SELF-IMMOLATED MONK: DALAI LAMA MUST RETURN

BEIJING: A senior Tibetan monk who self- immolated last month urged Tibetans to unite and called for the return of the Dalai Lama in a message recorded before his death, advocacy groups said on Thursday.

AUSTRALIANS EVACUATED AHEAD OF FLOODS

SYDNEY: Thousands of residents are being evacuated from flood- threatened parts of northern New South Wales in Australia, with helicopters airlifting hundreds of trapped people to safety, local media reported on Thursday.

PAKISTAN DENIES HIDDEN AGENDA

KABUL: Pakistan on Wednesday rejected accusations that it was secretly supporting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, while the Taliban denied plans for peace talks with the Afghan government in Saudi Arabia. TEHRAN: International activists from more than 40 US cities and some other countries, including Canada, India, Ireland, Bangladesh, and Norway, have announced that they will hold pro- Iran rallies on Saturday.

KUWAIT HOLDS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwaitis trooped to the polls on Thursday to vote in parliamentary elections, seen by some as an effort by the country’s ruler to end a political standoff between the government and the legislature. LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Republican White House frontrunner Mitt Romney stumbled a day after his Florida triumph with a gaffe about poor Americans, while rival Newt Gingrich eyed a boost on Thursday from Donald Trump.

ACTIVISTS TO STAGE PRO-IRAN RALLIES IN 40 US CITIES

ROMNEY STUMBLES AS GINGRICH EYES TRUMP BOOST