attitude of most brewing companies in India was condescending towards women," she says for being given numerous 'nonsense' reasons for not recruiting her.
"While companies were happy to have her as consultant, they developed cold feet when it came to trusting her with brewery. Kiran was told that she was a woman and heading a brewer meant handling labour, being on call any time of day or night and much more," the author writes. PTI
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