US ‘meddling in Australian vote’: “Australia’s main opposition party has accused the US of meddling in upcoming elections by criticising plans to withdraw troops from Iraq if it wins.
Labor president Carmen Lawrence said she believed the Bush administration was trying to help conservative Prime Minister John Howard win the election.” (BBC) I love the suck-up at the end: “He responded very directly because Australia is such an important country, not only in terms of the military contribution … but the political statement that comes from Australia is always viewed with a great deal of regard throughout the world.”
“International rules on trade are tightening the noose around poor nations and trapping them in poverty, aid group Oxfam says.” (BBC)