Washington, Oct 9: US presidential hopeful Barack Obama has revealed that he is having a tough time getting rid of smoking – but has still not giving up the hope of kicking the butt.

Barack, 47, told Men’s Health magazine he is trying to set an example by kicking the bad habit.

"There have been a couple of times during the campaign when I fell off the wagon and bummed one, and I had to kick it again," People magazine quoted Barack, as telling the mag.

Belgrade - Serbian newspapers on Thursday announced a "great diplomatic victory" following a UN decision to seek an advisory legal opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.

"Serbia's first diplomatic triumph in New York," "Great diplomatic victory" and "Serbia's win: Kosovo at the Court of Justice," mass- circulation dailies Blic and Vecernje Novosti trumpeted.

Washington, Oct. 9: Republican presidential candidate John McCain uttered two words that could turn out to be the only ones people remember from Tuesday night''s presidential debate -- That one.

Washington, Oct. 9: The economic upheaval in the United States is threatening to topple Republican Congressional candidates, putting more Senate and House seats within Democratic reach less than a month before the elections.

The New York Times quoted lawmakers and campaign strategists as saying that the intense focus on the economic turmoil and last week’s bailout vote have combined to rapidly expand a Democratic advantage in Congressional contests.

Kiev/Moscow - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko set December 7 as the date for fresh elections in an announcement on his website on Thursday.

Yushchenko dissolved parliament in a speech broadcast Wednesday evening and called for fresh elections.

Following the collapse of the pro-Western coalition of Yushchenko's party and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc, it is hoped that fresh elections will offer a way out of the current political impasse.

Ukrainians last voted for a new parliament as recently as September 2007.

Kiev - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Wednesday ordered parliament dissolved and called for new elections.

The Orange Revolution leader did not in the short nationally- televised speech make clear when the vote would take place.

Before ceasing work, Ukraine's current parliament should amend the national budget to pay for the national vote, which according to Yushchenko would allow Ukrainians to select a brand new legislature.