Mumbai, Apr 15 : The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark sensex witnessed its best closing session since mid-October, when it crossed the 11,000 mark on Wednesday.

The BSE, which had opened at 10,805.14 points, wrapped up at a much brighter note at 11,284.73 points, gaining 2.9 percent.

After losing 248.04 points in the opening trade, the 30-share barometer, at 2 p. m. had improved at 11,220.92 points as most of the heavyweight stocks led by realty recorded handsome gains.

Mumbai, Apr 15 : Anjali Waghmare, the lawyer who was appointed to defend Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the November 2008 Mumbai attack, on Wednesday said that the special court had not accused her of ''''professional misconduct'''', and this was all a figment of the media's imagination.

Mumbai, Apr. 15 : Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the November 2008 Mumbai attack, has demanded that he be represented by a Pakistani lawyer, hours after a special court removed Anjali Waghmare, his Indian lawyer from the case on grounds of ''''professional misconduct''''.

Mumbai, Apr 13 : Carrying forward his verbal retort against Leader of Opposition Lal Krishna Advani, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Monday said that speaking loud was no sign of strength.

"If you read my statement, you will get my answer. Weakness or strength does not come from loud speaking. It comes from your capacity to react on time. The BJP leader has a unique ability to combine strength in speech with weakness in action," Singh said at a press conference here.

Pune, Apr 11 : Maharashtra police on Saturday arrested a sharp-shooter of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Asif Mohammad Shaikh alias Asif Dadhi, an alleged associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, has been sent to a two-day police custody.

Many cases of murder, attempt to murder and ransom have been registered against Dadhi.

Mumbai, Apr. 11 : The State Bank of India has slashed interest rates for new small and medium enterprise loans besides announcing several measures to improve credit flows to the segment.

India's bigger lender cut the lending rates for new SME loans up to 5 lakh rupees to eight per cent, and 10 percent for loans upto 5-25 lakhs.