Dublin - Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on Wednesday congratulated Senator Barack Obama on being elected president of the United States, saying Obama's election was "a day of hope for the world".

"Barack Obama's remarkable personal story - allied to his eloquence and his huge political talents - sends a powerful message of hope to America's friends across the world."

"There is a palpable sense of history with the election of the first African-American president.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's major political parties have received certificates from the Election Commission to contest the upcoming general elections scheduled for December 18, election officials and political leaders said Wednesday.

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero expects US president-elect Barack Obama to open "a new era" in international relations, government sources said Wednesday.

Obama will give a new push to multilateralism in economic and foreign policy, increasing dialogue and coordination between the regions of the world, the sources quoted the Socialist premier as saying.

Ace Bollywood filmmaker, Baldev Raj Chopra died today morning at his home in Mumbai.

The legendary filmmaker, who was suffering from prolonged illness, breathed his last at 8:15 a.m. He was 94.

A well-known personality, BR Chopra is known for his noteworthy contribution in the entertainment industry, from films to television soaps.

A winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Chopra began his film career under the banner of B R Films with his first movie ‘Naya Daur’ starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjanthimala.

Srinagar, Nov 5: Filing of nominations for the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will close this evening.

The scrutiny will be taken up on Thursday.

Four seats in Rajouri and two in Ganderbal district will go to polls in this phase on November 23.

Meanwhile, arrangements are being finalised for smooth conduct of polls in the ten constituencies in the first phase on November 17.

There are 8109 polling stations in the state and they would be guarded as per their specifications of sensitive and hyper-sensitive nature.

Brussels - The European Union's executive body is set Wednesday to give its verdict on the progress Turkey and a number of Balkan states have made towards joining the union, and to sum up the state of the bloc's relations with Russia.

"We want to see Turkey focus truly and with determination on its European journey, with a clear sense of direction. Preparing for future membership means creating new opportunities for citizens in a more open society," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in a speech Tuesday.