Sydney, August 20
Australia could have its first minority government in 70 years, a worst-case scenario for investors, with an election-eve poll showing the ruling Labor party drawing level with the conservative opposition.

The vote looks so close, the result may have nothing to do with policy but simply come down to which leader, Prime Minister Julia Gillard or the opposition’s Tony Abbott, voters like best.

The latest poll by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers showed Labor ahead. “The most likely outcome is ... a narrow Labor victory,” said Herald political editor Peter Hartcher on Australian television, revealing that a Nielsen poll to be published on Saturday showed Julia Gillard’s Labor ahead with 52 per cent compared with 48 per cent for Tony Abbott’s opposition.

Without a clear winner, the next government would have to rely on a handful of independent or Green MPs to form a government, leaving policies such as Labor’s new mining tax in limbo and creating market uncertainty. “Given the fact that around 40 percent of Australia’s market is owned by foreign investors, any uncertainty can have a detrimental impact on markets,” CommSec equities economist Savanth Sebastian told Reuters.

“If you start seeing a hung parliament or a minority victory, then the Aussie dollar could certainly come under some pressure, and likewise sharemarkets,” Sebastian added. — Reuters

Melbourne: A saltwater crocodile, admired for his prediction prowess, has reportedly tipped Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard as winner of the federal election to be held on Saturday.

The 4.9 metre crocodile, named Harry, was given the choice of munching on one of two chicken carcasses - one tied to an image of the Prime Minister and the other attached to a picture of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

In front of a large crowd in Darwin on Thursday, the 720 kg beast, seemed at first disinterested in options. But after five minutes, it opened its jaws and crunched down on the meat attached to Gillard, the ‘ABC News’ reported.

The crocodile last month correctly predicted Spain as the winner of the soccer World Cup. “He saw the future and I think he might have something going with Paul the octopus,” the reptile’s handler, Nigel Palmer, said, referring to the octopus that had eight correct tips during the World Cup.— PTI 

Islamabad/New Delhi, August 20
After dithering for a week, Pakistan today accepted Indian aid of $5 million for flood victims, a decision welcomed by New Delhi which has offered more help to that country to handle the devastation caused by the deluge.

The acceptance of the aid was announced by Pakistan Foreign Minister SM Qureshi on the sidelines of the special session of the General Assembly on Pakistan at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Reacting to the development, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said the acceptance was conveyed by Qureshi and, “We welcome the decision of Pakistan to accept the aid offer.” He described the assistance as goodwill gesture made to express solidarity with the people of Pakistan, who have been hit by the worst floods in 80 years.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called up his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday and said India was willing to provide more assistance in handling flood relief, Prakash said.

Nearly one-fifth of Pakistan is reported to be badly hit by the devastating floods. Over 1,700 people have died and the UN says more than 6,50,000 people are without basic shelter while six million desperately need emergency aid.

Last week, Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna had called his Pakistani counterpart and offered aid for flood relief work. With Pakistan dilly-dallying on taking Indian aid for flood relief, the US had yesterday said politics should have no role in disaster response and it “expects” Islamabad to accept the assistance.

“We believe India and Pakistan share a common destiny and also that it was in common interest of both our countries to work together for having cordial and cooperative relations,” Prakash said.

Qureshi, who is in New York to attend a meeting of the UN on flood situation, had said, “I can share with you that the Government of Pakistan has agreed to accept the Indian offer.” Qureshi thanked Manmohan Singh, his government and Krishna for this “very positive” gesture of extending aid and said it was highly appreciated by Pakistan.

Muscat, August 20
An on-flight bomb scare that turned out to be a hoax forced an Air India passenger jet to make an emergency landing at Muscat airport today, Omani police said.

The Boeing 737 was en route from Kuwait to Mumbai when a passenger told crewmembers there was a bomb on board, a police spokesman told the official Oman News Agency.

Chandigarh, August 20
After a Pentagon report that appeared in The Tribune said that China was pursuing a major build-up in a secretive manner and had also deployed CSS-5 missiles with a range of 2,700 km close to the India border, Rajya Sabha MP Ashwani Kumar said this was a matter of great concern and required consideration of national security agencies.

Raising the issue in the RS, he said the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence should now come together to give India a comprehensive plan to meet any situation arising out of a possible expansionist policy on the part of any of our neighbours.

The RS MP also raised the issue of defence disparity between India and China and said India should increase its defence expenditure to meet China challenge. — TNS

Washington, August 20
The United States yesterday said that the Bhopal gas tragedy was a closed case now."Yes" State Department Spokesman P J Crowley told reporters when asked if US considers Bhopal gas tragedy as a closed case.

Later the State Department official clarified that legally Bhopal gas case was closed. In December 1984, a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal spewed toxic gas into surrounding neighbourhoods, killing thousands instantly and tens of thousands later.

This year, a court sentenced seven Indian managers to two-year jail terms. After public outrage that the sentences were not tougher, India promised to renew efforts to extradite Union Carbide's former boss Warren Anderson. — PTI