New Delhi  - Indian equities dropped about 5 per cent soon after opening Tuesday, largely because investors were selling stocks to lock in profits from previous gains, given the gloomy global economic outlook and negative trading on other Asian markets, analysts said.

The 30-share Sensitive Index of the Bombay Stock Exchange traded at 10,006.1 shortly after noon (0700 GMT), 5.03 per cent below Tuesday's close.

The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was down 4.92 per cent at 2993.25.

The Indian indices had gained more than 8 per cent during the past two trading days, and Tuesday's losses were registered by the same counters that had seen the largest gains - metals, banking, and oil and gas.

New York, 11th Nov. 2008 -- H. H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Fujairah, arrived here last night to represent UAE President H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in religion summit on interfaith dialogue which starts today.

London - Former England striker Andrew Cole will retire from playing football and is eyeing a coaching career, according to news reports on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old left Nottingham Forest 11 days ago, furious at what he saw as a lack of opportunities to fulfil his dream of ending his career in a blaze of glory by inspiring his hometown club to promotion.

As it is, Forest are second bottom of the Championship, and Cole made just five league starts this season.

Khar, Nov 11: Around 13 Taliban fighters were killed and several injured in a Pakistani Army operation in Swat and Bajaur on Monday.

According to official sources, five of the Taliban, including a local commander, were killed in clashes in Moragai and Shalkho areas of Matta tehsil, while another two were killed in a separate clash in Swat’s Kabal tehsil.

Dubai, 11th Nov.

According to a Pakistan newspaper reports Monday, two Taliban leaders being held in Afghanistan on terrorism charges were let go in return for the safe release of Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) reporter Mellissa Fung, who was freed on Saturday.

Though the CBC says Fung’s kidnappers were likely criminals rather than members of the Taliban. Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper quoted Taliban sources on Monday as saying a violent tug-of-war for Fung erupted between insurgents and the criminals after she was taken hostage.