Mumbai, Nov 27 : As many as five explosions were heard from inside Mumbai''s Oberoi Trident hotel, within five minutes of the Army taking charge of the site, sources said.

Fresh explosions were also heard inside the Taj hotel.

Maharashtra Director-General of Police A. N. Roy on Thursday said that all hostages held inside the Taj hotel by terrorists here had been rescued.

Islamabad, Nov. 27 : Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif''s hearing into a doping allegation was postponed Thursday after terror attacks in Mumbai killed more than
100 people.

Asif was due to appear before the Indian Premier League''s drug tribunal on Saturday.

“The hearing has been postponed after a very sad incident in Mumbai,'''' The News quoted lawyer Shahid Karim, as saying, and adding that the new date would be announced in due time.

Berlin  - Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat was believed to have been stranded in Germany on Thursday after demonstrators invaded both of Bangkok's airports, forcing a cancellation of flights.

Flights from Europe to Bangkok by Thai Airways International and other airlines were cancelled as a result. Bangkok aviation authorities agreed on Thursday to open the U-Tapao Air Force Base as an alternative.

Sompong's presence in Germany could not be confirmed, since he was not visiting the country as an official guest.

New Delhi, Nov.

New Delhi, Nov. 27 : Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal leader  died at the Apollo Hospital here on Thursday after a long illness. He was
77 and is survived by his wife of Sita Kumari and two sons Ajeya and Abhai.

Born on June 25, 1931, Singh was the tenth Prime Minister of the country from December 2, 1989 to November 10, 1990.

Singh gained wide publicity notoriety for his decision to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission which suggested that a fixed quota of all jobs in the public sector be reserved for members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Ludhiana/Chandigarh, Nov. 27 : Having been hit hard by global slowdown, the automobile industry is on the lookout for new and lucrative markets to survive the existing crisis. Today, the focus appears to be on tapping markets like Punjab, as people here are inclined to buy new cars frequently.

Punjab is today viewed as a ‘hot market’ for cars from the sales point of view by the marketing gurus, especially in the luxury segment.

The U. S. auto industry is faced by a situation where it looks standing on the brink of disaster.