Saturday, November 29, 2008

59-hour Mumbai terror Ends !!!

  • India's longest terror nightmare that lasted for almost 59 hours ended Saturday.
  • Scores of hostages Friday finally walked out of the two hotels and the Jewish center.
  • Fourteen militants were killed, while one has been captured.
India's longest terror nightmare that lasted for almost 59 hours ended Saturday as commandos from the National Security Guard (NSG), the Indian Army and the Indian Navy eliminated three militants who had taken over the iconic Taj Mahal hotel.
"Finally, we have been able to win the battle and do the job (assigned to us)," NSG head J.K. Dutt told reporters.
Saturday was the culmination of a four-day anti-militant operation that began Wednesday evening when several armed men, probably two dozen and armed with grenades and automatic rifles, sneaked into the city by boat.

On Friday, the commandos first took control of the Oberoi hotel and then the Jewish center. Thousands living all around the building took to the streets, shouting slogans and hailing the security forces.

But the three gunmen at the Taj Mahal held on despite being outnumbered by well-trained commandos.

A total of 25 explosions, small and big, were heard in the hotel all through Friday, and gunfire rattled the hotel and fires frequently erupted from different rooms, IANS reported.


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Aon to cut up to 700


Aon Corp., the world's largest insurance broker, said Friday it would slash as many as 700 jobs as part of its $1.43 billion purchase of Britain's Benfield Group Ltd.

The finalized acquisition of Benfield came in $320 million less than the $1.75 billion estimated in August, thanks to a stronger U.S. dollar, Aon said.

Chicago-based Aon said combining Benfield, an independent reinsurance intermediary, with its existing reinsurance operations will create a global, diverse franchise. The new company, Aon Benfield, will launch Dec. 1.

Job cuts, lease consolidation and other costs associated with the purchase will cost $185 million over three years, Aon said.

Most of 500 to 700 jobs being cut do not deal directly with clients, Aon said in a release. A company representative was not immediately available to comment further.


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Friday, November 28, 2008

Apple offers Black Friday price cuts


Apple Inc's much-anticipated Black Friday event offered consumers discounts on Mac computers, iPods and accessories at levels similar to years past, despite speculation about deeper price cuts.

Apple, a company renown for its marketing prowess, had stoked consumer excitement by announcing a one-day Black Friday "shopping event," without giving any further details.

The company cut prices by roughly 5 to 10 percent on certain items. A 13-inch MacBook was being offered for $1,200, a discount of $100, while an iPod touch was being sold for $378, a discount of $21. The iPhone, which has been hugely popular since its launch last summer, was not on sale.

Apple products are generally more expensive than those ofcompetitors, and the company does not cut prices very often. However, with consumer spending a huge question mark this holiday season, many retailers desperate to lure shoppers are offering steep discounts.



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Fujitsu Siemens to cut 700 jobs


Fujitsu Siemens Computers plans to slash around 700 jobs in Germany -- 12 per cent of its workforce in the country -- due to continued competitive and economic challenges, it said.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers Holdings (FSC) is Europe's biggest maker of personal computers and employs about 10,500 worldwide, most of whom are in Germany.

It said the job cuts were not a result of its new ownership structure but rather a move to improve profitability and competitiveness.

Management began talks with union representatives about the plans on Thursday, Fujitsu Siemens said.


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World's Oldest Person Dies in Indiana

A Shelbyville, Indiana woman, who once taught in a two-room schoolhouse and became the world's oldest person more than a year ago, has died. Edna Parker was 115 years-old.




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Foreign Tourist Killed In Mumbai Terror Attack

At least two people, one of them a foreign tourist, were killed and nearly 15 injured as suspected terrorists struck in at least seven places, including a busy railway teminus and two five-star hotels, in this commercial capital of India on Wednesday night.

A spokesperson for a meditation group says two Virginians killed in Mumbai were finishing a snack when they were attacked and killed by terrorists.


A slain couple holding dual U.S. and Israeli citizenship was killed during a terrorist assault on the Mumbai headquarters of the ultra-conservative Chabad-Lubavitch movement.



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Thursday, November 27, 2008

ArcelorMittal to cut up to 9,000 jobs

ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, unveiled plans on Thursday to slash up to 9,000 more jobs, saving $1 billion a year in response to a deepening global economic downturn.

The company said it would launch a voluntary redundancy scheme for largely white collar staff to make the cuts, which which could affect about 3 per cent of its workforce.

Up to 6,000 of the job losses would come in Europe, where its largest offices are in Luxembourg and Paris.

The company warned on Tuesday that it might indefinitely lay off 16 per cent of its US workforce, or around 2,400 people, as it cut steel output there by 40 per cent.

It has since settled on 490 positions going through a voluntary scheme. "The global economic reality means that it is only sensible to adopt such measures," Bernard Fontana, a member of ArcelorMittal's management committee, said in a statement.


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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

UPDATE : 87 killed in Mumbai attacks



  • 2 terrorists killed in shootout inside Taj Mahal hotel
  • 6 Blasts in Taj hotel , 1 in Oberoi
  • Terrorists holed up in Trident (Oberoi) hotel, Cama Hospital
  • Terrorists struck at 10 places: Desmukh
  • Anti-Terrorism Squad Chief Hemant Karkare killed
  • 11 policemen, including five officers, killed: Deshmukh
  • Army arrives at Hotel Oberoi to flush out terrorists
  • Seven foreigners among 15 taken hostage by two gunmen in Taj Hotel
  • Firing reported from Hotel Marriott in Colaba
  • Colaba: BP Petrol Pump blown up
  • 10 killed in Colaba attack
  • Taxi blown up in Vile Parle
  • Gun battle outside Metro cinema hall
  • Hotel Oberoi, Hotel Taj under siege
  • Mumbai police say air surveillance ready
  • Local trains suspended
  • Gunfire and grenades, the latest modus operandi of terrorists
  • Roads in Mumbai completely deserted
  • Terrorists still holed up at Nariman House
  • Crowded areas and buildings one behind another, difficult situation for rescue
  • Most Mumbai targets foreigners' favourite hangouts
  • PM briefed about the situation by Home department
Source : ibnlive


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Win Free 8gb ipod Nano


sixth Avenue Electronics giving a Free 8gb ipod nano who ever going to win.

Simply enter your email address above and enter for a chanceto win a free 8GB iPod nano from Sixth Avenue Electronics(6ave.com). Drawing will be held on December 17, 2008.



For more infromation Click Here

Disclaimer:
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Bank Of America Gets Fed Approval To Buy Merrill Lynch

Bank of America Corp. on Wednesday received approval from the Federal Reserve for its purchase of Merrill Lynch . Bank of America aims to close the deal, valued at about $50 billion, by the end of the year. Once the purchase is completed, Bank of America will have the largest wealth management business in the world with around $2.5 trillion in client assets.


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Floods in Brazil Take Heavy Toll

After days of heavy, flooding rains throughout Brazil, it is mudslides that rescue workers are now fighting against. Dozens are dead, another 30 remain missing. Officials estimate 54,000 people are displaced from their homes




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Doctor Designs Artificial Heart

A cardiac surgeon and a french biomedical company are creating an artificial heart which could save the lives of thousands.



Cardiac surgeon Alain Carpentier is working alongside Carmat SA to create the artificial implantable organ. The biomedical company is being backed by aerospace giant EADS.

Preliminary lab tests on the artificial heart have produced promising results.


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NY subway terror

Police bolstered security in subways and trains Wednesday after the government warned that al-Qaida suicide bombers were contemplating an attack on New York's mass-transit systems during the holiday season.

Federal authorities issue an unusually forceful warning about a possible terror plot against the New York City subway system during the holiday season



A Pakistani immigrant was arrested and convicted for a scheme to blow up the subway station at Herald Square in 2004. There was also a planned cyanide attack on the subways by al-Qaida operatives that authorities say was called off in 2002; another aborted al-Qaida plot to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge in 2003; and a plot to bomb underwater train tunnels to flood lower Manhattan, which was broken up in 2006 by several arrests overseas.
Police have no specific details to confirm that this plot has developed beyond aspirational planning, but Police are issuing this warning out of concern that such an attack could possibly be conducted during the forthcoming holiday season.




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Gunmen kill at least 78 in 7 attacks in Mumbai

Teams of heavily armed gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular tourist attraction and a crowded train station in at least seven attacks in India's financial capital, killing at least 78 people and wounding at least 200, officials said Thursday. The gunmen were specifically targeting Britons and Americans and a top police official said the gunmen are holding hostages at two luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels.


Several people have been killed in a series of coordinated attacks targeting Mumbai sites popular with tourists and business people, according to police and CNN's sister network in India.

The gunmen also attacked police headquarters in south Mumbai, the area where most of the attacks, which began late Wednesday and continued into Thursday morning, took place.



Gunmen opened fire on two of the city's best known luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi. They also attacked the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station in southern Mumbai and Leopold's restaurant, a Mumbai landmark.

India has been wracked by deadly bomb attacks in recent years, which police blame on Muslim militants intent on destabilizing this largely Hindu country. Since October 2005, nearly 700 people have died in the bombings. And since May a militant group calling itself the Indian Mujahideen had taken credit for a string of blasts that have killed more than 130.

Mumbai has been hit repeatedly by terror attacks since March 1993, when Muslim underworld figures tied to Pakistani militants allegedly carried out a series of bombings on Mumbai's stock exchange, trains, hotels and gas stations. Authorities say those attacks, which killed 257 people and wounded more than 1,100, were carried out to avenge the deaths of hundreds of Muslims in religious riots which had swept India.



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Unlimited FDIC Insurance Coverage on your Citibank Checking Account

I have receive this email from Citibank regarding FDIC Insurance Coverage.


Good news! Citibank is participating in the FDIC's Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. Through December 31, 2009, all of your non-interest and interest bearing checking deposit account balances are fully guaranteed by the FDIC for the entire amount in your account. *

And as a reminder, in October the FDIC increased the amount of insurance on eligible savings accounts -- such as savings, market rate, money market accounts, club and holiday accounts, and certificates of deposits -- from $100,000 to $250,000 through December 31, 2009.**

To learn more about FDIC insurance, visit the agency's web site at www.fdic.gov or call a Citibank representative at 1-800-374-9700. You may also call the FDIC at 877-ASKFDIC (877-275-3342) or TDD 800-925-4618.



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Shut Down Bangkok Airport

Bangkok's international airport will remain closed until at least the end of Wednesday after anti-government protesters seized control of the facility, an air traffic control official said. Watch the Video.

Staff had been asked to leave the control tower at Suvarnabhumi Airport because of the closure, said Puttawan Noirod, a spokeswoman for Aeronautical Radio of Thailand which controls air traffic across the country.

"First Airports of Thailand told us that the airport would be closed until midday but then they informed us that the airport will not operate the rest of the day," Puttawan said.

Earlier on Wednesday, protesters tightened their hold on the airport, where two people were wounded in a blast and thousands of travellers left stranded by demonstrators vowing to topple the government.


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Monday, November 24, 2008

Google Layoffs - 10,000 Workers !!!!!


Google has been quietly laying off staff and up to 10,000 jobs could be on the chopping block according to sources. Since August, hundreds of employees have been laid off and there are reports that about 500 of them were recruiters for Google.

By law, Google is required to report layoffs publicly and with the SEC however, Google has managed to get around the legal requirement. In fact, one of the ways Google was able to meet Wall Street’s Q3 earnings expectations was by trimming “operational” expenses.

Google reports to the SEC that it has 20,123 employees but in reality it has 30,000. Why the discrepancy? Google classifies 10,000 of the employees as temporary operational expenses or “workers”. Google co-founder Sergey Brin said, “There is no question that the number (of workers) is too high”.


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Palm laying off an 1,050 workers

Palm, which employs 1,050 workers, makes the Centro and Treo smartphones. The company's market share has been shrinking, with RIM's BlackBerry becoming the device of choice for the business set and Apple's iPhone a consumer phenomenon.

Palm has been staking its future on the launch of a yet-to-be-named operating system and device. Fox said the OS is on track to be released this year, and the device in the first half of 2009.

Read the rest of Story


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Obama: We Need Jobs Stimulus Plan 'Enacted Right Away'

With the economy in crisis, President-elect Barack Obama urged the new Congress to pass a quick economic stimulus bill, pledged help for the troubled auto industry and blessed the Bush administration's bailout of the financial industry.




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Citigroup gets massive government bailout




Joint Statement by Treasury, Federal Reserve and the FDIC on Citigroup


The government rescued Citigroup Inc, agreeing to shoulder most of the potential losses from $306 billion in its risky assets and inject $20 billion in new capital, its biggest effort yet to prevent a big bank from failing.

The U.S. government is committed to supporting financial market stability, which is a prerequisite to restoring vigorous economic growth. In support of this commitment, the U.S. government on Sunday entered into an agreement with Citigroup to provide a package of guarantees, liquidity access and capital.

As part of the agreement, Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will provide protection against the possibility of unusually large losses on an asset pool of approximately $306 billion of loans and securities backed by residential and commercial real estate and other such assets, which will remain on Citigroup's balance sheet. As a fee for this arrangement, Citigroup will issue preferred shares to the Treasury and FDIC. In addition and if necessary, the Federal Reserve stands ready to backstop residual risk in the asset pool through a non-recourse loan.

In addition, Treasury will invest $20 billion in Citigroup from the Troubled Asset Relief Program in exchange for preferred stock with an 8% dividend to the Treasury. Citigroup will comply with enhanced executive compensation restrictions and implement the FDIC's mortgage modification program.

With these transactions, the U.S. government is taking the actions necessary to strengthen the financial system and protect U.S. taxpayers and the U.S. economy.

We will continue to use all of our resources to preserve the strength of our banking institutions and promote the process of repair and recovery and to manage risks. The following principles guide our efforts:

* We will work to support a healthy resumption of credit flows to households and businesses.
* We will exercise prudent stewardship of taxpayer resources.
* We will carefully circumscribe the involvement of government in the financial sector.
* We will bolster the efforts of financial institutions to attract private capital.




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Finance Minister says India not staring at recession

Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has claimed that India is nowhere close to recession and that the country has successfully weathered the global economic storm.



Chidambaram said that the only major impact of the ongoing global economic crisis has been on inflation, which will take some time to moderate. He, however, admitted that economic crisis will have a fallout on the growth rate this year.

"India is nowhere near a recession. The growth estimate for first quarter of 2008-09 is 7.9 per cent and it will be good for the second quarter as well. Nevertheless we must be prepared for a temporary slowdown in Indian economy. Our effort will be to minimise the impact of crisis in the economy and return to the growth trajectory of nine per cent," Chidambaram said after meeting a group of economic editors in New Delhi on Monday.



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Indian immigrant kills wife in New Jersey

A 24-year old Indian immigrant from Kerala trying to escape an abusive marriage, was killed by her husband, who also shot two other persons injuring them critically at a church in New Jersey.
The 27-year old assailant, identified as Joseph "Sanish" Pallipurath, who drove all across the US from California to New Jersey to confront his 24-year old wife Reshma James, escaped after fatally shooting her.

Police said he was still potentially dangerous as he possessed the sliver handgun with which he shot the victim.

While Reshma died four hours later, the two others, identified as Dennis John Malloosseril, 23, and Silvy Perincheril, 47, were reportedly in "very critical condition". The hospital though declined to give any information.

Perincheril is Reshma's cousin and a mother of three.

The incident occurred towards the end of the three-hour Sunday service at the St Thomas Syrian Orthodox Kanaya Church in Clifton, when Pallipurath confronted his wife in the Church and shot her, along with another woman and a man.

Source:- Express India


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Sunday, November 23, 2008

Meteor Blazes Across Up In The Canadian Sky


A brilliant fireball streaks a cross the western Canada sky, with numerous people witnessing the meteor of many colors. No fragments have been found, but an expert says it is likely some fell to to the ground in Alberta and Saskatchewan. (Nov. 22)




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Bank of Essex, Tappahannock, Virginia Acquires Community Bank, Loganville, GA

Bank of Essex, Tappahannock, Virginia Acquires All the Deposits of The Community Bank, Loganville, GA

The Community Bank, Loganville, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Bank of Essex, to assume all of the deposits of The Community Bank.

The Community Bank's four branches will open on Monday, November 24, 2008 as Bank of Essex. Depositors of the failed bank will automatically become depositors of Bank of Essex. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage.

Over the weekend, customers of The Community Bank can access their deposits by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

I read this news at FDIC website where they have releases news on 21st Nov. 2008.


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U.S. Bank Acquires Two Southern California Institutions

U.S. Bank Acquires All the Deposits of Two Southern California Institutions
Downey Savings & Loan Association, Newport Beach and PFF Bank & Trust, Pomona


U.S. Bank, National Association, Minneapolis, MN, acquired the banking operations, including all the deposits, of Downey Savings and Loan Association, F.A., Newport Beach, CA, and PFF Bank & Trust, Pomona, CA, in a transaction facilitated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The combined 213 branches of the two organizations will reopen as branches of U.S. Bank under their normal business hours, including those with Saturday hours. Depositors will automatically become depositors of U.S. Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage.

Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until U.S. Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of the organizations. Over the weekend, depositors can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards

I read this news at FDIC website where they have releases news on 21st Nov. 2008.


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Gas prices slip below $2.

  • Average price in U.S. is below $2 for first time since March 2005, survey says
  • All-time high average -- $4.11 -- was set four months ago
  • Average price dropped 33 cents in the past two weeks
  • Survey: Diesel prices are under $3 for the first time since September 2007
The average price of self-serve, unleaded gasoline on Friday in the United States was $1.97,Now no one knows how down gas price will go.


Here is website where you can find what's gas price in your area.
Click here



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Obama plan to create 2.5M jobs by 2011

Saying that moving quickly is imperative, President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday offered an outline of his economic recovery plan to create 2.5 million jobs by 2011, saying American workers will rebuild the nation's roads and bridges, modernize its schools and create more sources of alternative energy.



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ArcelorMittal warns of 2,444 job cuts


ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, has warned that as many as 2,444 employees at a steel plant in northwestern Indiana could be laid off indefinitely in January.

The company announced that it had notified the United Steelworkers labour union and other interested parties about the possibility of an "indefinite layoff" at its Burns Harbor plant in the second half of January. The recent drop-off in global steel production and the company's previously announced plan to reduce production in North American by 40% factored into the decision, the company said.



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Friday, November 21, 2008

WaMu to slash 1,600 jobs



Washington Mutual announced Thursday it will eliminate 1,600 jobs in the San Francisco area

Employees will receive their 60-day notice December 1, according to Gary Kishner, a WaMu spokesman.

The layoffs at the company's call centers will include 1,200 from the Pleasanton, California, office and 400 from San Francisco. The work will be shifted to other facilities around the country.

After the layoffs, WaMu will still employ 11,000 people in California, Kishner said.

Washington Mutual collapsed September 29, making it the biggest bank failure in the nation's history. Federal regulators seized the company's banking operations, only to turn around and sell them to JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500) for $1.9 billion.



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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Bangkok market blast , 1 Killed 23 wounded

Anti-government protesters in Thailand said that an explosive was hurled overnight at their sit-in outside the prime minister's office, killing one and wounding 23.

One of the protest leaders, Amorn Amornratamanon, said the blast occurred shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday. He says the explosive was thrown inside the main gate of the Government House compound, which protesters have occupied since August.

Government officials have not worked at the compound since the protest began.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.


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Gmail Themes.

I was just checking my mails and Something happened to My Gmail windows and I saw the color was changed to Sky Blue. I was like what's going on and Refreshed the page and got a message on the top which was pointing that Gmail have themes now.
Here is the picture.

Click This image.


Gmail's help center provides an interesting tab about the new themes: In some cases, you can also customize by location. Some themes change during the day, and we use the location information you provide to correctly time these changes with your local sunrise, sunset, and/or weather. If you select one of these themes, you'll see a Country/Region drop-down menu appear.


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Will America's 3 biggest automakers die?

Detroit's Big Three auto majors are in trouble having been buffeted by a recessionary hurricane that has played havoc with their sales and squeezed car loans. With the US sick of bailing out companies (that indulged in excesses) using taxpayer cash, these auto giants face death.



General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The Big Three of the American automotive industry were, for the better part of a century, symbols of assembly line-driven efficiency, US industrial might and American technological innovation.

In short, they were the envy of carmakers the world over. Sure, there were blips and hiccups along the way, including a bailout for the floundering Chrysler in 1979. But as recently as 1990, after decades of domestic dominance, the Big Three still accounted for over 75 per cent of the immense US automobile market



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