Australian PM celebrates birthday

the age at which most Australians retire, but as John Howard celebrated his 65th birthday yesterday, he was aiming for another three-year term as prime minister.

If Howard wins elections due by year’s end he will become the second-longest serving premier in Australia’s 103-year history. However, his eight years in office so far are still far behind those of his idol, Sir Robert Menzies, who quit undefeated in 1966 at age 71 after 18 years in office.

Howard’s landmark birthday underscored the generational difference between the centre-right government leader and his 43-year-old rival, Labour Party leader Mark Latham.