NY governor, who’s criticized ‘SNL’ for mocking disabled, to appear on show, source says

NY governor to appear on ‘SNL,’ source says

Israel must choose between peace and settlements: Abbas

NEW YORK - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday told the United Nations General Assembly Saturday that Israel “must choose between peace and the continuation of settlements”.

Little-known Alaska Democratic Senate hopeful says Murkowski write-in campaign is lost cause

Alaska Dem rival: Murkowski campaign a lost cause

Israeli leaders praise former Cuban President Fidel Castro for pro-Israel remarks

Israeli leaders praise Fidel Castro

JERUSALEM — Israeli leaders are praising former Cuban President Fidel Castro for supporting Israel in a series of interviews

Obama calls GOP ‘Pledge’ to cut taxes and spending a step back that the nation can’t afford

Obama dismisses GOP ‘Pledge’ as echo of disaster

Ford administration mulled responding ‘violently’ to capture of US ship Mayaguez in 1975

In 1975 incident, officials considered US prestige

Third-party nominees could swing outcome in tight governors and congressional races this fall

Third-party candidates could tip close elections

Palestinian leader says Israel must choose between peace or continuation of settlements

Abbas says settlements block Mideast peace deal

At UN, climate ministers remain deadlocked before next major summit in December

At UN, climate ministers seek way out of stalemate

Judge refuses to throw out Tennessee student’s convictions in hacking of Sarah Palin’s e-mail

Judge: Verdict stands in hacked Palin e-mail case

Indian gov’t offers detainee releases, review of security in bid to defuse Kashmir unrest

Detainee releases offered to ease Kashmir unrest

Weak or strong, third-party candidates may tip close elections this fall

Third-party bids, write-ins might tip close races

Some see Clinton’s campaign appearance for Barney Frank as sign Mass. Democrat is vulnerable

Rep. Frank denies Clinton stop indicates weakness

In Minn. governor’s race, polarized parties create opening for candidate from party of Ventura

Polarized Minn. gov. race leaves opening for indie

Britain’s opposition Labour Party elects Ed Miliband as new leader in close run vote

Ed Miliband elected new leader of UK Labour Party

Kashmir stone-pelters to be freed, unified command to take call on AFSPA

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR - Reaching out to the people of the violence-hit Kashmir, the central government Saturday announced that a group of interlocutors will be appointed to hold dialogue on the Kashmir issue and youths arrested in the recent stone-pelting incidents will be freed soon.

Mamata scoffs at Yechury’s meeting with Geelani

KOLKATA - Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Saturday indirectly attacked the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for meeting hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani during the all party delegation’s recent visit to Kashmir.

Britain’s opposition Labour Party pits brother against brother as it elects new leader

UK’s opposition Labour Party announces new leader

Ed Miliband is new leader of Britain’s Labour Party

LONDON - Ed Miliband was Saturday chosen to be the next leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party in a tight contest with his older brother, David.

Official campaigning begins for first Myanmar elections in 20 years

Official Myanmar election campaign begins

YANGON, Myanmar — Campaigning has begun in Myanmar for November elections, with state television and radio broadcasting the first officially sanctioned party announcements.

Maharashtra legislator to ‘beg’ from people!

THANE - In a unique protest, an independent legislator from Maharashtra will “beg” and donate the collected money to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, an aide of the legislator said here Saturday.

India says ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan

NEW YORK/NEW DELHI - Amid the possibility of a meeting with his Pakistanii counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi early next week, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Friday stressed there was no alternative to talks with Pakistan and said he was ready to discuss all issues, including Kashmir.

Nigeria: Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka launches political party ahead of presidential election

Nigeria: Nobel laureate launches political party

Goa MP accuses navy of bid to grab islands

PANAJI - A Congress MP from Goa Saturday accused the Indian Navy of attempting to grab land by seeking control of two islands under the garb of security.

Now, Sarkar refuses to wear gown at convocation

AGARTALA - Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar Saturday refused to wear the gown at the convocation of Tripura University, reviving the controversy created by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh when he removed his robe earlier this year.

Britain’s opposition Labour Party pits brother against brother as it elects new leader

UK’s opposition Labour Party announces new leader

President’s office gives Zardari immunity against graft trial

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has said President Asif Ali Zardari enjoys immunity by virtue of his office with regard to reopening of corruption cases against him.

Live webcast of select booths in Bihar polls

PATNA - It is now official. The Election Commission (EC) has decided to webcast the coming Bihar assembly elections - on an experiment basis - to ensure free and fair polls.

Myanmar media hails white elephant as auguring prosperity

YANGON - An official newspaper of Myanmar Saturday hailed the finding of a rare white elephant as a sign of coming peace and prosperity in the nation after the Nov 7 general elections.

No alternative to talks with Pakistan, says Krishna

NEW YORK/NEW DELHI - Amid possibility of a meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi next week, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Friday underlined there was no alternative to talks with Pakistan and said he was ready to discuss all issues, including Kashmir.

Kashmir stone-pelters to be freed: CCS

NEW DELHI - A group of interlocutors will be appointed to hold a dialogue on the Kashmir issue and youths arrested in the recent stone-pelting incidents will be freed soon, Home Minister P. Chidmabaram announced after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) here Saturday.

BJP declines comment on talk of Uma Bharti’s return

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday refused to comment on the possibility of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti returning to the party fold, saying she accompanied veteran L.K. Advani to Somnath to visit the temple.

Kerala official asked to go on leave for office pooja

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Mohan Abraham, an official of the Kerala education department, was asked to go on leave Saturday for allegedly performing pooja at his office.

Impeached Illinois governor-turned-convicted felon Blagojevich to talk trust at NY forum

Convicted ex-Ill. Gov. Blagojevich to talk trust

Hindi Day celebrated in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM - Hindi Day was celebrated with joy, enthusiasm and fervour at a well-attended function at the Ethnographic Museum here to promote cooperation and understanding between the people of India and Sweden about their common bonds of culture and language.

In responding to Mayaguez seizure, US sought to protect prestige following Vietnam debacle

Response to ‘75 ship crisis focused on US prestige

Angry RJD activists burn effigy of Lalu Prasad

PATNA - Youth activists of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), angered at being neglected in the distribution of tickets for the coming assembly polls, Saturday burnt an effigy of party chief Lalu Prasad.

Bhutanese Prime Minister to participate in Mahabodhi Society meeting

BODHGAYA - Leading a 27-member delegation, Jigme Thinley, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, arrived in Bihar’s Bodhgaya town to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Mahabodhi Society of India today.

Coats’ campaign for second Senate career plays on Democratic opponent’s votes for Obama agenda

In Indiana, Ellsworth struggles against Coats

Gilani’s sudden cancellation of Europe trip raises doubts over Islamabad-Paris relations

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s sudden cancellation of his Europe trip has raised speculations over whether the decision was linked to an Islamabad-Paris tiff, which began after France accused the Asian nation of sheltering militants.

Ticket delay worries thousands of Bihar poll aspirants

PATNA - Delay by political parties in declaring their list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections is giving sleepless nights to thousands of ticket aspirants, who are stressed and fed up of waiting for the top bosses to take a decision.

Weekly Address: President Obama: GOP Leadership Standing up for Outsourcing and Special Interests, Instead of American Workers

WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama broke with Republicans in Congress who are putting special interests ahead of the American people and offering only a rehash of the very same economic policies that led to the financial crisis.  When the GOP asked the American people, through a website, for ideas, one that drew great deal of interest is ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.  But when the administration closed one of the most egregious loopholes for companies creating jobs overseas, Republicans were almost unanimously opposed.  Rather than offering a path to a better future, their plan is an echo of a disastrous decade the country cannot afford to relive.

Shiv Sena hits back at Narayan Rane for attacking Uddhav

MUMBAI - The Shiv Sena Saturday hit out at Revenue Minister Narayan Rane for accusing its executive president Uddhav Thackeray for the shootout in which Swabhiman Sanghatana chief Nitesh Rane was allegedly involved.

Nepal faces another fruitless poll for prime minister

KATHMANDU - Without a prime minister for nearly three months, the volatile republic of Nepal faces another fruitless election Sunday, as that too is bound to fail with two of the largest parties agreeing not to take part.

Bangladesh’s opposition lawmaker named as ‘collaborator’

CHITTAGONG - A group of witnesses belonging to the minority Hindu community has accused a senior opposition lawmaker of being a ‘collaborator’ who killed at the behest of the then East Pakistan regime in 1971. The lawmaker has denied the charges.