Tokyo - Asian markets plummeted to new lows Monday, with Japan's key Nikkei index leading the plunge, as investors across the region stepped up panic-selling on concerns that tumbling share values would drag economies into recession.

Stocks in Tokyo nosedived, as the benchmark Nikkei 225 tumbled 486.18 points, or 6.36 per cent, to close at 7,162.9, the lowest level in 26 years. The market crisis has shaved off half the value off the Nikkei this year.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also lost 59.65 points, or 7.4 per cent, to 746.46.

The Bank of Japan injected 600 billion yen (6.37 billion dollars) into the money markets Monday to ease a credit crunch as stocks prices plunged.

New Delhi, Oct 27: President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh greeted the nation on the joyous occasion of Diwali.

In her message, the President said, "On the occasion of Diwali, I convey my warm greetings and good wishes to my fellow citizens.

"May this year''s festival bring peace, prosperity and communal harmony amongst the people, as well as remove ignorance and light the lamp of knowledge amongst us all," Patil added.

Allied Digital Services Limited, systems integrator and an IT Infrastructure Management Services Provider company, has declared their consolidated unaudited quarter results with total revenue of Rs. 148.88 crores for the three month period ended September 30th, 2008, an increase of 110% as compared to total income of Rs 70.81 crores for the quarter ended September 07.

The Profit after Tax (PAT) for the period under review stood at was Rs. 24.05 crores as against a PAT of Rs. 10.18 Crores for the quarter ended September 2007, an increase of 136%

ZTE Corporation, a leading worldwide provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, announced that it has pocketed an exclusive contract from Chinguitel, a telecom carrier under Expresso Telecom Group (ETG) to assist Mauritania build its first 2.5GHz Mobile WiMAX commercial network.

Under the deal, ZTE will be offering up core network equipment, wireless access devices, plus various communication terminals for indoor and outdoor use.

London, Oct 27 : A new guidebook has published a list of 500 endangered sites across the world that are most at risk from developers and climate change.

According to a report in Telegraph, the guidebook is titled “Frommer’s 500 Places To See Before They Disappear”.

The book will look at places to visit that feature endangered landscapes, ecosystems, buildings, cultural spots and animal species.

“The devastation wrought by climate change and direct man-made interference is familiar to all of us,” said o-author Holly Hughes, a former executive editor of Fodor’s Travel Publications.

Seoul - South Korea's central bank on Monday announced its largest-ever rate cut, sinking its key rate by 0.75 percentage points to 4.25 per cent, as it seeks to stave off more dire repercussions from the global financial crisis.

The Bank of Korea said "a large cut in the base rate is called for in order to guard securely against the possibility of a sharp contraction of real economic activity against the backdrop of the large swings of the exchange rate and stock prices and the partial seizing-up of the credit markets."