Tokyo  - Asian markets plummeted to new lows Monday, with trading halted at several stock exchanges, 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.

Bangalore, Oct 27 : Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, India''s maiden moon mission, on Sunday crossed the 1,50,000 km distance mark from Earth and entered deep space.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in a statement on Sunday in Bangalore, said that the milestone was reached after the successful completion of the spacecraft''s third orbit raising manoeuvre.

ISRO also said that in the coming few days more orbit raising manoeuvres have been planned to take Chandrayaan-1 towards the Moon.

Nanded (Maharashtra), Oct 27 : The tri-centenary Guru-ta Gaddi

Washington, Oct 27: For smokers with rheumatoid arthritis, kicking the butt might help in controlling its progression, according to a study.

Smoking is known to increase the risk and severity of RA, and its cessation has been shown to have a positive impact in slowing the progression of other diseases like coronary disease and emphysema.

The researchers conducted the study over 14,847 patients with RA based on their smoking status.

Of those, 65.4 percent were non-smokers, 22.1 percent were former smokers and12.5 percent were active smokers

They monitored the change in Clinical Disease Activity Index—a composite measure of disease activity in people with RA that assesses change over time.

After a poor show in the first two tests against India, Australia opener Matthew Hayden is sure that his team will bounce back in the third Test in Delhi starting from October 29.

Speaking in a press conference here on Sunday, “I think we are extremely confident, we've had good preparation … and are optimistic about the competition that's ahead of us.”

The prolific batsman from Queensland has managed to score only 42 runs in the first two Tests, with 29 being his top score.

Commenting on his poor form, the left hander said, "I won't change my strategy, but that aggression I showed in the second innings (in Mohali) is just how I want to play here.”

Islamabad- At least 20 people were killed in a missile attack carried out by a suspected US drone while 10 security personnel and a technician died in a suicide bombing in Pakistan's tribal region, officials said Monday.

A single missile fired from a pilotless aircraft hit the house of local Taliban commander Mohammad Omar late Sunday in the Shakai area of South Waziristan, they said.

"Commander Omar and 19 more people died in the strike, and three were injured," a security official said.

The attack demolished Omar's house and badly damaged two adjacent buildings.