Obama leads McCain in 6 of 8 key states

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - DemocratBarack Obama leads Republican John McCain in six of eight key battleground states one day before the U.S. election, including the big prizes of Florida and Ohio, according to a series of Reuters/Zogby polls released on Monday.

Obama holds a 7-point edge over McCain among likely U.S. voters in a separate Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby national tracking poll, up 1 percentage point from Sunday. The telephone poll has a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.

Obama heads into Tuesday's voting in a comfortable position, with McCain struggling to overtake Obama's lead in every national opinion poll and to hold off his challenge in about a dozen states won by President George W. Bush in 2004.

The new state polls showed Obama with a 1-point lead in Missouri and 2-point lead in Florida, within the margin of error of 4.1 percentage points. But Obama also holds leads in Ohio, Virginia and Nevada -- all states won by Bush in 2004.

The five states where Obama is ahead have a combined 76 electoral votes. Along with states won by Democrat John Kerry in 2004, they would give Obama 328 electoral votes -- far more than the 270 needed to win the White House.

Obama also leads by 11 percentage points in Pennsylvania, which McCain has targeted as his best chance to steal a state won by Kerry in 2004.

McCain leads Obama by 5 points in Indiana and by 1 point in North Carolina -- both states won by Bush in 2004.

"Obama's lead is very steady. He could be looking at a big day on Tuesday," said pollster John Zogby. "These are all Republican states except Pennsylvania, and that does not look like it's going to turn for him."

In Florida, the biggest prize being fought over on Tuesday with 27 electoral votes, Obama leads McCain by 48 percent to 46 percent. The two were running dead even at 47 percent one week ago.

OBAMA LEADS IN OHIO

In Ohio, the state that decided the 2004 election with a narrow win for Bush, Obama has opened a 6-point edge. He also has a 6-point lead on McCain in Virginia and an 8-point advantage in fast-growing Nevada.

Obama leads McCain by a statistically insignificant 1 point, 47 percent to 46 percent, in Missouri. McCain has the same 1-point edge in traditionally Republican North Carolina.

McCain has a solid 5-point lead in Indiana, which has not supported a Democrat for president since 1964. Obama has worked to put Indiana in the Democratic column, and plans a visit there on Election Day to try to help turn out the vote.

In the national poll, Obama leads by 15 points among independents and by 13 points among women, two crucial voting blocs in Tuesday's election. He leads by 1 point among men and among all age groups except those between the ages of 55 and 69, who favor McCain by 1 point.

McCain leads among whites by 13 percentage points but is only attracting about 25 percent of Hispanics. In 2004, Bush won more than 40 percent of Hispanics.

Both independent Ralph Nader and Libertarian Bob Barr were at 1 percent in the survey, with about 2 percent of voters still undecided.

The rolling tracking poll, taken Thursday through Saturday, surveyed 1,205 likely voters in the presidential election. In a tracking poll, the most recent day's results are added, while the oldest day's results are dropped to monitor changing momentum.

The state surveys also were taken Thursday through Saturday with a sample in each state of between 600 and 605 likely voters. The margin of error in all eight states was 4.1 percentage points.

An Indian Legend Retires

Anil Kumble retires from cricket

	It was only fitting that Anil Kumble announced his retirement in Delhi, the scene of his greatest bowling effort, at the end of which he was carried off the field by teammates in an emotional farewell

Anil Kumble has announced his retirement from cricket, saying the finger injury he sustained on the third day of the Test helped him make his decision. The news was made public minutes after the tea break on the final day; Kumble then bowled four overs before the match was called off as a draw.

"The body was asking questions every day," he said. "It was not easy to keep bowling the way I have been bowling the last 18 years, to keep going. The injury I had on the third day probably helped me make the decision."

The captaincy now passes on to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who already leads India in the shorter forms of the game.

Kumble made the formal announcement at the post-match press conference, at which he received a standing ovation from the journalists crowded into the room. He doffed his cap and sat down to speak to the media one last time as an India player and captain. He stayed composed throughout the conference, which took place minutes after the emotional farewell he had received on the field.

Kumble had decided to quit last night but took his time in letting his team-mates know, lest it took their focus off the match. "I did inform my team-mates, who I have played with all these years, one by one during the day," Kumble said. "Then I informed the chairman of the selection committee just after lunch. I did inform the board as well."

It took a "nasty injury" to finally push Kumble into retirement. He has had a shoulder injury before, and has been troubled by it, but at 38, the "pretty deep" cut proved too much. "You could see the flesh. There are 11 stitches," Kumble said. "The doctor said I had to undergo the procedure under general anesthesia. I told him, 'If you give me general anesthesia I'll lose time, I'd like to go there and bowl.' He said 'Look, it's a medical decision, not a cricketing decision."

"The stitches will come out only on November 8, which is the third day of the Nagpur Test. I don't think it was easy for me to bat or field. I wouldn't have been 100% and I didn't want to let the team down. Anyway I had more or less decided this would be my last series."

Kumble has never given the team less than 100% and he said wanted to be remembered most for that. "I definitely put the team above self, right through my career," Kumble said. "I believe Indian cricket has certainly gone further from the time when I started, in terms of results, not just in India but also abroad.

"And I am confident that with this young team, with a few of the experienced senior players still being a part of the team, we have an opportunity to dominate world cricket and be No. 1 in all forms of the game. In one-day cricket we're pretty close to the top, in Twenty20 we're No. 1, I don't think we are that far behind in Tests as well and it will be great to see that happen."

	Anil Kumble: "I kept getting responses from the body saying that you can't. I fought that, I took various painkillers and tried all sorts of things, but ultimately one injury to the hand said 'enough now'."

An important part of that surge towards Test leadership would be a series win against Australia. Kumble said he will there in Nagpur to see whether the team can do that. "Ideally I would have liked to finish in Nagpur," Kumble said. "At this moment, I don't think I will be traveling with the team, but I will certainly go to Nagpur. I want to see Sourav's last Test match, and also wish Laxman on his 100th. And win the series. That is the ultimate goal for all of us. I would like to be a part of that."

It has been a long road for Kumble - 18 years - on which he has come across many highs and lows. "I had to go through a lot of things in the early part of my career," Kumble said. "People questioning my ability, my fitness, my form, my bowling and the effectiveness of my bowling. I had to go through that then, now right at the end of my career, and even in the middle.

In that sense, after the shoulder surgery [in 2001], I've done exceptionally well to have played eight years. To have bowled so many overs and to have got so many wickets, the second phase was certainly more satisfying. We had a lot more victories, not just in India but also abroad: especially the Australia series in 2004, the Pakistan series after that, West Indies and England where we won. All of them were a challenge and to come out triumphant was special."

The retirement decision, in the end, came easy for Kumble. "The body tells you how far you can go," he said. "I kept challenging - as a cricketer you are always competitive, always saying, 'I can do it'. Whether you can or not only time will tell. I kept getting responses from the body saying that you can't. I fought that, I took various painkillers and tried all sorts of things, but ultimately one injury to the hand said 'enough now'. I was also not bowling at my best and you want to keep performing at a level that you are satisfied with. That was not happening so I thought this was the right time to move on."

For a moment as emotional as this, Kumble ended on a humorous note. "At this moment I would like to thank my family, my parents, who gave me all the encouragement, supported me and asked me to bowl legspin. Although I am still trying to find out how I can bowl legspin.

"Thank you all for all the support I have received right through my career. I've built some great friendships and met some fantastic people along the way. You'll probably start calling me from tomorrow for quotes about somebody else. Give me a break for a couple of days and I'll certainly take all your calls." Like he has unfailingly answered the Indian team's calls for the last 18 years.

Nokia N79 launched in India, an ultimate phone for entertainment

Nokia unveiled N79 a new sleek phone that adds to the NSeries range of multimedia phone that combines bright and customizable design with a complete package of multimedia computer. Besides the smart and cool look the Nokia N79 is inherited with the latest and advanced technologies. It will surely show its true multimedia magic that includes integrated navigation, FM transmitter, high speed of connectivity and enhanced web browsing facility.

N79 phone is a phone that will entertain you thoroughly when required. The phone comes with a 4GB microSD card so you can store in more that 300 songs for your time pass. FM is very common in all devices but N79 includes FM transmitter that will provide you with more entertainment than ever before and easily play through your car audio system. The phone has dual speakers so you can rock on wherever you are with its fine sound. Another useful addition is a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting headphone. The owner of N79 can now enjoy 19 classic club remix songs and preloaded Anthems 1998-2008 which is a compilation of around 17 latest music videos sponsored by Ministry of Sound.

This new N79 phone adds colors to your life to make it more attractive, that incorporates two additional interchangeable Xpress-On smart covers in various colors. The phone packs in a built-in microchip that changes the phone’s theme color automatically when the back cover of phone is changed to match the two colors and make it appear cool. The phone is available in 5 classy and trendy colors like Light Sea Blue, Espresso Brown, Olive Green, White and Coral Red.

The phones offers a 5 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and a dual LED Flash that provides you with high range of quality picture and a best camera phone to capture your memorable moments and videos and the best part is that you can edit it without using the computer. The phone’s lens is protected with a sliding lens cover.

Nokia N79, certainly a choice of many music lovers will be available at a price of Rs. 22939/-.

Ravishing Ash celebrates birthday on the sets of Ravana

Aishwarya Rai, arguably the most popular heroine of India is celebrating her birthday today, in the sets of her new Mani Ratnam-directed-flick 'Ravana'. Ash turns thirty five today and this is the second time she is celebrating her birthday after her popular marriage with Abhishek Bachchan. Interestingly, hubby Abhishek is the hero of 'Ravana'.

Ash who is currently along with costars and crew of the film in the Marayoor forests of Kerala is expected to throw a big bash for everyone. The former Miss World has indeed come a long way from her early acting days when she debuted in the Mani Ratnam film ''Iruvar''. That was eleven years ago and the damsel has only grown in strength with charisma and elegance.

The ravishing beauty has been seen in the Tamil films 'Jeans' and 'Kandukonaen Kandukonaen' apart from 'Iruvar'.

Aishwarya Rai took Hindi filmdom by storm with successful portrayals in 'Guru', 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', 'Taal', 'Dhoom 2', 'Devdas', 'Jodha Akbar', 'Sarkaar Raj', and  'Mohabbatein'.

Reportedly earning around two Crores per film, she is rumored to have been paid four Crores for her new Shankar film ''Enthiran'' in which she stars alongside superstar Rajinikanth.

Aishwarya Rai is no stranger to international cinema and is in fact highly sought after. 'Provoked', and 'Bride and Prejudice' showcased her talents to world audiences. She is currently playing the leading lady for the Hollywood film Pink Panther 2 that stars Steve Martin.

The name Aishwarya Rai has become synonymous with tantalizing beauty over the years and Indiaglitz wishes this ravishing woman a wonderful birthday and many more spectacular performances in the future.

India v Australia, 3rd Test, Delhi

Clarke drives Australia towards safety

• Patient century all but ensures draw in Delhi
• India close on 43 for two, a lead of 79

In the groove: Michael Clarke drives during his century on day four at Delhi. 

In Antigua tonight, cricket will take an almighty leap into a murky future. In Delhi over the last four days, India and Australia have taken an equally large jump back to a grubby past, when paint dried, grass grew and bore draws predominated.

This Test has been like something out of the 70s and 80s. On day four, Michael Clarke made his eighth Test century and his third of the year to guide Australia to 577 all out, a first-innings deficit of 36. India, 1-0 up in the series with one match to play after this, closed on 43 for two in their second innings, a lead of 79. It could be a very long final day.

Or it might just be an unforgettably dramatic one. The narrative of the match has been eerily similar to that of the Adelaide Ashes Test two years ago, when Australia won in epic fashion on the last day. There is, however, one small difference: in that Test, Australia had Shane Warne to get under England's skin and inside their heads before and during the final day. Now they have Cameron White, and so a draw seems certain.

Australia resumed in the morning on 338 for four, with Clarke on 21 and Shane Watson on four. Their fifth-wicket partnership reached 73 when Watson, who cuffed eight fours in a chipper 36, was bowled round his legs from over the wicket by Virender Sehwag.

The wicketkeeper Brad Haddin continued his unhappy habit of getting a start and then getting out: he breezed to 17 before being stumped to give Anil Kumble his first Test wicket for three months and 85 overs.

Sehwag then prompted wild celebrations by taking the first five-wicket haul of his first-class career when he bowled White - who like so many England spinners of the past two decades seems able to contribute with bat but not ball - for a very good 44. Sehwag was by far the pick of the Indian attack and finished with five for 104.

All the while Clarke ploughed on, dancing hyperactively around the crease on the balls of his feet as is his wont. He was dropped three times - including twice in the nineties off Sehwag, first by VVS Laxman and then Amit Mishra - but otherwise played splendidly, if with unusual restraint.

He hit only six fours and one six, a withering pull off Mishra; his century, which took 219 deliveries, came from the last ball before tea when he cut Sehwag for a couple. Eventually he was the ninth man to fall, holing out to long-off off the bowling of Amit Mishra after being stuck with the tail.

India were left with a tricky 13-over spell to negotiate before the close. They lost Sehwag, playing on to Brett Lee, and the nightwatchman Ishant Sharma, roughed up with contemptuous ease by Stuart Clark. By the close they were effectively 79 for two; on the close at day four in that Adelaide Test, England were in a not dissimilar position, effectively 97 for one. But that, surely, is where the comparison ends.