Vilnius - Lithuanians return to the polls for the second round of voting in their 2008 general election Sunday 26 October.

Two weeks ago, the first round of voting in the Baltic nation gave the opposition Homeland Union - the Christian Democrats - a slight lead with 19.72 per cent of the vote which they are predicted to extend in Sunday's vote and gain a mandate to form the next government.

"We are ready to take responsibility and expect the president's offer to start forming a new cabinet," party leader Andrius Kubilius said after the first round. The conservative-leaning party is currently in opposition.

Wellington - Next month's New Zealand general election might not be the predicted sure thing for the conservative opposition National Party, an opinion poll released Thursday night indicated.

Although the Nationals remained well ahead of the Labour Party, which has led minority coalition governments for the past nine years, the Greens, who are seen as certain potential partners for Labour, are showing their biggest level of voter support in five years, the TV3 poll found.

The Nationals are backed by 45.1 per cent of committed voters while Labour is supported by 37.4 per cent. But the Greens are on 8.8 per cent, which with Labour would produce a virtual tie in the election on November 8.

Washington, Oct 23: Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has gained a nine-point lead over his opponent John McCain.

Less than two weeks before Election Day, Obama leads John McCain 49 percent to 40 percent among likely voters, according to a FOX News poll.

Obama’s advantage comes mainly from independents, and from the fact that more voters identify themselves as Democrats these days and almost all of them back their party’s nominee.

Pune/Patna, Oct 23: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists celebrated the bail granted to their leader Raj Thackeray, here last evening.

It was a festive mood at Thackeray's residence as his party activists and kin burst crackers and exchanged sweets after he reached home.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed both the ruling parties – the Congress and the NCP - in Maharashtra for the violence.