Sydney: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard won the support of a key independent MP on Thursday, leaving her just two seats from regaining power and within reach of ending a crippling political crisis.

Former Iraq war whistle-blower Andrew Wilkie said Gillard’s centre-left Labor party was best placed to deliver “stable” and “competent” government after the August 21 election returned the first hung parliament in 70 years.
“I have judged that it is the Australian Labor Party that best meets my criteria that the next government must be stable, must be competent and …

Islamabad: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has rejected US report claiming that foreign aid workers lives who are assisting in flood relief efforts in Pakistan are at risk. Rehman reiterated that the safety and security of all foreign workers will be the responsibility of the Pakistani government.

Rehman Malik made these remarks during an interview to a foreign broadcasting organization where he said that the law enforcing agencies are fully capable to confront all challenges posed by the extremists.
He added that the government has no intelligence about any attacks on aid …

Canberra: A conservative political leader has rejected key demands from three independent lawmakers who are likely to decide which party forms Australia’s next government after indecisive elections.

Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott, who heads the conservative opposition coalition, said Thursday that he would not allow the Treasury Department to analyze what impact his election promises would have on the national budget.
Abbott told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio said that he had “no confidence in integrity of process” within Treasury. But he said the independents were welcome to see calculations by a private …

Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday announced setting up of National Oversight Disaster Management Council, comprising people of “impeccable character” to ensure transparency and distribution of aid for flood affected people.

Addressing a meeting of National Disaster Management Commission, attended by the four Chief Ministers, Gilani said the Council will immediately come into effect.
He said the Council will comprise of people of “good reputation and impeccable integrity from different walks of life.”
“These respectable members of the council will ensure that the funds are distributed and utilised in a transparent …

Muzaffargarh: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday assured complete transparency in the distribution of aid for the flood victims and warned against any pilferage.

In a brief chat with reporters after visiting a relief camp, Gilani said the government was trying to repeat its experience of handling the Internally Displaced Persons of Swat and Malakand, where there were no complaints.
The Prime Minister said the government was monitoring the situation and would ensure that relief goods reach the people in the camps and those still stranded due to the flood …

Peshawar: The government has announced awarding Late FC Commandant Sifwat Ghayyur with Sitara-e Jurrat, said the Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik at the Peshawar airport Thursday.

Talking to media representatives in Peshawar, Malik said few people had the courage like Sifwat Ghayyur. He said that when wars are fought, sacrifices have to be made.
The Commandant of Frontier Constabulary and former CCPO Peshawar, Sifwat Ghayur, was targeted in a suicide attack at FC Chowk in Saddar area of Peshawar Wednesday. Ghayyur’s driver and an unknown man were also martyred in the suicide …