New Delhi - India's stock indices dipped downward by more than 3 per cent Monday after a meeting of the world's leading economies failed to throw up any immediate solutions to the global economic crisis and Japan announced its economy had slid into recession.

The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark 30-share Sensex was trading at around 8,990 at noon, about 4.21 per cent below its previous close.

The broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was hovering around 2,704.80, 3.76 per cent below Friday's close.

Somalian pirates on Sunday released hijacked ship MT Stolt Valor.

According to preliminary reports all the members are released safely.

Washington, Nov 17 : Second time in the past few days, a leading American daily the Washington Post has claimed that the US and Pakistan had agreed to a “don''t-ask-don''t-tell policy that allows unmanned Predator aircraft to attack suspected terrorist targets in rugged western Pakistan”, and according to which Islamabad will keep on protesting against them but simultaneously giving a tacit approval.

Now it’s a direct challenge to Orissa govt.

Thousands of Hindus have warned that they would observe Orissa bandh on coming Christmas Day if the state government failed to arrest the killers of the VHP leader by December 15.

Despite a heavy downpour on Saturday morning, more than 50 thousands of Hindus from across Orissa gathered in Bhubaneswar for a rally called by Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati Shradhanjali Samiti.

Melbourne, Nov. 17: Australian of-spinner Jason Krezja has the potential to play for his country for the next decade, provided he measures up to expectations and keeps his private life in order, believes former Australian off-spinner Colin Miller.

Miller, who took 69 wickets at 26 in 18 Tests, was quoted by the Courier Mail as saying: "I can see him playing for the next 10 years if he can keep his life in order and handle all the expectations."

Former Union minister P Shiv Shankar on Saturday joined the Praja Rajyam Party of Chiranjeevi.

Soon after his joining, Shiv Shankar was made the head of Praja Rajyam's legal cell as well as the election manifesto committee.

"It's a matter of privilege for us to have a leader of Shiv Shanker's stature with us. He brings in enormous political experience which will guide us in the right direction," Chiranjeevi said while welcoming Shiv Shanker into the party.

Shiv Shanker had served as Governor of Kerala.

He was a close associate of Indira Gandhi and served as a minister in her cabinet. He also was a member of the cabinets under Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao.