As gay-marriage dominoes fall throughout New England, Maine gets its turn

AUGUSTA, Maine — A legislative hearing to extend gay marriage to Maine took on the atmosphere of a religious revival Wednesday as ministers made impassioned speeches for and against the bill before thousands of cheering spectators packed into a civic arena.

13 percent polling in three hours in Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD - About 13 percent votes were cast in the first three hours of polling in Andhra Pradesh where balloting was on in 22 Lok Sabha and 154 assembly constituencies Thursday.

Andhra Pradesh may be heading for hung assembly

HYDERABAD - As the curtains ring down Tuesday on campaigning for the first phase of the Andhra Pradesh assembly polls - and for round one of the parliamentary elections - the state appears to be heading towards its first hung assembly.

Shift to South Africa could make IPL bigger: Preity Zinta (Interview)

MUMBAI - Preity Zinta, who co-owns Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab, says the Twenty20 tournament moving to South Africa is like ‘asking an actor to perform in a theatre where nobody knows him’, but the Bollywood star also hopes the shift helps in making the event bigger.

Former TRS MP Narendra joins Congress

HYDERABAD - The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (Narendra), led by MP and former central minister A. Narendra, Friday merged with the ruling Congress party.

Catching ‘em young - Advani surfs net, Rahul legs it out

NEW DELHI - One is 81 years old, the other 38. But each is taking a leaf out of the other’s book in the hope of catching young voters in the upcoming parliamentary polls.

NATO welcomes rejection of Karzai’s call for early vote

BRUSSELS - NATO Wednesday welcomed the rejection by the Afghan Independent Election Committee of calls for early elections, saying the scheduled Aug 20 date would give the alliance enough time to provide the necessary security during the vote.

Congress-Trinamool alliance not yet decided: Mamata

KOLKATA - West Bengal’s principal opposition political force Trinamool Congress Saturday admitted it has initiated talks with the Congress about seat adjustment in the state for the coming Lok Sabha elections but nothing has been finalised yet.

Gandhi inspired Martin Luther King to use non-violence: US House

WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution recognising Mahatma Gandhi’s influence on Martin Luther King Jr and commemorating the golden jubilee anniversary of the American civil rights leader’s visit to India in 1959.

From Bush to Obama, traditions anchor inaugural ceremony

WASHINGTON - His campaign promised change and his election as America’s first black president broke historical barriers, yet when Democrat Barack Obama moves into the White House Tuesday, tradition guides every step of the ceremonial day.

Amar accuses Mayawati, BSP rubbishes charge

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW - Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh Sunday released a CD containing telephonic conversations of what he claimed to be Bahujan Samaj Party leaders asking cadres to collect money for Chief Minister Mayawati. The BSP has denied the charge and called him a ‘black spot’ in Indian politics.

‘Iron Man’ beats ‘The Dark Knight’ in best movie poll

LONDON - The movie ‘Iron Man’ has beaten ‘The Dark Knight’ in the best movie poll conducted by inthenews.co.uk.

We are hopeful of forming government: Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR - National Conference president Omar Abdullah Sunday said his party was hopeful of forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir, as counting of the votes polled in the state assembly elections was underway.

52 percent turnout in Jammu and Kashmir’s last poll phase

SRINAGAR/JAMMU - People in Jammu and Kashmir again defied Muslim separatists’ boycott call and turned out in large numbers even in Srinagar - the urban hub of secessionist movement - for the crucial last phase of elections to the state assembly Wednesday.