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Fortis Healthcare Ltd. will buy 10 hospitals in India from Wockhardt Hospitals Ltd. for 9.09 billion rupees, expanding its hospital-bed capacity by 75% to a total of 5,200 beds in 38 hospitals. Fortis seeks to capitalize on India's growing middle class that seeks medical attention outside the country's national health system.

Candy maker Cadbury PLC is looking to increase its market presence and sales in India by marketing cheaper chocolate candies to lower-income consumers. Cadbury has a 70% share of the chocolate market and 30% of the confectionary market in India with combined annual sales of over $338 million. Emerging markets account for 35% of Cadbury's sales and 60% of its sales growth.

Byline: SONYA MISQUITTA; WALL STREET JOURNAL STAFF MANUFACTURING CONFECTIONERY Cadbury looks to build a nation of chocoholics in India MUMBAI -- As more Indians begin to treat themselves to little [...]

Even though alleged terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Kasab has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the Mumbai Terrorist Attacks of 2008, and has asked for the death penalty, a judge has ruled that the trial must go ahead, as Kasab has not admitted to a lot of the 86 charges against him.

The article discusses opposition from taxicab drivers in Mumbai, India to government rules that will mandate replacement of all taxicabs 25 years of age or older. Most taxicabs are at least that old, and their drivers appreciate their low maintenance costs. After buying a new taxicab Sheikh Shamin Ahmed was harassed by other drivers.

The article discusses efforts by firms in India and abroad to develop products tailored specifically to the needs of poor people. A $2200 car from Tata Motors and a $43 water-purification system from Hindustan Unilever represent a reversal of the usual order of events, in which companies focus mainly on creating products for people in developed nations.

The article focuses on the Indian mass media company Reliance Big Entertainment. The firm has purchased a 50 percent share of DreamWorks SKG, the U.S. motion picture studio founded by Steven Spielberg. The firm's controlling stockholder Anil Ambani plans to finance the production of U.S. motion pictures which Reliance Big Entertainment would then distribute in India.

The article discusses financial difficulties besetting India's Bollywood film industry. Amid an ongoing economic recession available financing for films has dropped substantially. Analyst Rakesh Jariwaia estimates the number of song and dance films made during 2009 will decline by 30%. Additionally, a dispute between movie theaters and film makers has diminished box-office revenues.

The article focuses on confectionery company Cadbury PLC and Kraft Foods Inc.'s interest in purchasing the confectionery company. It states that Cadbury has a sizable share of consumers in India and other emerging markets. It mentions that Cadbury acquired several brands of chewing gum from Pfizer Inc. in 2002 which has given it a strong presence in Latin America. It comments on the potential growth of Cadbury's market share in India and other developing markets.

The article reports on the statement issued by Bharti Airtel Ltd., a cellular telephone firm in India, that sales in rural areas remain strong despite a global financial crisis and prevalent drought in the country. According to company executive Sanjay Kapoor, there is an increasing demand from new customers, nearly 56% of whom are from outside major cities. It notes that in the three months ended June 30, 2009, the profit of the company increased 24% to 25 billion rupees as its revenue grew 17% to 99.42 billion rupees.

The article reports that a global roadshow will be conducted by the Indian government to attracts bids to explore oil fields within its territory. The Indian government is looking to develop more oil fields in order to lessen its oil import, which accounts for 70 percent of the supply in the country. Cairn India is set to start production at its oil fields in western India.

The article reports on the challenge being faced by the India Meteorological Department in predicting the all-important monsoon rains. It is noted that the country's 600 million farmers rely on weather forecasts. According to department head H. R. Hatwar, no prediction is 100 percent accurate anywhere in the world, but stated that the department is doing all it can to improve its overall forecast.

This article reports on the increase in demand facing banks in India's rural regions as a result of government policies that create jobs, build infrastructure and support prices of staple crops. According to the Reserve Bank of India, total bank deposits in these areas rose to 20% in the fourth quarter of 2008. State Bank of India posted a 30% growth in rural deposits in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2009.

The article reports on the marketing strategy of Cadbury in India in 2009. The British candy maker has launched Cadbury Dairy Milk Shots which targets the low end Indian market. Sales of the company have been increasing by twenty percent in the past three years, attributed to economic development in the country. In 2008, Cadbury had a market share of 32.4 percent.

The article reports that the infrastructure investment program of India is having problems finding private investors needed to participate in expanding roads, airports, ports and power. The country's National Highways Authority is planning to construct 60 new road projects across the country. It is noted that many Indian firms have been affected by the global financial crisis and they consider Indian infrastructure projects as too risky.

The article discusses the popularity in rural India of entertainment accessed via cellphone. In villages where residents have neither television nor radio, cellphone service providers such as Reliance Communications Ltd. and Bharti Airtel Ltd. offer numbers consumers can dial to hear music, sports information, and other content of interest.

The article discusses efforts by Indian firm Mahindra Satyam to distance itself from an accounting fraud perpetrated by former chief executive B. Ramalinga Raju. Mahindra executives have looked at other companies that suffered scandals such as Tyco International Inc. and Xerox Corp. for ideas on how to move forward.

The article discusses traveling salesman Sandeep Sharma. Amid India's rural areas Sharma uses songs, jokes, and product demonstrations to sell a variety of consumer goods. Spending by India's 700 rural consumers is increasing, and advertising directed towards them has enjoyed strong growth. Among companies whose products Sharma sells are Nestle and Unilever.

The article reports that a growing number of global investors are investing in the stocks of real estate companies in India. Foreign investors that have invested in India's real estate companies include HSBC Holdings PLC and Morgan Stanley. It outlines the amount of foreign institutional investment gained by property companies in India. Analysts claim that foreign investors may face scrutiny in line with transparency problems among property companies.

The article reports on the guilty plea entered by Pakistani terrorism suspect Mohammed Ajmal Kasab for taking part in the terrorist attacks on Mumbai, India in November 2008. The attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 170 people. Kasab had been charged with murder and waging war against India. It is noted that Kasab's statement boosts the claims of India that the attacks were planned in Pakistan.