SYDNEY, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, whose 11 years of conservative leaderhip ended in a landslide defeat two months ago, may follow other past leaders and a comedian on the global lecture circuit. The Washington Speakers Bureau, whose stable of speakers includes former British Primie Minister Tony Blair, former U.S. secretaries of state Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright, as well as British comic John Cleese, has put Howard on its list, according to its Web site. After leading "the most prominent Western stronghold in the Asian-Pacific Rim" Howard was available to discuss the role of world leaders, the environment and international security, it said.Howard, who often paraded his close personal friendship with U.S. President George W. Bush, refused to allow Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol during his tenure and was in Washington on Sept 11, 2001 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the defense and security treaty between the U.S. and Australia. (Reporting by James Regan)
A child rescued from a flooded area along Zambazi river cries inside a temporary shelter in Bawe village, central Mozambique, January 16, 2008. Devastating Mozambique floods, which have killed seven people ...