London - Britain's leading Financial Times newspaper Monday threw its weight behind US presidential candidate Barack Obama, saying the campaign had shown that the Democrat was the "right choice" to lead the US.

"At the outset, we were not so confident. Mr Obama is inexperienced. His policies are a blend of good, not so good and downright bad," said the newspaper.

But the public had "learned a lot" about Obama and the Republican cndidate, John McCain.

Tel Aviv - Israel's ruling Kadima party will narrowly edge out its main rival in elections likely to be held early next year, polls in two Israeli dailies found Monday, a day after Kadima leader Tzipi Livni recommended President Shimon Peres call for an early poll.

Livni announced late Sunday afternoon that she had failed to form a new coalition to replace that headed by Ehud Olmert, and Peres is now left with the option of either entrusting the task to another legislator or calling elections.

The survey published in the Yediot Ahronot daily showed Kadima winning 29 mandates in the 120-seat Knesset, compared to 26 for the hawkish Likud party headed by former premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

London, Oct 27: It is said that instant messaging is devoid of emotions and fails to communicate what you are feeling, but a new study suggests that just as with talking face-to-face, the emotions communicated via instant messaging are contagious.

The person could also assess their online partner’s mood.

During the study, involving 44 pairs of volunteers, the participants were asked to chat online for 15 to 20 minute, find out more about each other, and discuss something that was worrying them.

One person in each pair was also asked to view watched either a harrowing scene from the film Sophie''s Choice, or a clip from another film depicting small talk.

Islamabad - A meeting of Pakistani and Afghan political and tribal leaders started on Monday against the backdrop of the recent strategy shift by the US allies to bring peace to Afghanistan through dialogue with the Taliban militants.

"We must not shut the doors of negotiations to those sons of the soil willing to forsake the path of violence. With a patient ear we must listen to them and let them be heard," said Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as he opened the talks in Islamabad.

Sydney, Oct 27: Cricket Australia (CA) might plan to go back to its cricketing roots, by inculcating the sporting techniques among the Aborigines, as the first Australian cricket team to tour overseas was a side made up of Aborigines which toured England between May and October 1868, winning 14, losing 14 and drawing 19 matches.

The first tour by an official Australian team did not occur until 1878.

In a bid to popularise the sport among the local communities, CA may consider introducing special competitions to improve their small participation rate in the sport.

Jerusalem - Israel's ruling Kadima party submitted a bill Monday to dissolve the parliament and hold early elections within three months, a day after party leader Tzipi Livni announced she was giving up efforts to form a new government.

Livni was tasked on September 22 by President Shimon Peres with forming a new government to replace that of Ehud Olmert, who has resigned to fight corruption allegations.

The 50-year-old foreign minister, who was chosen to replace Olmert as the head of Kadima in September 17 primaries, decided to recommend early elections after the ultra-Orthodox Shas party decided against joining her government.