Opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani is expected to soon step down as head of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ending his reign as one of India's most powerful politicians. An ardent Hindu nationalist,

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Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday inaugurated New Delhi's longest metro line, emphasising the importance of public transport for India's congested cities. The new line, the system's third route, is expected to ease the

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A Chilean appeals court stripped former dictator Augusto Pinochet of his immunity from prosecution on Friday so he can face new charges for abuse of funds in a $27 million tax fraud case. Judges from

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Gazan policemen incensed at the death of an officer in a clan clash blockaded the border with Egypt on Friday, prompting European monitors to briefly withdraw in a new blow to Palestinian efforts to curb

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The main Marxist backer of Sri Lanka's president Friday asked him to reconsider the role of a key Norwegian peace mediator as fresh attacks left at least five more security personnel wounded. Copyright Agence France-Presse,

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The United States embassy in the Malaysian capital was shut down Friday due to an unspecified security threat, and the police presence around the building was beefed up, officials said. "The embassy will close effective

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Europeans braced for a shivery New Year celebration as temperatures plunged to new lows Friday, while a cold snap claimed the lives of new victims and snow, ice and floods snarled traffic. Poland reported 22

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The rupee was lifted by robust foreign capital inflows to its strongest close in 11 weeks on Friday, but the currency still ended 3.5 percent weaker on the year to register its first annual depreciation

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Sterling held steady against the dollar in thin holiday trading on Friday, but remained on track for its biggest annual drop against the US currency since 1992. Sterling showed little reaction to news on Friday

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The dollar looked set on Friday to end 2005 up almost 15 percent versus the euro and the yen and to post its best annual gain in eight years against an index of currencies, boosted

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