Connect Asia

Friday, 05 September 2008

Thai PM seeks referendum on government futureAudio

Updated 09:34:56

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has announced his government is proposing to hold a national referendum on its future as a means of ending the crisis.

Anger in Pakistan over US-led strikesAudioTranscript

Updated 09:34:56

Pakistan has expressed fury over a ground raid by American led forces in its border area.

Indonesian corruption court hands down record sentenceAudio

Updated 09:34:56

Indonesia's corruption court has handed down its longest sentence, jailing for 20 years a former senior prosecutor with the Attorney General's office.

East Timor 'still needs international help'AudioTranscript

Updated 09:34:56

During a recent visit to Australia and New Zealand, East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao hinted he would like to see foreign troops start withdrawing next year.

China to build world's fastest trainAudioTranscript

Updated 09:34:56

China has always been ambitious when it comes to grand projects.

New Australian climate change report due outAudioTranscript

Updated 09:34:56

The next step in Australia's response to handling climate change will be released later today.

Biofuels - solving poverty, destroying forests?AudioTranscript

Updated 09:34:55

The oil palm is transforming the environmental and social landscapes of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Beijing prepares to open ParalympicsAudioTranscript

Updated 09:34:55

In China, more than 4,000 athletes are looking forward to this weekend's opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Internet search engine Google turns 10Audio

Updated 09:34:55

This Sunday the world's most popular internet search engine turns 10.

Thursday, 04 September 2008

Philippines ends MILF peace talksAudioTranscript

Updated 09:47:39

In a dramatic policy shift, the Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has abandoned more than a decade of peace talks with the country's largest Muslim rebel group - the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

What future for peace in southern Philippines?Audio

Updated 09:47:39

The Philippine government is now effectively saying it will bypass the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and seek to negotiate with what it is referring to as people on the ground.

Child traffickers 'capitalising' on Indian flood victimsAudioTranscript

Updated 09:47:39

The Indian state of Bihar continues to suffer its worst monsoon flooding in decades and now a fresh humanitarian crisis is emerging, with the targeting of Bihar's vulnerable children by human traffickers.

Protests continue as Thai Foreign Minister resignsAudioTranscript

Updated 09:45:10

Thailand's beleaguered government has suffered a new blow with the resignation of the foreign minister.

Thai King's role under scrutiny amid protestsAudioTranscript

Updated 09:45:10

Many of the anti-government protestors at government house in the Thai capital Bangkok say their campaign is being mounted in the name of the King, with royal yellow the dominant colour at the demonstrations.

Climate change may increase severe cyclonesAudio

Updated 09:45:10

Around 2 million residents of the southern US city of New Orleans have been returning home, after fleeing the arrival earlier this week of Hurricane Gustav.

Australia prepares for new climate change reportAudio

Updated 09:45:10

The Australian government's climate change advisor will release more economic modelling on emissions trading tomorrow.

Sydney tourist numbers fallingAudio

Updated 09:45:09

Sydney, with its spectacular Harbour Bridge and eye-catching Opera House, has been one of Australia's tourist drawcards for decades.

Wednesday, 03 September 2008

Bangkok braces for widespread strikesAudio

Updated 09:23:59

Despite being the subject of a state of emergency, Bangkok's anti-government protesters show no sign of backing down in their demand for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.

Thai economy suffers from political crisisAudioTranscript

Updated 09:23:59

The political uncertainty in Thailand is already damaging the economy, with fears of worse to come.

China and Japan ties post FukudaAudioTranscript

Updated 09:23:59

Japan's ruling Liberal Democrats party are on the hunt for a new leader, following the dramatic resignation of Yasuo Fukuda after less than a year in office.

Russian PM promotes eastern oil pipelineAudio

Updated 09:23:59

While Japan's relations with China are back up in the air, there are more signs Beijing's relationship with Moscow is warming up.

Afghan ambassador angry at suspects' treatmentAudio

Updated 09:23:59

The Afghan Ambassador to Australia, Amanullah Jayhoon, has raised concerns about Taliban suspects being held in dog pens, by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Does Ramadan drive up food prices?Audio

Updated 09:23:58

Across the Muslim world, the holy fasting month of Ramadan is under way and will continue throughout September.

International adoption back under Australian scrutinyAudioTranscript

Updated 09:23:58

The Australian government has frozen the possible adoption of children where there are doubts over the conduct of the Indian adoption agencies involved in the process.

Australia to tighten Indian student restrictionsAudioTranscript

Updated 09:23:58

Australia's colleges and universities are expressing concern over new immigration rules that could restrict the flow of students from India.

Suicide 'can be prevented', says WHOAudioTranscript

Updated 09:23:58

Worldwide, nearly a million people a year commit suicide, surpassing the combined death toll from murder and war.

Dalai Lama's illness raises succession questionAudio

Updated 09:23:58

For decades, the Dalai Lama has been the international symbol and frontman for the Tibetan independence movement.

Taro Aso touted as favourite to takeover as next Japanese PMAudioTranscript

Updated 07:19:07

Japan's politicians are searching for a new prime minister after Yasuo Fukuda became the second leader to resign in less than a year, threatening a further policy vacuum as the economy teeters on the brink of recession.

Tuesday, 02 September 2008

Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda resignsAudioTranscript

Updated 10:33:00

It's a wonder there's not a revolving door on the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo.

Bangladesh braces for floodingAudio

Updated 10:33:00

Indian officials say they've managed to rescue around half of the million people who'd been stranded by flooding in the northeastern state of Bihar.

One dead in anti-government Thai protestsAudio

Updated 10:32:59

In Thailand, thousands of supporters and opponents of the government have clashed in the capital, Bangkok.

Thai Opposition calls for fresh electionsAudio

Updated 10:32:59

With no sign of either Prime Minister Samak or the protestors in Thailand backing down, opposition MPs are now urging Mr Samak to call for new elections in order to end the crisis.

Timor's controversial gun amnesty endsAudioTranscript

Updated 10:32:59

East Timor's six-month gun amnesty has ended.

Rare opportunity to end southern Thai insurgencyAudioTranscript

Updated 10:32:59

In Thailand, the current government's political problems have meant it's once again given the military a free hand in tackling the long running insurgency in the country's Muslim majority south.

Madeleine Albright: 'Asian Century' aheadAudioTranscript

Updated 10:32:59

Americans have been digesting the choice by Republican candidate John McCain of Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as his presidential running mate.

Russia actions raise Australian uranium export concernsAudioTranscript

Updated 10:32:57

Australia's uranium policy is again in the spotlight as the Federal Government reviews an agreement to sell the mineral to Russia.

Faster heart rate raises risk of attackAudioTranscript

Updated 10:32:57

A long-term international study has found a link between a faster heart-rate and the risk of a heart attack.

Monday, 01 September 2008

Indian floods leave millions homeless in BiharAudioTranscript

Updated 09:27:15

In Nepal and India, millions of people are struggling to cope with some of the worst flooding in the area for 50 years.

Stalemate as Thai PM refuses to resignAudio

Updated 09:27:15

Thousands of holiday-makers on the Thai island of Phuket were scrambling to get home over the weekend, after anti-government protesters shut down the airport there, and in other centres in the country's south.

Timorese families saddened by fruitless mass grave huntAudioTranscript

Updated 09:27:15

For the part six weeks, a group of forensic anthropologists from Australia and Argentina have been in East Timor searching for a mass grave allegedly used to bury hundreds of East Timorese killed by Indonesian troops in 1991.

Asian vote 'could swing US elections'Audio

Updated 09:27:15

Americans from Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds Americans make up more than five per cent of the country's population, and community leaders are keen to get them out to vote in this year's presidential election.

Australia seeks India free trade dealAudio

Updated 09:27:15

Last week's signing of a deal between India and ASEAN is a sign that the traditional resistance in India to full-blown trade liberalisation might be breaking down.

Malnutrition in Asia overtakes AfricaAudioTranscript

Updated 09:27:15

A recent report by the United Nations children's fund UNICEF warns that malnutrition in Asia is now more widespread than in sub-Saharan Africa.

Exiled Burmese news agency marks 10th anniversaryAudio

Updated 09:27:15

It's 10 years since Mizzima News was set up by a group of Burmese reporters living in exile in the Indian capital, New Delhi.

Too few Australians studying farmingAudio

Updated 09:27:15

Here in Australia, thousands of high school kids have been attending university open days over the past few weeks, checking out what the future might hold for them.

Sri Lanka opens new IT campusAudioTranscript

Updated 09:27:15

Sri Lanka's hoping to benefit from the global demand for information technology graduates, with the opening of a new 1,000 student campus on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo.

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