Washington, Nov 8: Alaska Governor and John McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin’s spokesperson has blasted the wave of anonymous post-election criticism coming from some members of McCain’s campaign team.

Palin’s allies are pushing back against a stream of accusations leaking out of John McCain’s campaign, and the Alaska Governor herself has called her critics “cowardly.”

Palin insisted that she never asked for the expensive wardrobe purchased for her use on the presidential campaign, Fox News reported.

“I never asked for anything more than a Diet Dr. Pepper once in a while,” Palin said as she returned to the Governor’s office.

Washington - President-elect Barack Obama is having a hard time delivering on one of the very first promises he made after winning the White House - a promise to his young daughters.

To reward his two girls, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha, for putting up with his time away on the rigorous campaign trail, he said in his victory speech Tuesday night that they would be getting a new puppy to bring to the White House.

Washington - US president-elect Barack Obama pledged Friday to move toward resolving the country's financial woes "immediately" after taking office in January, saying the nation was facing its worst economic crisis in a lifetime.

Speaking to reporters in Chicago in his first public appearance since winning Tuesday's election, Obama sought to reassure Americans that he was ready to address the country's urgent challenges.

Wellington - New Zealanders began voting Saturday in a general election that could see the Labour-led coalition, which has governed for the last nine years, defeated by its conservative opponents, according to opinion polls.

Labour's hopes of surviving a considerable swing to the right in voter sentiment depend on the polling of minor parties, who could prop it up in another coalition if they return enough people to the parliament of 120 to 123 members.

Washington - US president-elect Barack Obama on Friday called for swift steps to halt the economic downturn and to prevent the financial crisis from damaging other sectors of the economy.

"We're gonna have to act swifty," Obama said in his first public appearance since winning Tuesday's election.

Obama held a lengthy meeting with a team of economic advisors, before going in front of reporters in Chicago, to assure the public that he is prepared to quickly address the country's economic woes.

Los Angeles - US cable channel HBO has bought the rights to a documentary about president-elect Barack Obama, produced by Oscar- nominated actor Edward Norton, the Hollywood Reporter said Friday.

A crew for Norton's Class 5 Films has been following the African- American politician since early 2006 - even before he announced his intention to run for president.