LONDON - First former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair became a Roman Catholic after leaving office in 2007, and now his sister in law has converted to Islam.

Paris, Oct 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) French President Nicolas Sarkozy's retirement reform plan has led to a dramatic drop in his public approval rating, with around 70 percent of the people saying they were "dissatisfied" with his work.

TOKYO - The famed Japanese efficiency was in evidence as soon as Air India One carrying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his entourage touched down in pouring rain Sunday evening. All passengers disembarking were quickly handed out umbrellas, swiftly opened so not a minute was wasted.

TOKYO - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's interview to the Japanese media ahead of his three-day visit to the country was extensively covered in the newspapers here Monday, meriting an anchor in The Daily Yomiuri and a front page mention in the International Herald Tribue/Asahi Shimbun edition.

NEW DELHI - While projecting India as a growing and vibrant market, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday invited Japanese companies to be part of India's ambitious development plans, with a promise of improving the investment climate for foreign investors.