With the McCain campaign coming to believe that winning Pennsylvania is essential, Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin charged up a crowd of supporters at an indoor rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania. They continued their criticism of Democrat presidential hopeful, Barack Obama, as a tax-and-spend “redistributionist” who would raise taxes on small businesses and the middle class.

Paris, Oct 29 (ANI): Data from ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) Envisat satellite has indicated that the Arctic sea ice is thinning at record rate, with the thickness of sea ice in large parts of the Arctic declined by as much as 19 percent last winter compared to the previous five winters.

Using Envisat radar altimeter data, scientists from the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling at University College London (UCL) measured sea ice thickness over the Arctic from 2002 to 2008 and found that it had been fairly constant until the record loss of ice in the summer of 2007.

Unusually warm weather conditions were present over the Arctic in 2007, which some scientists have said explain that summer ice loss.

London, Oct 29 : American porn film director Gerard Damiano passed away in Miami on October 25, aged 80.

Damiano, known for his 1970s pornographic film ‘Deep Throat’, was a former hairdresser and occasional actor.

He passed away in hospital after suffering a stroke last month.

“He was a film-maker and an artist and we thought of him as such,” the BBC quoted his son Gerard Damiano Jr as saying.

“Even though we weren''t allowed to see his movies, we knew he was a moviemaker and we were proud of that,” he said.

‘Deep Throat’, which was the first “porno” widely seen in cinemas, was made in 1972 for just 25,000 pounds, but it made an estimated profit of 382million pounds.

London, Oct 29 : American multi-billionaire Sir Allen Stanford has issued an apology to skipper Kevin Pietersen and his team, after he made one of the WAGs sit on his lap.

Stanford was enjoying their company so much that he had Emily Prior, wife of England wicketkeeper Matt, sit on his knee during their game with Middlesex on October 26.

Though it was just harmless fun, the England players did not quite like it, and Stanford ended up issuing an apology.

“When they showed Mr Stanford on the big screen with the girls there were a few gobsmacked faces,” the Sun quoted teammate Stuart Broad as saying. 

“I think Matt had a bit of a shocked look on his face — especially as his wife''s pregnant as well,” he added.

London, Oct 29 : English rock band Led Zeppelin has been told that they should not attempt a major tour with a new singer by their promoter Harvey Goldsmith.

The members of the band turned to auditions for a new vocalist when their frontman Robert Plant decided not to join them, as they were eager to being a tour.

"I certainly don''t think they should do a big tour because I can''t see the point of it," the BBC quoted Goldsmith as saying.

Goldsmith, who promoted the band in the 1970s and ''80s, as well as their one-off reunion last year, added that there might be "some opportunities" for a reunion.

The team Australia has sought the services of Indian spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi for improvements in the skills of its spinners. Bedi was approached by Australian authorities in the recently held function at the Australian embassy.

The team of country performed badly due to poor performance of its spinners in the recent matches between India and Australia. Australia has suffered a big defeat in the second Test match played at Mohali.