Australian PM calls August 21 election

SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard called an election on Saturday for August 21, with the poll to be fought over policies on economic management, climate and border protection.

“I expect this to be a close, tough, hard fought campaign. “Today I seek a mandate from the Australian people to move Australia forward.

“I believe in hard work. I believe in the benefits and dignity of work. I believe in what comes as an individual when you do your best and you earn your keep. “I believe in fundamental rights, in the importance to respect and value in other people, making sure we give each other a helping hand in times of need and times of distress.

Castro warns US against Iran sanctions

HAVANA: Fidel Castro, the former leader of Cuba in one interview said that a US attack on Iran would be crippling to the invading country.

“The worst for America is the resistance they will face there, which they didn’t face in Iraq,” Castro said during the interview.

Castro has attended a function at Cuba’s Foreign Ministry Friday where he made a speech, once more reiterating that a US-led invasion of Iran, or US efforts to impose international sanctions on Iran for its nuclear activities, will lead to a catastrophic nuclear war.

The former leader of the communist country also predicted that the US would, in time, attack North Korea.

Tolerate Us For Five Years: PM Gilani

Islamabad, Pakistan News: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that there was no confrontation among institutions.
Talking to media in Islamabad, “We have come to power for 5 years, so tolerate us.” He said that opposition parties use different tactics and give statements to remain alive in politics.
He said that judges’ appointments would be held with consultation and consensus. He vowed to provide free education till primary classes and the new education policy would be launched after consultation with provincial governments.
The PM said that this was necessary to give training to teachers and education standard was not satisfactory.

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Tolerate Us For Five Years: PM Gilani was first posted on January 30, 2010 at 2:18 pm.

Afghanistan Taliban Deny Meeting With UN

KABUL: The Taliban denied Saturday that leaders of the group fighting to overthrow the Afghan government had met with UN representatives to discuss bringing peace to Afghanistan.

The Taliban issued a statement branding reports of a meeting with the UN’s outgoing special representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, in Dubai this month as “rumours” and “propaganda”.

Referring to itself as “the leading council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” — as it did during its 1996-2001 rule of Afghanistan — the group said the reports were “propaganda by the invading forces against the jihad and mujahideen”.

“The leading council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly denies the rumours reported by some international media about talks between Kai Eide and representatives of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” the Taliban said.

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Afghanistan Taliban Deny Meeting With UN was first posted on January 30, 2010 at 3:08 pm.