Sensex weak amid choppy trade; DLF, Tata Power down

The BSE benchmark Sensex edged down further on choppy trade in markets, extending its losses for the third straight session on continued selling by funds and retail investors amid fears of an interest rate hike and a weakening trend in Asian markets.

The 30-share BSE index, which lost nearly 352 points in the previous two sessions, fell further by 36 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 16,111.16 during the early hours of the trade. In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index shed 5.10 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 4,834.50.

Market experts said the trading sentiment was weak as participants anticipated another hike in key short-term interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India to rein in inflation, which inched closer to double digits at 9.80 per cent for the week ended August 13, up from 9.03 per cent in the previous week.

A weakening trend on other Asian bourses following overnight losses on Wall Street also cast a shadow over the domestic market, they said.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down by 0.43 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index shed 0.07 per cent in morning trade today. In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1.51 per cent in Thursday's session.

BMW India enhances

BMW India, the largest luxury car maker in the Indian market, said on Thursday that it has enhanced the total output at its Chennai plant to 11,000 units. The capacity of the Chennai plant has been increased with the help of second shift that commenced in June 2011. The company had increased its capacity to 10,000 units per annum in March this year in a single shift.

Speaking to reporters in Pune, BMW India President Andreas Schaaf said, "We have expanded our production facility by starting the second shift of production. The production has been expanded to 11,000 units annually from 10,000 units."

He added that if needed the company can add another assembly line, or it can increase the output of the second shift and even add another production site. He specified that "everything is possible on BMW India’s strategy for the next 10 years".

In next 10 years, BMW India aims to sell 60,000 units of its portfolio models in the Indian market and plans an additional investment of Rs 70 crore, next year. The total sales of German auto giant stood at 6,246 units in year 2010.

Meanwhile, the Firm has launched its much anticipated luxury sports utility vehicle BMW X3 in the Indian auto market in the range of Rs 41.2 lakh and Rs 47.9 lakh (ex-showroom, across India). The X3 model will be produced at company’s Chennai Plant.

Apple Vs Samsung :- Apple wins ban on 3 Samsung phones in 10 European nations

Apple  Vs Samsung :- Apple wins ban on 3 Samsung phones in 10 European nations
Apple won an injunction in a Dutch court on Wednesday to stop Samsung Electronics from marketing three smartphone models in some European countries after alleging a breach of patents. Apple and Samsung are locked in a bruising patent fight in the United States, Europe and Asia, as they jostle for the top spot in the smartphone market after Nokia, the market leader for a decade, was ousted in the second quarter.

Apple, argued that Samsung had infringed on three of its patents. The court ruled that Samsung smartphones Galaxy S, S II and Ace breached just one of Apple's patents. The Apple patent allows for a certain method of scrolling or browsing through photos in some Samsung smartphones, the court added.

"It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging," Apple said. The court dismissed all other demands by Apple, saying there were no violations of two other Apple patents, no violations for Samsung's tablet computers Galaxy Tab, and no violations of model rights. And there was no "slavish style copying", the court added. The patent violation could be solved by making technical changes in the smartphones, the court ruled. This would then allow the sale of the smartphones.

President Of India Felicitates Manoj Jayaswal Of Abhijeet Group For Featuring In 'Global Indian'

Hon'ble President of India Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Patil released a Coffee Table book titled 'The Global Indian', which features the Abhijeet Group, as one of the emerging leaders of India in its Vision 2020 segment. At a commemorative function held in Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, the President felicitated Mr. Manoj Jayaswal, founder Chairman, of the Abhijeet Group who is navigating it to glory.

Mr. Manoj Jayaswal is the first entrepreneur from Vidharbha to be felicitated by Hon'ble President Her Excellency Pratibha Patil. Hon'ble President praised Manoj Jayaswal for his commendable efforts and contributions to the Industrialization of the Country. The book, 'Global Indian', identifies Abhijeet Group to emerge as one of the Major Players in the Corporate World by the year 2020.

The Abhijeet family is proud to be positioned as one such prospective group to be identified in this section. A delighted Mr Manoj Jayaswal said, "I am indeed happy to share that the Abhijeet Family is honoured as one amongst the emerging giants of the country. It is a privilege that the Abhijeet Group is first-amongst-equals in the Coffee Table Book, wherein publishers have saluted the Legends, who have paved the way for positioning India in the International arena in various spheres." Mr Jayaswal added, "I am honoured to take my place in an exclusive league of emerging masters who will further take India to a higher pedestal. I firmly believe in India Growth Story and would be partnering in it. We shall be offering the best infrastructure and products to the Nation and its people so that the next phase of growth is secured in record time" he adds with commitment.

A book dedicated to some of the outstanding global Indians of the Present day. The book catalogues the achievements of 25 Indians from various walks of life like Industry, sports icons, film personalities, classical exponents & scientists, who have made India proud. Internationally renowned personalities like, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, Mr. Anil Kakodkar, Cricket legends - Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Chess Maestro Viswanathan Anand, Industry Captains like Ratan Tata, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Rahul Bajaj, Adi Godrej, Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Azim Premji, NR Narayana Murthy, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Lata Mangeshkar, A R Rehman, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Zakir Hussain & Mira Nair are covered in the columns of this book. Continuing in the same spirit, the book identifies potential future newsmakers in their section Vision 2020.

Being identified and classified as a change agent & growth driver is an occasion for the Group to reach out to our stakeholders. Abhijeet Group has already positioned itself as an efficient Corporate in Power, Roads, Ferro Alloys & EPC sectors and is poised to emerge as a major player in Solar Power, Steel and Cement sectors.

Pearson to publish customised books for seven universities in Maharashtra

Pearson Education will publish customised text books for seven universities in Maharashtra.These universities include: University of Mumbai; University of Pune; Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University; Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University; Shivaji University, Kholapur; Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad and North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon.The first and second year of engineering for these universities in the Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Technology stream. The initiative is result of a year-long study into the needs of various universities.

"The books are developed as per the current and updated syllabus. This will provide student and faculty with books which are 100 per cent as per the syllabus and which become one comprehensive source for studying the subject," the company said. These books will be available for students and faculty in August 2011.

Pearson also publishes customised books for Gautam Buddh Technical University (GBTU) and Mahamaya Technical University (MMTU), Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekananda Technical University (CSVTU), Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU), and Gujarat Technological University (GTU).

The books have been developed in collaboration with various faculties across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh affiliated colleges to provide course material in form of reviews for these books.

6 more farmers commit suicide in Vidarbha in last 48 hours

At a time when the Anna-tide has swept the people across the country against the anti-corruption campaign, sadly, the agrarian crisis continues to take a heavy toll on farmers in Vidarbha. Unable to put up with crop failure, crippling debts and not getting remunerative price for their
produce, six more distressed cotton-growers have committed suicide in Vidarbha over the last 48 hours.

Reports reaching Nagpur on Thursday said six cotton growers Kaniram Jadhav of Krishna Nagar (Yavatmal district), Pramod Gawande of Lotwada, Puroshottam Pakhan of Muradevi (both in Amravati), Nitin Fale, Masa (Akola), Sheikh Anwar, Pangarkhed (Buldhana) and Santosh Raut of Malegaon (Washim), ended their lives in the last two days.

With these, the farmers' suicide toll has risen to 44 this month while the figure was 52 in July. As many as 418 farmers have committed suicide because of agrarian crisis in Vidarbha since January 2011.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Shravan Hardikar, the district collector of Yavatmal, one of the worst hit districts in the region, admitted that the rate of farmers' suicide has increased this month in the district. "We are trying our best to prevent such thing in the district," he said.

The institutional banks have disbursed around Rs 650-crore crop loan in the current kharif season as against the target of over Rs 900-crore. "Some nationalised banks are not cooperating in this regard and have been issued a stern warning. These banks have been directed to meet the target of disbursing crop loan to needy farmers," Hardikar said.

He informed that there were reports of 25 farmers' suicide this month in Yavatmal. "We are verifying facts whether these cases were related with agrarian crisis or not," he said.

Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti said that the growing trend of farmers' suicide is alarming. However, nobody is listening it in the wake of Hazare's fast for Jan Lokpal bill. This sensitive issue was overshadowed by Anna's agitation across the country.

"It is pathetic that Anna, who has been fighting for a good cause of anti-corruption, but never bothered about   the vital issue of farmers' suicide in Vidarbha where an average two farmers commit suicide every day," he said. The veteran Gandhian crusader did not even speak about on wanton corruption by government officials and politicians while implementing the Prime Minister and state government relief packages of over Rs 6000-crore to bailout the distressed farmers of Vidarbha, Tiwari said.

The vicious circle of loans and exploitation by moneylenders and the powers-that-be, doesn't seem to be addressed by Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign. The farmers at large, though see a ray of hope in Anna, but those deeply caught in this vicious circle, are unable to cope up with farm distress any more.

"We are insisting that at least the government should treat these distressed farmers as BPL families so that they can get the food grain benefit from the government under the public distribution system to help minimise the farmers' suicide," Tiwari said. However, the government is not doing anything in this regard, he rued.

Nagpur doctors at a chilled out do

aking some time off their busy schedules, a few city docs decided to organise a reunion and the effort seemed worth it.

When the 1973 batch of students of Government Medical College met, it was Dr Ravindra Jharia who was happiest! After all he had taken the initiative in getting his friends together. As docs reminisced about their golden days, we noticed that only Dr Vilas Tambe was dressed in casuals, while the rest chose to don formals. As the spirit of camaraderie reigned, it was clear that this trip down memory lane was a journey whose end would take a long time coming.

NMC - Government calls special cabinet meeting

NMC - Government calls special cabinet meeting
A special cabinet meeting on Friday will discuss the proposal for an increase in the number of seats of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The urban development (UD), in consultation with the SEC, has proposed to increase the number of seats from the existing 136 to 145 on account of increase in population in the area covered by NMC.

As per provisional census figures released recently, the population within the corporation's limit has shot up from 10 lakh in 2001 to 24 lakh in 2011. The SEC had earlier decided against increasing the number of seats in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), where the population rose by 4 lakh during the corresponding period.The number of seats in BMC will remain constant at 227.

The decision to convene a special cabinet meeting was taken on Thursday evening. Elections for NMC and BMC are scheduled for February next year. According to senior officials, the process of deciding the number of wards got delayed since provisional figures for the census were only released recently.

The SEC will initiate the process of finalising the ward structure after an ordinance for the increase in the number of wards is issued.

Apple Has Partial Success Against Samsung In Patent Battle

Dutch court bans Samsung's Dutch subsidiaries from selling three smartphones

-- Selling ban effective Oct. 13

-- Selling ban forces Samsung to rework European logistics to sell phones outside the Netherlands

-- Dutch court says Samsung violated one Apple patent

-- Dutch court rejects other claims of Apple against Samsung as slavish imitation

(Rewrites throughout)

By Archibald Preuschat

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

AMSTERDAM (Dow Jones)--A Dutch court Wednesday banned certain Dutch subsidiaries of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (005930.SE) from selling three of its smartphones in most of Europe saying they violate a patent of iPhone producer Apple Inc (AAPL), forcing the South Korean handset maker to rework its logistics in Europe.

The court, based in The Hague, ruled that Samsung and three of the company's Dutch subsidiaries violated Apple's patent on the scrolling method and the browsing gallery used in its smartphones Galaxy S, S II and Ace, but rejected all Apple's other claims against its South-Korean competitor, including violating registered designs, copyrights and style imitation.

The ruling doesn't apply to Samsung's latest tablet computer, which was released earlier this summer and runs on Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android operating system, and is widely considered the most promising competitor to Apple's iPad.

The Dutch court's ruling is the latest development in a string of legal battles between the U.S. iPhone producer and the South-Korean consumer electronics manufacturer.

Apple in April sued Samsung in a California court, alleging that the South Korean manufacturer infringed its patents and "slavishly" copied its designs.

Earlier this month, Apple won an agreement from Samsung that the South Korean company wouldn't sell the newest version of its Samsung Galaxy Tab in Australia until a patent lawsuit in the country is resolved.

An Apple spokeswoman Wednesday reiterated the company's earlier statement that Samsung had copied its products and that it is protecting its intellectual property.

A Samsung spokesperson said, "the ruling is an affirmation that the Galaxy range of products is innovative and distinctive. With regard to the single infringement cited in the ruling, we will take all possible measures including legal action to ensure that there is no disruption in the availability of our Galaxy smartphones to Dutch consumers."

The Samsung spokesperson also said "that the ruling is not expected to affect sales in other European markets."

While Samsung's Dutch subsidiaries are banned from selling the devices in European countries with effect from Oct. 13, the ban doesn't apply to Samsung South Korea which can still import the devices elsewhere in Europe, although not in the Netherlands.

However, given the Netherlands is an important distribution hub for Samsung's European imports, the company will have to rework its logistics if it wishes to continue selling the devices elsewhere in Europe.