Vienna- The price for crude oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fell below 60 dollars Friday, despite the cartel's decision to curb production.

Growing recession fears sent stock markets and oil prices downward, with one barrel (159 litres) of OPEC crude standing at 57.57 dollars Friday, 2.70 dollars lower than on the previous day, according to data provided by OPEC on Monday.

The 19-month low came on the same day that OPEC oil ministers decided at an emergency meeting in Vienna to cut their total output by 1.5 million barrels per day from November 1, in order to stop the oil price from falling.

Chennai, Oct 27: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today got an assurance from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) party chief M Karunanidhi that he "would not precipitate" a crisis in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government over the Sri Lankan ethnic Tamils issue.

Beijing- Mainland China's stock markets plummeted Monday by more than 6 per cent to their lowest levels in more than two years over global recession fears.

The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 116.27 points, or 6.32 per cent, to close at 1,723.35. The Shenzhen Component Index plunged 424.14 points, or 6.89 per cent to close at 5,734.81.

Mumbai, Oct 27: Mohammed Mansoor Peerbhoy, who was arrested by Mumbai police Crime Branch for his alleged involvement in the Indian Mujhaideen plot, especially the Terror emails, has filed an application before the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court seeking to turn approver in the case.

According to the police Peerbhoy, who worked with a multinational software company in Pune and was earning an annual salary of Rs
19 lakh, was responsible for hacking unsecured Wi-Fi networks in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and sending emails to news channels minutes before the July 26 Ahmedabad blasts and the September 13 Delhi explosions.

London, Oct 27: A new study by researchers at Cambridge University in the UK is trying to change the traditional view of Vikings as “illiterate warring thugs”, and recast them as “new men” with an interest in grooming, fashion and poetry.

According to a report in the Telegraph, academics claim that the old stereotype is damaging, and want teenagers to be more appreciative of the Vikings’ social and cultural impact on Britain.

They said that the Norse explorers, far from being obsessed with fighting and drinking, were a largely-peaceful race who were even criticized for being too hygienic.

Islamabad, Oct 27: PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who was his party’s front runner for the post of Prime Minister after February election and had once threatened to create a vertical split in the party, has reportedly turned his stance, saying that the ongoing economic and energy crises and the scourge of terrorism in the country was a ‘conspiracy against the government’.

“I think some hidden forces are trying to destabilise the government,” the Daily Times quoted him as telling a foreign news agency.