MADRID (AFP) –
The pursuit of technology is driving the growing number of foreign acquisitions by Indian firms as much as the search for new markets, top Indian business leaders said during a business conference in Spain.

Since 2000 Indian companies — bolstered by rapid economic growth at home and looser rules on investing abroad — have announced over 1,000 international mergers or acquisitions worth over 70 billion dollars (56.5 billion euros), according to research firm Dealogic.

Vijay Chandok, the managing director of ICICI Bank UK, the British subsidiary of Indian bank ICICI, said these overseas purchases are being fueled by the desire to diversify geographically as well as the need to acquire know-how in order to boost growth.

“They are looking to build capabilities by acquiring access to brands and patents,” he said at the Global India Business Meeting, a two-day gathering of top Indian business leaders in Madrid which wrapped up on Tuesday.

In an example cited at the gathering, India’s Tata Steel went from having not one single American patent to owning over 80 after it bought Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2007 for 12 billion dollars.

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MEXICO CITY – Authorities in northern Mexico say assailants sprayed a town hall with gunfire, killing at least three police officers.

The Nuevo Leon state attorney general’s office says police found 200 shell casings from assault and semiautomatic rifles outside the Los Herreras municipal office, which also houses the town’s police force.

Such weapons are often used by drug cartel hitmen. Prosecutors said Tuesday a vehicle found at the scene had “Z-40″ and “Z” painted on its windows — apparent references to the Zetas drug gang.

Authorities blame fighting between the Gulf cartel and the Zetas for a recent surge in violence in Nuevo Leon, which is close to Mexico’s border with Texas.

The attack happned around midnight Monday.

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LONDON (AFP) –
Andy Murray admits he is already benefiting from the Wimbledon feel-good factor after putting an end to his recent dismal run.

Murray has been stuck in a rut since losing to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final in January and has failed to get past the quarter-finals in his last eight events.

The world number four even looked out of sorts when he attempted to defend his title at the pre-Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen’s Club two weeks ago.

His spluttering form prompted some pundits to suggest Murray had fallen out of love with the sport after the crushing disappointment of being swept aside by Federer in Australia.

As usual at Wimbledon, it falls to Murray to carry the weight of a nation’s expectations on his shoulders, but he insists he thrives on the burden because he already has so many good memories of the grass-court grand slam.

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