NEW YEAR BONANZA..........

NEW YEAR BONANZARs. 16b economic stimulus and concession packageSRI LANKA-The Government yesterday offered Rs.16 billion stimulative economic package to the consumers to ensure best performance in the commercial agriculture, industrial and services sectors, in the form of a ‘mini budget’ to benefit the entire country in 2009 that dawns tomorrow. dailynews...

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Fall of Paranthan imminent; troops marching into the built up..........

Fall of Paranthan imminent; troops marching into the built upSRI LANKA-Sri Lanka Army Task Force 1 troops are on the verge of scoring another historic victory by liberating the strategically located Paranthan town, reveal battlefield sources. Troops gained total control over the Thadduwankoddy and Komarikudakulam villages edging the Paranthan built up by last afternoon (Dec 30).According to the battlefield reports, troops while advancing towards...

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JVP in major protest to demand fuel price reduction........

JVP in major protest to demand fuel price reduction SRI LANKA-Thousands attended a JVP-staged march and demonstration in Colombo this afternoon (Dec. 29th) to demand the government respects the Supreme Court ruling and reduces the petrol price immediately. The protestors began their march from Hyde Park at 3.45 pm and held their agitation at Lipton Circus.-more-lankadis...

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Sri Lanka's Central Bank takes over private bank........

Sri Lanka's Central Bank takes over private bankSRI LANKA-A private bank saddled with bad debt that threatened to destabilize Sri Lanka's financial system was taken over Monday by the island nation's Central Bank. The regulatory authority appointed the government-owned Bank of Ceylon to continue business operations at the troubled Seylan Bank and removed its board of directors,...

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Year 2008 saw LTTE being pushed to the corner

Year 2008 saw LTTE being pushed to the corner SRI LANKA- The year 2008 saw the LTTE being pushed to the corner virtually by the Sri Lankan Army in the nearly three decades-old ethnic war even as India walked a tightrope on addressing the concerns of displaced civilian Tamils in the island's embattled northern region. The year began with the Sri Lankan Government abrogating...

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UPFA, NFF enter into alliance .......

UPFA, NFF enter into allianceSRI LANKA-A historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the National Freedom Front (NFF) was signed at a simple ceremony at Temple Trees yesterday. The MoU was inked by UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premjayantha and NFF General Secretary Nandana Gunatilaka, amidst an august gathering...

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LTTE suicide bomb blast near Catholic Church ; 8 killed, 17 injured - Wattala........

LTTE suicide bomb blast near Catholic Church ; 8 killed, 17 injured - Wattala SRI LANKA_LTTE terrorists have carried out a suicide bomb attack near the sacred St Ann's church, Hekitta, Wattla in the north of Sri Lankan capital this morning (Dec 28).According to police sources, a male suicide bomber has exploded himself around 9 AM in front of the Civil Defence Force office...

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Army TF 1 thwarts LTTE counter attack- West of Paranthan

Army TF 1 thwarts LTTE counter attack- West of ParanthanSRI LANKA-Sri Lanka Army Task Force 1 soldiers crushed an LTTE counter attack launched at their forward boundary south of Chinna Paranthan area this morning (Dec 24). According to battlefield sources, troops inflicted heavy damages to the terrorists. The terrorists tried to regain their lost battlefield fortifications...

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LTTE airstrip captured - SLA .......

LTTE airstrip captured - SLA SRI LANKA-Army today captured a 200 meter long, 10 meter wide LTTE air strip situated North of Ampakamam in Mullaitivu, Military sources confirm...

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LTTE has forcibly enlisted 8000 students - Army spokesman........

LTTE has forcibly enlisted 8000 students - Army spokesman SRI LANKA-Army spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara says that intelligence wings have reported that the LTTE has forcibly enlisted the students who sat for the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) examination in Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu districts and they are being given weapon training now.Around 8000 students sat for the Ordinary...

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Two minutes silence to commemorate victims of natural disasters

Two minutes silence to commemorate victims of natural disasters SRI LANKA-The Government has requested all Sri Lankans to observe two minutes silence on December 26, from 9.25 - 9.27 am in remembrance of all those who lost their lives in natural disasters, including the victims of the December 2004 Tsunami.news...

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Sri Lankan fighter jets pound rebels......

Sri Lankan fighter jets pound rebels SRI LANKA- Sri Lankan fighter jets bombed rebel positions along the front lines in the north Wednesday as ground forces captured a hidden runway used by the Tamil Tiger air wing, the military said.Fighting between the two sides has escalated in recent months as the government pressed ahead with an offensive aimed at forcing the Tamil Tiger rebels out of their de facto state in the north.With fighting raging on...

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No decision' over fuel prices.........

No decision' over fuel prices SRI LANKA-Cabinet has decided to postpone a decision over fuel prices until next week The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka have agred to postpone deciding whether to reduce fuel prices as per the Supreme Court order. Media minister Laxman Yapa Abeywardene told BBC Sandeshaya that the ministers will decide on further action as they meet next...

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Foreign Minister highlights destructive impact of terrorism on civilian life...........

Foreign Minister highlights destructive impact of terrorism on civilian life SRI LANKA-"Everybody who leaves home for his or her work place expects to return home safely.However, the destructive impact of the evil force of terrorism on civilian life in Sri Lanka has meant that no longer can we take this for granted". These remarks were made by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama...

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Sinna-Paranthan' falls to security forces:................

Sinna-Paranthan' falls to security forces: Over 20 terrorists killed, 5 bodies recovered- KilinochchiSRI LANKA-Troops of the Task Force -1 now engaged in counter terrorist offensives West of Paranthan, consolidated 300m further southwards along the LTTE built earth bund cum ditch, reportedly capturing a terror strongpoint, 'Sinna-Paranthan' this morning (Dec 23). Latest reports...

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Security forces rescue 26 Tamil civilians - Pooneryn

Security forces rescue 26 Tamil civilians - Pooneryn SRI LANKA- Security forces personnel have rescued a group of Tamil civilians comprising twenty-six including two infants and two children while crossing Kilaly lagoon to arrive at security forces controlled area seeking safety for their lives last Sunday, 21 December. According to the defence.lk correspondent in Task...

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Intense fighting results heavy damages to LTTE - Kilinochchi

Intense fighting results heavy damages to LTTE - KilinochchiSRI LANKA-Intense fighting erupted with troops and LTTE terrorists as the troops of 57 Division and Task Force 1 continued their offensive operation to breach the LTTE built earth-bund, the final obstacle and resistance point, few Kilometers away from Kilionochchi yesterday, 23 December-defence...

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“Shah Rukh among 50 most powerful”

“Shah Rukh among 50 most powerful” Barack Obama tops the list New York: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan have been ranked among the 50 most powerful people in the world by the Newsweek magazine. President-elect Barack Obama topped the list. Placing Mrs. Gandhi at the 17th spot, the magazine said: “Although India’s political scene is riven...

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Karuna forms a new party; Tiger name dropped....

Karuna forms a new party; Tiger name dropped SRI LANKA- The simmering crisis between Karuna and Pillaiyan loyalists of the Tamil People’s Liberation Tigers (TMVP) has paved way to the formation of a new party by Karuna Amman in the Tamil Makkal Liberation Alliance (Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Koddani alias TMVK).The significance of the new party is the shedding of Tiger name....

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Heavy fighting' near Kilinochchi

Heavy fighting' near Kilinochchi SRI LANKA-Military authorities deny LTTE claims that nearly 60 soldeirs were killed There's been more heavy fighting in northern Sri Lanka between government forces and Tamil Tiger guerrillas near the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi. There are reports that the rebels have claimed to have killed at least sixty soldiers in a battle, but the military...

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Over 16000 Tamils in Jaffna protest against LTTE terrorism..........

Over 16000 Tamils in Jaffna protest against LTTE terrorism SRI LANKA-Tamil civilians in Jaffna today (Dec 21) staged a massive protest against atrocities committed against them by the LTTE terrorists. According to the defence.lk special correspondent in Jaffna, over 16000 civilians marched peacefully from Kaithadi to Chawakachcheri this morning displaying banners and placards...

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Air Force strafes terrorists in Kilinochchi.

Air Force strafes terrorists in Kilinochchi SRI LANKA-Sri Lanka Air Force has launched a series of air strikes at LTTE strongholds in the Kilinochchi town and its suburbs in support of the Army 57 Division and the Task Force 1 that have laid siege to the LTTE administrative hub. Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara told defence.lk that the fighter jets...

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Lanka’s Jacqueline to enter Bollywood

Lanka’s Jacqueline to enter Bollywood SRI LANKA-Jacqueline Fernandes, Miss Sri Lanka 2006, is all set to enter the Hindi film industry. With her stunning looks and shapely body, Jacqueline is a perfect candidate to be a heroine in Bollywood. Her debut being Aladdin in which she plays the character of Jasmine-derana n...

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Petrol Rs. 100 since midnight today, Supreme Court orders

Petrol price down midnight today, Supreme Court orders SRI LANKA-Supreme Court directed the state to reduce the price of a liter of petrol upto Rs. 100 since midnight today. The Supreme Court considered the price formula submitted by the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance today prior to decrease the pri...

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Mervin agrees to pay Rs. 750,000 to Sirasa

Mervin agrees to pay Rs. 750,000 to SirasaI don't have any problem s with journalists-Minister Mervin SilvaSRI LANKA- Minister of Labor Relations and Manpower Mervin Silva promised not to mess about the duties of any journalist in future before the Supreme Court yesterday(17). Minister Mervin Silva gave this promise when the Supreme Court gave the verdict of the fundamental...

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Fuel prices won’t be changed- Information Department

Fuel prices won’t be changed- Information Department SRI LANKA-The Information Department said today that there would not be any revision of the fuel prices for the moment because the government had not received any order in this regard so far. However, the Cabinet is to meet to take a final decision on ...

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Government reacted too late to terror, says Advani

Government reacted too late to terror, says Advani NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani on Wednesday accused the government of reacting too late to terror. He, however, expressed satisfaction that the Congress had fundamentally changed its stand on terror by bringing in the National Investigation Agency Bill, 2008 and amendments to the Unlawful...

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Person of the Year 2008: Barack Obama

Person of the Year 2008: Barack Obama For having the confidence to sketch an ambitious future in a gloomy hour, and for showing the competence that makes Americans hopeful he might pull it off, the President-elect is TIME's Person of the Year....

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Fighting erupts in fringes of Kilinochchi, Northern FDLs: 120 terrorists killed, 250 injured

SRI LANKA- At least 120 LTTE terrorists were killed and over 250 reported injured during intense battles ensued between troops and LTTE, West of Paranthan, Admapan and Iranamadu at the Kilinochchi battlefront, Tuesday (Dec 16). According to latest military reports, the Task Force 1 and 57 Division troops have also gained control over a 5 km stretch of the LTTE built earth...

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SC allows SB’s name in electoral registry.....

SC allows SB’s name in electoral registry SRI LANKA-The Supreme Court today issued a stay order on the Election Commissioner’s decision to exclude S.B. Dissanayake’s name from the electoral registry. Courts requested the state lawyer to inform the Election Commissioner to include S.B. Dissanayake's name in the electoral register. dailymir...

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Heavy fighting in north Sri Lanka

Heavy fighting in north Sri Lanka SRI LANKA-The Sri Lankan army says that 25 of its troops were killed and 10 are missing after fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island on Tuesday. A spokesman for the rebels told the BBC that the army's offensive in the north of the country had been met with "fierce resistance". ...

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Vavuniya train services resumed

Vavuniya train services resumed SRI LANKA-A ceremony was held in the nothern Sri Lankan town of Vavuniya to mark the resumption of train services which were halted for nearly ten months. Until Tuesday, Yal Devi train from Colombo stopped at Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura.source ...

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Power of Kerawalapitiya

Power of KerawalapitiyaSRI LANKA- The power of Kerawalapitiya would illuminate the hearts of the people of Sri Lanka soon, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. He was addressing the function to mark the commissioning of the Yugadanavi Combined Cycle Thermal power plant in Kerawalapitiya, Wattala. The President said he was happy and proud that the Kerawalapitiya power...

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Karu Jayasuriya resigns.

Karu Jayasuriya resigns SRI LANKA: Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya resigned from office yesterday (9). In his letter to the President tendering his resignation Minister Karu Jayasuriya has said , “ we rejoice at the success achieved in demolishing the power of terrorists in the Mulaitivu and the Kiliinochchi districts and in liberating the...

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Troops overrun 2 LTTE bunker defences, destroy another- Kilinochchi

Troops overrun 2 LTTE bunker defences, destroy another- KilinochchiSRI LANKA-57 Division troops continuing their multi-frontal thrust at the outer fringe of Kilinochchi at Adampan South, Puthumurippukulam, North of Kokkuvil and Terumurikandy have inflicted heavy damages to LTTE during intense fighting reported throughout the day on Sunday (Dec 7).At Puthumurippukulam, troops ran into 2 LTTE bunker overheads and gained total control, while another...

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SLBFE emblem used to dupe job seekers............

SLBFE emblem used to dupe job seekersLetter sent by SLBFE Deputy General Manager for Korean language test forged:SRI LANKA-An organised gang has used forged documents with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) emblem to swindle millions of rupees from more than 60 people with the promise of lucrative employment and training opportunities in Japan.-dailyn...

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Pranab to visit Sri Lanka soon - Karunanidhi

Pranab to visit Sri Lanka soon - KarunanidhiSRI LANKA-External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will visit Sri Lanka soon to persuade Colombo to go for peace talks with the LTTE after announcing a ceasefire, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanudhi said today after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Sin...

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Lanka not among cluster bomb signatories

Lanka not among cluster bomb signatories Minister keheliya Rambukwella has denied accusations that the government is using cluster bombs in the battle against the Tamil Tigers.“We will not breach internationally accepted standards “, said minister Rambukwella....

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Domestic violence 'on the increase'....

Domestic violence 'on the increase'Scientists say war has added to country's conservative attitudes towards women Women are increasingly subjected to domestic violence in Sri Lanka as a result of the ongoing war, social scientists say. Senior lecturer of Social Science at Colombo University, Subangi Herath, said the conservative attitudes, male dominance in the lack of reporting...

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59 Div troops enter Alampil sea tiger bastion.......

59 Div troops enter Alampil sea tiger bastionSRI LANKA-The ground troops of 59 Division on an offensive directed at the remaining LTTE fortification in Mullaittivu District have reached a decisive stage as troops entered into the sea tiger bastion, Alampil, located about 10 Km south of Mullaittivu this morning, 4 December. After capturing the Kumulamunai, a battle formation...

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No terrorist action can be justified - Turkish President

No terrorist action can be justified - Turkish PresidentTURKEY: Turkey does not condone acts of terrorism on any grounds. Bilateral and Multilateral co-operation is essential in combating this threat, Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul said proposing a toast to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a banquet hosted in his honour at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on Tuesday night....

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US report predicts nuclear or biological attack by 2013.

US report predicts nuclear or biological attack by 2013The six-month inquiry singles out Pakistan as one of the likeliest sources of such an attack A congressional investigation into weapons of mass destruction today offered a chilling prediction of terrorists mounting an attack using biological or nuclear weapons within the next five years. The six-month inquiry singles...

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Every country has right to protect itself", says Indian FM

Every country has right to protect itself", says Indian FM "Every country has the right to defend its territorial integrity and it has become difficult to secure such if incidents (terrorist acts) are not adequately addressed, to carry out business as usual and that includes the peace process", Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee was quoted as saying by the New Delhi...

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Cinema Queen Malini Fonseka awarded Silver Peacock...

Cinema Queen Malini Fonseka awarded Silver Peacock SRI LANKA-Sri Lanka’s leading actress Malini Fonseka received the Silver Peacock award for best actress at International Film Festival of India held in Goa for her role in Prasanna Vithanage’s movie ‘Akasa Kusuma’. Malini received an international award for her acting in the movie ‘Eya Den Loku Lamayek’ in 1970s at Tushkant...

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Over 1,000 foreign workers including Lankans confined in Iraq

Over 1,000 foreign workers including Lankans confined in Iraq About 1,000 Asian men including Sri Lankans who were hired by a Kuwaiti subcontractor to the U.S. military have been confined for as long as three months in windowless warehouses near the Baghdad airport without money or a place to work.Najlaa International Catering Services, a subcontractor to KBR, the Texas firm formerly known as Halliburton, hired the men, who are from India, Nepal,...

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Amend constitution to retain GSP+, says Ranil...

Amend constitution to retain GSP+, says Ranil SRI LANKA-ImageMaking a special statement in Parliament this morning (Dec. 03) Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that in attempting to retain the GSP Plus concessions this country’s legislations were clashing with international covenants entered into by it.lankanews...

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Turkey, Lanka in greater resolve to combat terrorism.

Turkey, Lanka in greater resolve to combat terrorismEnhanced trade and economic relations: Many important agreements and understandings were reached at the bilateral talks that took place between President Abdullah Gul of Turkey and President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Palace in Ankara yesterday-dailyn...

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Stranded Lankans arrive from Thailand

Stranded Lankans arrive from ThailandSRI LANKA-A SriLankan Airlines flight carrying 280 passengers who were stranded in Bangkok arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday. A second flight will leave Bangkok today at 2.45am....

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Fighting terrorism:.....

Fighting terrorism: President renews call for global action rome: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa says the Mumbai terrorist attacks should remind everyone about the risk of terrorism and the need for international cooperation to stop it. dailynews-pix -Sudath si...

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Kokavil liberated

Kokavil liberated SRI LANKA-Troops att-ached to the 57 Division yesterday took control of Kokavil, a key town on the A-9 road in the south of Kilinochchi after advancing three Kilometres southwards from Murikandi, Military sources the Daily News yesterday. dailtn...

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Sri Lanka army 'in fresh advance'...

Sri Lanka army 'in fresh advance'SRI LANKA-Sri Lanka's military says it has recaptured a key northern town near the Tamil Tigers' Kilinochchi stronghold.They say that troops took Kokavil, 20km (12 miles) south of Kilinochchi, on Sunday, 18 years after it was seized by the insurgents-more-...

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I have offered to resign: Vilasrao Deshmukh........

I have offered to resign: Vilasrao Deshmukh INDIA-Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Monday said he had offered to resign following the Mumbai terror attacks but the Congress Working Committee (CWC) was yet to accept his resignation. "I accept moral responsibility for the terror attacks and have offered to resign. It is up to the CWC to decide whether to accept...

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Maharashtra Deputy CM RR Patil resigns.......

Maharashtra Deputy CM RR Patil resigns.. INDIA-Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who was in the cross hairs in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, resigned today. "I have submitted my resignation letter to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. I have gone by my conscience and decided to take this step," Patil told "I pondered over the issue the whole night yesterday....

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India security chief resigns after Mumbai attacks..........

India security chief resigns after Mumbai attacks INDIA-With corpses still being pulled from a once-besieged hotel, India's top security official resigned Sunday as the government struggled under growing accusations of security failures following terror attacks that killed 174 people. Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who has become highly unpopular during a long series of terror...

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