Stockholm  - A majority of Swedes favour keeping the Swedish currency, but opposition has declined to introducing the joint European currency, the euro, a report said Tuesday.

The poll commissioned by the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper showed that 47 per cent opposed the euro while 42 per cent favoured such a move, the poll commissioned by the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper said.

The survey indicated that 11 per cent were undecided.

In a referendum five years ago, 56 per cent of Swedish voters said they wanted to keep the krona while 42 per cent favoured the euro.

Polling institute Sifo interviewed some 1,000 Swedes by telephone October 20 to 23.

Jerusalem  - Israeli Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik was scheduled to convene the leaders of parliamentary factions Tuesday afternoon to debate the date for early elections.

The most likely date was February 10, but some lawmakers wanted to hold the poll sooner, while others were trying to buy time, Israeli media reported.

Israeli President Shimon Peres formally notified the speaker Monday that his nominee, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, was unable to form a government.

Under Israeli law, a majority of lawmakers now have 21 days to present another nominee, but if this does not happen, as is likely, new elections will be held on the last Tuesday within 90 days of the end of those three weeks, or on February 10.

Putrajaya, Oct 28 : Eleven members of the banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), who were arrested under the Societies Act after they held an illegal gathering outside the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday, have been released. 

Their release papers were signed at noon on Sunday by Kajang magistrate’s court registrar Bonney Empoh, The NST Online reported. 

Puchong Member of Parliament Gobind Singh Deo said they were released on 1,000-ringgit police bail each and would have to report to the police station in a month’s time.

“We were told that police were still investigating their cases before forwarding their recommendations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.”

Kathmandu, Oct 28 : Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala has said that integrating the People''s Liberation Army (PLA) of the Maoists into the Nepal Army (NA) was not mandatory.

Srinagar, Oct 28 : The Centre will send 452 para-military companies during the seven-phased elections in Jammu and Kashmir. 

According to Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda, "The Centre has given consent for the sanction of 452 additional para-military companies for security duties in connection with assembly elections in the state." 

The para-military companies, which will be sent for election duties in the state, would be drawn from the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force 
(CRPF), the Special Services Bureau (SSB), the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF).

Washington, Oct 28 : Virginia Republican Party Chairman Jeff Frederick has said that John McCain''s campaign dismissed his input on his state’s historically conservative voters, even as the Republican presidential candidate slid in polls and the state unexpectedly became a battleground. 

“They act as if, ‘How could you tell us to change our plan?’” said Frederick, who had offered advice on how to minimize losses in the state’s liberal-leaning northern region.