9 schoolkids killed

NEW DELHI: A speeding school bus plunged into a river in southern India on Thursday killing at least nine schoolchildren and two adults. Police rescued 14 children and were searching for another seven others believed missing. The driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp bend on the outskirts of Mangalore. — AP

Reconstruction cost

BEIJING: Nearly $150 billion are needed to rebuild areas in southwest China devastated by a massive earthquake in May, the government said on Thursday. The 51 worst-hit counties and cities will need about one trillion yuan ($145.7 billion), said the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planning agency, in a statement on its website. That was more than one fifth of the 4.9 trillion yuan of tax revenue that the government was able to collect nationwide last year. A total of 4,432 primary and middle schools and 169 hospitals are to be rebuilt, according to a reconstruction plan posted on the NDRC’s website. The 59-page plan was put online in order to solicit opinions and suggestions from the public. The deadline for input from citizens is August 24. — AFP