February 2010

India and Pakistan talks beginAudio

Updated 26/02/2010 11:40:15

India and Pakistan are trying to improve relations, with the first formal diplomatic talks since the attacks on Mumbai in November 2008. The past 14 months have been marked by serious tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Both countries say while the diplomatic level talks were constructive, they admit full rapprochement remains far off.

A rare public assessment from Australia's Ambassador for counter-terroAudioTranscript

Updated 26/02/2010 11:40:21

Australia's Ambassador for counter-terrorism has given a rare public assessment of the state of international terrorism. Ambassador Bill Patterson describes Indonesia as the biggest counter-terrorism success in the post-2001 world. But he says a lack of political will by Thailand and the Philippines to address simmering insurgencies could see militants become an international threat.

UN rights chief warns against Thailand's migrant workers crackdownAudio

Updated 26/02/2010 11:40:29

Authorities in Thailand have set Sunday as the deadline for migrant workers to take part in a nationality verification process or face deportation.The new system will affect migrant workers from neighbouring Burma, Cambodia and Laos. The Thai government decided last month to grant a two-year extension of work permits for more than one million migrants provided they submitted personal information to their home governments.Bangkok says the new laws will give the migrant workers access to the same labour rights as Thais, but human rights groups have voiced alarm, saying it puts many migrant workers at serious risk of abuse by their national governments.

Bangkok on alert ahead of Thaksin court rulingAudio

Updated 26/02/2010 11:40:39

Security is tight in the Thai capital Bangkok this morning, especially around the Supreme Court, on what the local media is calling 'Judgement Day'. The Supreme Court will rule on 2-point-2 billion dollars in frozen assets belonging former prime minister and business tycoon, Thaksin Shinawatra. Thailand's Defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan says the military will provide reinforcements, should violence break out. Thaksin Shinawatra has been in self-imposed exile after being ousted in 2006 but still commands strong support, especially among the rural poor and the so-called 'Red Shirts'.

Indonesia reviews blasphemy lawAudioTranscript

Updated 26/02/2010 11:39:46

Indonesia is reviewing its 1965 Blasphemy Law, a law brought in by then-President Sukarno, who, activists say, used the law to repress minority religions. Under the law, leaders and followers of religions, or cults, suspected of heresy can be charged and face a maximum penalty of five years jail. The judicial review was prompted by concerns raised by human rights organisations that the hundreds of people estimated to have been jailed under the law were simply exercising their right to freedom of religion. The clashes over the relevance of the law in secular, democratic Indonesia, could herald bigger troubles if changes are made.

Toyoto president faces grilling by US CongressAudio

Updated 26/02/2010 11:40:04

There was no doubting his sincerity but Toyota's president and the carmaker itself still has lot of ground to make up to repair the fallout from the latest safety claims about its luxury Lexus brand. After a three hour grilling by US lawmakers Akio Toyoda now has to keep his promise of ensuring the company refocuses on safety as its number one priority.

Asialink arts director steps downAudio

Updated 26/02/2010 11:39:31

A key member of one of Australia's leading centres for the understanding of Asia is retiring. Asialink is a non-academic part of the University of Melbourne, devoted to the public understanding of Asian countries, and Australia's role in the region. Alison Carroll is stepping down in a few months, as director of Asialink Arts after twenty years in the role. Asialink Arts is instrumental in establishing artistic and cultural relationships in the region, sending more than 600-Australian artists and curators on residencies in Asia.

Rights concerns over Indonesia's Bank Century bailoutAudio

Updated 26/02/2010 11:39:52

Calls are growing for the political scalps of Indonesia's Finance minister Sri Mulyani and the Vice President Boediono, over the so-called 'CenturyGate' scandal.
They were held responsible for the multi-million dollar bailout of PT Bank Century, which critics said benefitted only the political elite and senior share-holders.
The bank collapsed due to embezzlement by its biggest shareholders, including former owner Robert Tantular, who's now serving a five-year jail term. Critics now want Sri Mulyani and Boediono, the former Governor of Indonesia's central bank, to be investigated over the bailout.

Foreign students in Australia begin new academic year amid safety concAudio

Updated 26/02/2010 11:39:39

This week in Australia, thousands of students have been getting their first taste of unversity life, with the beginning of the new academic year and for many international students, it's their first time away from home. But as the academic year gets underway, debate continues about whether foreign students, are well looked after.Last year saw a spate of violent incidents against Indian students, raising speculation they may be racist attacks.

Australian oil leak appears to have spread to IndonesiaAudio

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:50

The big oil leak in Australia from a well head platform in the Timor Sea late last year, seems to have made its way into Indonesian waters. Testing of a sample from the PTTEP-Australasia well appears to confirm that crude oil spread far and wide during the ten weeks that it flowed.

Healthy economic data out of Japan, MalaysiaAudioTranscript

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:50

There are more indications of a solid economic recovery underway in Asia, with rises in key data from Japan and Malaysia. Japan's exports in January jumped by 40 per cent from a year earlier. Malaysia's economy meanwhile grew at 4.5 per cent in the December quarter, officially ending that country's worst recession since independence.

Toyota boss grilled at US hearing on vehicle recallAudioTranscript

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:50

The president of leading carmaker Toyota has faced intense questioning in the United States Congress on vehicle defects which have been blamed for as many as 30 deaths. Toyota boss Akio Toyoda has apologised for the safety flaws that have sparked a worldwide recall of over eight million cars. Mr Toyoda's appearance on Capitol Hill comes as Japan opens its own investigation into the sudden unintended acceleration with Toyota vehicles.

Exhibition maps Australia's Muslim cameleer historyAudio

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:49

Australia's first Muslim community played a valued role in the exploration and settlement of the nation's desert interior. A new exhibition that tells that remarkable story opens tomorrow, at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne. It's called 'Australia's Muslim Cameleers - Pioneers of the Inland from the 1860s to 1930s.'

Australian seed grower breaks into Bangladesh potato marketAudio

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:50

An Australian potato seed company has struck success in a seemingly unlikely market - Bangladesh. Tom Fox from Lake Jasper Certified Seed Potatoes is the first Australian grower to break into the potato market in Bangladesh, the world's fourth largest potato market that's dominated by the Dutch.

Pakistan moves to ban deadly kite flyingAudioTranscript

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:50

Kite flying is supposed to be fun but in Pakistan it's also assumed a deadly reputation. Each year, people die or are injured by kite strings which have been sharpened with wire or glass, to down a rival kite. In Pakistan's Punjab province, police have arrested more than 1,000 people in a crackdown on people selling and flying kites. And local authorities have now banned the traditional practice of kite-flying during next month's annual spring festival.

Toyota problems may have wider impact on US-Japan tiesAudioTranscript

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:50

Will the fallout from the problems of Japanese carmaker Toyota extend beyond the damage to its brand?

Hope for new India, Pakistan talksAudio

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:50

India and Pakistan today hold their first official talks since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. While the meeting's unlikely to lead to any dramatic breakthrough, but it may help thaw bilateral relations. Even before the foreign secretaries meet, there's already disagreement over what to talk about. India wants to focus on curbing terrorism while Pakistan wants a broader agenda - to include that long-running irritant, Kashmir.

Malaysia looks to neighbours for more domestic workersAudioTranscript

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:50

The Malaysian Government has introduced a course to educate foreign domestic workers and their employers on their rights and responsibilities. The move is in response to several high profile cases in which Indonesian maids were brutally abused by their employers. The violent incidents led Indonesia to stop people from taking jobs as domestic workers in Malaysia. While the two countries are in talks attempting to end the ban, there have been calls for the Malaysian Government to seek maids elsewhere.

Controversial Muslim scholar visits AustraliaAudioTranscript

Updated 25/02/2010 12:02:49

Progressive American Islamic scholar Dr Amina Wadud is visiting Australia to talk about her main academic interests - Islamic identity and the struggle for women's rights within Islam. Amina Wadud was born Mary Teasley but changed her name in 1974 after she converted to Islam. In 2005, she became the target of death threats after she led Friday prayers in a Catholic Church in New York against the accepted ban on women as imams. But Doctor Wadud has another passion in the Asian region: Indonesia, where she's lived and taught. She's also taught in Malaysia but its Indonesia she describes as uniquely hopeful, though not without potential fractures.

Toyota faces US congressional hearingsAudioTranscript

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:02

The world's largest car maker Toyota is enduring another round of criticism in the United States, over safety concerns. Two days of US Congressional hearings have begun, with one tearful driver testifying how she thought she was going to die as her car sped out of control.

Australian spy agency turns up heat on people smugglersAudioTranscript

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:02

The Australian government is turning up the heat on people smugglers with an announcement that it wants to widen the brief of the country's security intelligence agency, ASIO, to include those who transport asylum seekers for cash. The new powers will also apply to investigating drug networks, in an important widening of ASIO's previously domestic focus. The announcement comes a day after the release of Canberra's new counter-terrorism policy, which has attracted some criticism for a lack of initiatives.

New report accuses Australia of breaching anti-race discrimination obligationsAudioTranscript

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:02

Australia has been found to have breached its international anti-race discrimination obligations by continuing for almost three years, its intervention policies with indigenous communities of the Northern Territory. The formal finding comes from the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous People, Professor James Anaya.

New book on the travels of a Thai kingAudio

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:01

There was a time in Thailand when the King's word was law. King Mongkut or Rama the Fourth, was the monarch immortalised in the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, the King and I. His son, Chulalongkorn was tutored in English by Anna Leonowens, the governess in the musical. Chulalongkorn continued his father's legacy of modernising Thailand... journeying abroad as part of his ongoing education. "Through The Eyes of the King" is a book on Chulalongkorn's travels, particularly to the-then British-run Malay states and Singapore, and later to Europe.

No tax relief in Singapore budgetAudio

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:02

No income tax relief, and a lot of hard work ahead are the main messages to Singaporeans out of the Government's budget. The cornerstone of the blueprint for economic reform is a package of incentives aimed at boosting productivity in Southeast Asia's fourth largest economy.

Spicy new initiative to combat Melbourne's anti Indian violenceAudio

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:02

The Victorian community is fighting back against violence that has targeted Indians in the capital city Melbourne, with a spicy new initiative, to show support for Indians living in Australia. It's called 'Vindaloo Against Violence' - with thousands of people sharing an Indian meal as an expression of concern for violent attacks against Indian students.

Malaysian murder front page news in Kuala LumpurAudioTranscript

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:02

Police in Sydney have charged a man with the murder of a Malaysian-born Australian citizen, Mohammed Shah Saemin. A 55-year-old man's has been taken into custody, to appear in court later today, over last Sunday's stabbing. Mohammed Shah Saemin had lived in Australia for several years and worked as a driver for the Malaysian consulate in Sydney. His killing made front page news in Malaysia, and Malaysia's Foreign Minister says his office has been bombarded by calls from parents whose children are studying here.

New report documents abuse of migrant workers in ThailandAudio

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:02

At the end of the month, Thailand will launch its largest ever crackdown on illegal immigration. An estimated three million migrant workers will need to provide their details to their home Governments, or face deportation. However, a new report from Human Rights Watch in Thailand says life for illegal workers in Thailand isn't much better than the poor conditions they fled in their home countries, with illegal workers in Thailand facing torture, sexual abuse and extortion.

Court hearing raises terror concerns in JakartaAudioTranscript

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:02

More evidence is emerging of links between Indonesian terrorists and benefactors based in the Middle East. Alleged members of the cell behind last year's Jakarta hotel bombings, which killed seven people including three Australians, are on trial in Jakarta. Evidence from the prosecution shows one of them arranging for funds through a contact in Saudi Arabia. In a separate matter, Indonesian police have revealed they've arrested suspected members of Jemaah Islamiah at a military style training camp in north Sumatra.

China's education ministry critical of OxfamAudioTranscript

Updated 24/02/2010 12:24:01

China's Education ministry this week reportedly posted notices on several Chinese university websites, calling aid and development agency Oxfam "an illegal organisation, with ulterior motives." Oxfam says it's puzzled by China's criticism is trying to find out what prompted the notices.

Australia releases counter terrorism white paperAudio

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:03

The Australian government has released its long awaited white paper on counter terrorism in Canberra. It warns that home-grown radicalised militant elements are now a part of the Australian landscape. The paper also notes that while there have been successes against elements of the global jihadist movement led by al Qaeda, new threats from these elements have popped up in countries like Yemen and the Sudan, while Pakistan and Afghanistan are identified as having continuing potential to spread violence. The Rudd government's responses will include a big investment in biometric checks for visa applications from ten target countries .. yet to be named .. and cross-checks with data held by local and international authorities, predominantly the United Kingdom.

Australia urged to do more for AIDS, malaria and tuberculosisAudioTranscript

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:02

The head of the world's major funding source for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria treatments wants Australia to channel some of its promised increase in international aid through his organisation. The Global Fund was borne of the realisation in the late 1990's that health is intimately connected to development.
Professor Michel Kazatchkine is currently touring the world's capitals seeking renewed government pledges to build on an already impressive record and as well as looking to Australia to do more, he's hoping soon to get China to become not just recipient, but donor.

Alliance of NGOs proposed to raise status of women in Asia PacificAudio

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:03

Three months ago, an event called the Asia Pacific Breakthrough Summit to End Global Poverty was held in Melbourne. The event raised a staggering one-point-two billion dollars in donations and pledges from Government and non-Government agencies. The money will be used to raise the status of women in the Asia-Pacific region. The summit also set a plan in motion to promote an alliance of the thousands of religious charities, women's and development NGOs in the region.

US Congressional investigators turn up the heat on ToyotaAudioTranscript

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:03

Already coping with a recall of more than eight-million of its cars, giant auto-maker Toyota probably thought its problems couldn't get any worse. But internal company documents released by U-S Congressional investigators reveal that Toyota boasted about saving more than 100-million U-S dollars by limitng its safety recalls, even as deaths mounted from accidents linked to sudden acceleration in some Toyota vehicles. It's expected to make for a testy exchange between members of the U-S Congressional committee and Toyota's reclusive president this week.

New book paints Malaysia's Mahathir as a maverickAudioTranscript

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:02

Anwar Ibrahim's second trial in ten years for sodomy has been postponed for a month, as the defence team appeals the Judge's decision not to stand down amid allegations of bias. Anwar says the trial's an attempt by Malaysia's ruling UMNO party to destroy his political career and the Opposition alliance that he leads, the Pakatan Rakyat. Anwar led the Opposition to demolish the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition's two-thirds majority in parliament. Some UMNO leaders have labelled him a 'traitor' to the Malay race, because of his advocacy of equal rights. His critics include his one-time mentor-turned-enemy, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. Author Barry Wain's book "Malaysian Maverick" is about Dr Mahathir.

US report warns Taiwan's fighter jets are inadequateAudioTranscript

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:03

A US Congressional report says Taiwan's fighter jets are inadequate to deal with any threat from mainland China.The one-off report says upgrade are needed for Taiwan's jet-fighter fleet as China gets stronger. The report quotes the US Defence Intelligence Agency as saying that many of Taiwan's 400 combat aircraft are ageing and suffered maintenance problems. The report comes in the wake of a six-billion dollar arms package agreement signed late last month, between Washington and Taipei, a deal which angered China, which suspended military exercises with the US and threatened punitive measures.

Wife of jailed Sri Lankan ex-general speaks outAudio

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:03

The wife of arrested ex-Sri Lankan army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka is rejecting claims her husband is living in luxury while in detention. Fonseka was detained two weeks after being defeated in the Presidential election by President Mahinda Rajapakse and is being held by the military pending court-martial proceedings on as yet unspecified charges. Anoma Fonseka says her husband is under enormous physical pressure, with pre-existing health conditions aggravated by hot and unventilated accommodation.

Climate scientists warn of food shortagesAudio

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:02

Forget melting ice caps or rising sea levels, a group of international climate scientists say our biggest problem is running out of food. If the world's temperature rises, as predicted in climate modelling, plants will yield significantly less creating major food shortages. There are warnings that the next green revolution will be a lot harder than the last.

Australian billlionaire reshapes holdings in major regional dealAudio

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:03

One of the region's billionaires, Australia's Kerry Stokes, has reshaped his holdings in a major deal that merges media and mining interests from China to Western Australia under a single entity. Analysts say it will create growth opportunities, but it will also concentrate Mr Stokes' ownership within the new group.

Passengers stranded due to British Airways strikeAudio

Updated 23/02/2010 13:34:03

World air travel is today in chaos as a strike by Lufthansa's pilots has left thousands of passengers stranded, amid talk that over three thousand international and domestic flights could be cancelled during the planned four-day walk off. To make matters worse, British Airways cabin crew have also voted to take industrial action over pay and conditions. Legally, the BA union must give a week's notice if it plans to take action - meaning strikes could begin as early as next week.
Aviation analysts are suggesting this latest dispute could be make or break for British Airways.

Whaling not to disrupt bilateral ties: Australia, Japan ministersAudioTranscript

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:24

Whaling continues to bedevil bilateral ties between Japan and Australia. Both countries' foreign ministers used weekend talks in Australia to signal they're ready to do battle on the issue in the International Criminal Court. Australia is also putting to the International Whaling Commission a proposal to phase out Japan's Southern Ocean whaling. And while the weekend talks were frank when Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith met his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada, both sides continue to stress that the long and strategically important relationship can rise above the current rancour over whaling.

Rights envoy disappointed by Burma visitAudioTranscript

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:24

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights says national elections in Burma scheduled for this year will be unfair. Tomas Ojea Quintana was on his third trip to Burma. The military government turned down his request to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Mr Ojea Quintana said he was given no information about the polls promised for some time this year. Prior to his visit, the Burmese military regime had promised greater cooperation with the UN, yet during Mr Ojea Quintana's visit, authorities continued to lock up dissidents and even denied there were any "prisoners of conscience" in the country.

Australian men's hockey team arrives in New DelhiAudioTranscript

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:23

The Australian men's hockey team has touched down in India to contest the Hockey World Cup, with the coach admitting players are nervous about the security situation in New Delhi. But cricketers, due to play in the rich, Indian Premier League, are not sure whether they will turn up or not.

New crocodile warnings in Australia's northeastAudioTranscript

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:24

Authorities in Australia's northeast are again issuing warnings to keep an eye out for wayward crocodiles. Golfers in northern Queensland were given a fright last week when they spotted a fresh water crocodile walking across the green. And swimmers at the main beach of Queensland resort town of Townsville were ordered out of the water just days later after someone spotted a two and a half metre salt water crocodile.

Fresh calls for more support for Australia's disabled peopleAudioTranscript

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:23

There are fresh calls in Australia for a community re-think of the support offered to people with disabilities. They come from a leading yachtsman who takes groups of disabled people sailing most weekends. David Pescud says it's time the community began creating work opportunities for people with disabilities instead of relegating them to a life on a government pension.

Indonesian Muslims say rupiah should be replaced with coinsAudio

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:24

Jakarta may be the centre of one of the world's fastest growing economies but some in the Indonesian capital want to do away with paper money in favour of coins. A group of Indonesian Muslims are shunning paper currency, for gold dinars and silver dirhams in their daily transactions.Led by Sheikh Abdalqadir as-Sufi, the group plan to use the coins to trade goods such as food, medicine and clothes. They say the move is in line with a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Philippines ceasefire holds despite setback in peace talksAudioTranscript

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:24

In the Philippines, a fragile ceasefire continues to hold, on the southern island of Mindanao despite the latest setback in peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The separatist MILF rejected a power sharing proposal put foward by the government, after both groups exchanged plans at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year. However both groups are trying to get in place an interim deal before the Presidential elections.

Mongolia tackles harsh winterAudioTranscript

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:24

The harsh winter in Mongolia has brought heavy snowfall, icy winds and temperatures falling to minus-35 degrees celcius. It's brought much hardship to many already improverished communities, killing an estimated two-million heads of livestock. The winter has also threatened the survival of Mongolia's nomadic herders, who make up almost a third of Mongolia's working people.

Civilians caught in NATO offensive in AfghanistanAudio

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:24

An American-led NATO military operation against the Taliban in Afghanistan has entered its second week, in what's seen as the first major test of US President Obama's strategy to crush the eight-year old insurgency. About 15,000 Afghan and NATO troops faced fierce resistance as Operation Mushtarak continued against the Taliban. Meanwhile, civilians have been caught in the conflict, with living conditions described as 'desperate' and food running short.

Tension in Bangkok streetsAudioTranscript

Updated 22/02/2010 14:30:24

Thailand has stepped up security and is bracing for fresh turmoil this week as the Thai Supreme Court rules on the future of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's $US2.2 billion business empire. There are reports that thousands of troops have been deployed by the government, and guards have been assigned to protect the Supreme Court judges. Diplomats and embassies have also issued travel warnings, due to fears of a violent backlash by supporters of Mr Thaksin, the 'Red Shirts', if the court decides to seize their leader's assets on Friday.

New report warns of millions more Asians falling into povertyAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:25

There are warnings that Asia's poor will continue to feel the effects of the global economic crisis, despite signs of recovery. A new joint report by the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations say that an extra four million people in Asia could slip into poverty this year.

Airlines hopeful of take off, but fares set to riseAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:24

For the past 18 months the region's airlines have been riding out turbulence arising from a collapse in passenger traffic. But now at least one of the big three Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas says the worst might be over. While Qantas has reported a $US52 million profit for the six months to December, and competition is fierce, cheap fares won't last.

Cheerful attitude good for the heart: scientistsAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:25

Canadian researchers say staying positive, with a regular hearty laugh are very good for your heart. The scientists say their 10 year study has produced the first objective data to support the belief that high morale leads to a stronger heart.

'Epidemic' of caning punishment in Malaysia: AmnestyAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:24

The caning of three Muslim women for breaking Islamic law in Malaysia has drawn outrage from human rights groups. Amnesty International said there was an "epidemic" of caning, calling the punishment cruel and degrading. Amnesty's Malaysia researcher, Lance Lattig, says some 35,000 people have been caned in Malaysia since 2002.

Australian PM's ultimatum ahead of Japan talksAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:25

Just one day ahead of a planned visit to Australia by the Japanese foreign minister, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has promised he'll launch court action against Japan if it doesn't agree to stop its annual whale hunt by November this year. Tokyo's former whaling commissioner Masayuki Komatsu, however, is urging Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada to also get tough in talks with Australia.

Call for illegal timber laws in AustraliaAudio

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:24

Australian retailers, timber companies and environmentalists say the Federal Government risks undoing the work being done in countries like Indonesia, to stop illegal logging. They say the Australian government has failed to honour a 2007 election promise to ban illegal timber products, a plan which would put in place measures to identify and restrict illegally harvested timber. Canberra is now talking about voluntary measures to ban illegal imports.

Condemnation of Malaysia's caning lawsAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:24

Malaysia's government is facing international condemnation after it revealed it had caned and imprisoned three women and four men who were convicted of 'khalwat' or sex outside of marriage. It's the first time women have been caned by the state in Malaysia. Malaysian lawyers and women's groups have warned that the country's reputation as a modern Islamic nation is under threat and they've called for an end to corporal punishment.

UNHCR calls for Australia to end 'drama' in refugee debateAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:25

A top United Nations refugee official has called for an end to the drama of political debate in Australia about asylum-seekers.

Thai army refuses to give up unreliable explosive detectorAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:25

In Thailand, the army says it will continue to use a controversial explosive detection device, despite tests proving it doesn't work. Thai government testing on the GT200 has shown the wand-like detector has a success rate of about 20 per cent, but thousands of people have been arrested based on evidence gathered with the use of the device. Human Rights Watch has called for a ban.

China angry, as Dalai Lama thanks US for supportAudioTranscript

Updated 19/02/2010 12:10:25

China has voiced its displeasure with the US, as President Barack Obama played host to Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Although it defied Chinese demands to cancel the talks, the White House took pains to keep the meeting low-key, barring media coverage of the meeting. The Dalai Lama emerged from the encounter, declaring that President Obama was "supportive."

Political heir and millionaire darling vie for Philippines presidencyAudioTranscript

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:56

Campaigning for the May presidential and general elections in the Philippines are gathering momentum, with 10 politicians vying for the top job.

Malaysia disappointed over Australian MP's protestAudio

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:56

Malaysian cabinet minister Shafie Apdal says he's disappointed and appalled by Australian politicians who last week lodged a formal protest over the trial of the country's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. More than 50 Australian MPs lodged the protest over the sodomy trial, which could result in a jail term of up to 20 years.

Hong Kong democracy debate heats upAudioTranscript

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:56

In what's being described as a showdown between pro-democracy and pro-Beijing forces, a series of by-elections has been orchestrated to act as a referendum of sorts, on whether Hong Kong residents should directly vote for their leader.

Cholera concerns in CambodiaAudio

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:56

Cambodia has confirmed that there's been an outbreak of cholera. There's been more than 128 confirmed cases of the disease since the first cases were diagnosed in November, last year. But there's concern that the government hasn't moved fast enough to alert the public.

Call for urgent reform of Pakistan civil serviceAudio

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:56

Bureaucratic and cumbersome - that's the view of many on Pakistan's civil service. And it's prompted calls, backed up by a report from the International Crisis Group, for reform. The report, from the anti-conflict policy think tank, has called for immediate changes in transparency and accountability to avoid greater political and social ramifications.

Political fallout of Malaysian Opposition leader trialAudio

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:56

It's clear that the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case is a great inconvenience, if not downright damaging to the Malaysian opposition alliance.

Barclays Bank throws off financial crisisAudio

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:55

One of the world's biggest banks, Barclays has emerged from the financial turmoil of the last 18 months stronger than ever. Some astute deal making at the height of the crisis has helped it post a $US15 billion profit last year. The bank is now focused on expansion and is looking to grow its commodities and private wealth businesses in Asia.

China-Australia trade talks to resumeAudioTranscript

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:55

Chinese trade negotiators are due in Australia next week to resume technical talks on a free trade agreement. This will be the fourteenth round of talks in what has been a painfully slow process. Australia's Trade Minister Simon Crean is emphatic that the political will exists on both sides to get a deal but there are sticking points.

Toyota in damage controlAudioTranscript

Updated 18/02/2010 14:24:56

The president of Japan's biggest car-maker Toyota has rejected a call from the US Congress for him to appear before a hearing next week. Members of the hearing want to interview Akio Toyoda, head of Toyota and the founder's grandson, over the company's safety record. Toyota has been forced to recall more than eight million cars because of accelerator and brake problems. Now, the company is looking into complaints about defects in the power steering in the world's most popular car, the Corolla.

Terrorism warning for sports tours in IndiaAudioTranscript

Updated 17/02/2010 12:24:50

A terrorist with links to Al-Qaeda has issued a message warning the international community not to send athletes to a series of major sporting events scheduled this year in India. In a letter sent to a Hong-Kong based online newspaper, Ilyas Kashmiri warned international athletes not to attend the Hockey World Cup, the Indian Premier League or the Commonwealth Games. The threat comes just days after a bomb killed nine people in the Indian city of Pune.

A Tokyo crime reporter lives to tell his Yakuza taleAudioTranscript

Updated 17/02/2010 12:24:50

Japan's criminal world of the Yakuza has been written up in books and glorified in films but there's rarely been a substantial look into that dark domain from a foreigner's perspective. Bold and unfettered, a new book by an unlikely Jewish-American author has shed new light on not just the workings of the Yakuza but also the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Jake Adelstein spent 12 years working the crime beat for Japan's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun and he's distilled it into a book 'Tokyo Vice - - A Western Reporter On The Police Beat in Japan.'

DNA testing finds ancient man not so hairyAudio

Updated 17/02/2010 12:24:50

New research on a clump of hair found buried deep in the ice of Greenland has revealed a snapshot of what ancient man looked like. To date, DNA sequencing has used modern samples from living people. But this is the first time material from an extinct culture has been used. Testing has revealed some of ancient man's physical traits including a tendency to go bald.

Five men jailed under Australia's widely-criticised terrorism lawsAudioTranscript

Updated 17/02/2010 12:24:50

An Australian court handed down long sentences after convictions in an 11 month terror case that some experts say has stretched the Australian legal process to new limits. The long reach of the charges has some worried about potential abuse while continuing to risk alienation in Australia's Muslim community.

The forgotten victims of Burma's repressive dictatorshipAudioTranscript

Updated 17/02/2010 12:24:50

For tens of thousands of Burmese refugees, the long wait to be resettled continues often under very trying circumstances.

Amnesty's Burma report paints grim human rights pictureAudio

Updated 17/02/2010 12:24:50

Amnesty International has called on Burma's military government to stop repression against ethnic minorities. Amnesty's latest report cites fresh information from victims of human rights abuses, detailing killings, abductions and rape, as well as harrassment and discrimination against ethnic minorities. The human rights group wants pressure from China, India and the ASEAN group, to promote fair elections free from violence.

Senior Taliban commander reportedly captured in PakistanAudioTranscript

Updated 17/02/2010 12:24:50

A secret, joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence services has captured the second in command of the AfghanistanTaliban. According to US and Pakistani officials, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, was arrested in a joint operation by the CIA and members of Pakistan's military intelligence services, the ISI. Mullah Baradar's capture could cripple the Taliban's operations in the short term, although the Taliban is denying that he's been captured.

Constitutional showdown threatens Pakistan's shaky democracyAudioTranscript

Updated 17/02/2010 12:24:50

Pakistan's civilian government continues its fragile hold on power. President Asif Ali Zardari is set for a constitutional showdown with Pakistan's top court, after two judicial appointments were struck down by the Supreme Court. The confrontation could have the potential to destabilise the country even more.

No success without Mullah Omar: ex-military officerAudio

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:05

The Pakistani military officer who trained Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, in guerrilla warfare says there won't be peace in Afghanistan until the Taliban returns to power. Brigadier Amir Sultan, more commonly known as Colonel Imam, is regarded as a war hero by Pakistanis because of his role in the fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan. He describes himself as the godfather of the Taliban and went from being friend to foe with the United States when they wanted him declared a terrorist by the United Nations after September 11, 2001. He says that the US-led plan to reintegrate the Taliban won't work unless Mullah Omar is included.

Stabbing death heightens Australian school violence fearsAudio

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:04

A 13-year-old boy is due to appear in an Australian Children's Court today, charged with the murder of a 12-year-old. Elliot Fletcher died Monday, after allegedly being stabbed during a fight at the boy's school in the northeastern state of Queensland. His death has again raised questions about what type of security is necessary in Australian schools. Professor John Toumbourou is an adolescent health researcher at Deakin University. In a recent study he found alarmingly similar levels of violence in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria as those in Washington State, in the US.

Mongolia faces months of freezing temperaturesAudioTranscript

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:04

Freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall in Mongolia has cut off a number of villages to the most basic supplies such as food, fuel and medical care. The extreme cold, known locally as Dzud where temperatures have dropped to as low as minus 49 degrees Celcius is expected to linger... with severe conditions to continue until June.

New report says oil drilling behind Indonesian mud volcanoAudioTranscript

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:05

A new report into the Lusi mud volcano in East Java, Indonesia, has provided the strongest evidence to date of a link between the drilling of an oil well and the disastrous eruption. The 2006 eruption killed 13 people and displaced 30,000 others. The new report by an international team of scientists says that contrary to mining company Lapindo Brantas' claims, it was the firm's own activities that caused the disaster.

Piracy charges possible for whaling activistAudio

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:04

A spokesman for the Japanese whaling fleet says an anti-whaling protester could face piracy charges for boarding a whaling vessel. A member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, New Zealander, Pete Bethune, boarded the Japanese Whaling Ship, the Shonan Maru 2, Monday morning. Last month his boat, the Ady Gil sank after colliding with the Shonan Maru. A Sea Shepherd activist says Pete Bethune was trying to to conduct a citizen's arrest of the Shonan Maru 2's captain.

Mekong activists call for Australian help to save riverAudioTranscript

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:04

South East Asia's relentless economic growth is fuelling new concerns about one of the region's greatest natural assets, the Mekong River. There are fears that plans for 11 new hydro electric dams on the river will devastate the environment and lead the people who rely on the waterway for a living, into poverty. A group of non-government organisations has taken a photographic exhibition to Canberra to highlight the plight of people on the river, in a bid to enlist the Australian government in their push against the dams.

Exports behind much needed good news for Japan economyAudioTranscript

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:04

The latest economic growth figures out of Japan show a stronger than expected recovery in the world's second largest economy. GDP expanded by a modest 1.1 per cent in the December quarter, mainly on the back of a rebound in exports.

UN visit to Burma underwayAudioTranscript

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:05

A United Nations-commissioned human rights expert has begun a visit to Burma this week, with Australia calling on the military junta to co-operate fully. It comes after the weekend release of the deputy leader of the National League for Democracy, Tin Oo, after almost seven years of house arrest.

Dying to hear that songAudio

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:04

A warning for anyone who enjoys karaoke and is planning a holiday in the Philippines - if you do feel like grabbing the microphone and belting out a tune, it might be a good idea to avoid choosing the Frank Sinatra classic, 'My Way'. Over the past decade, at least 10 people are known to have been murdered after singing the song, and it has also led to frequent fist-fights.

Afghan offensive pushes into Taliban territoryAudioTranscript

Updated 16/02/2010 12:52:05

The combined American, British and Afghan forces begin their fourth day of Operation Moshtarak in southern Afghanistan, considered the biggest coalition offensive since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Senior Afghan officers say they are poised outside the key town of Marjah in Helmand Province with resistance relatively light but progress is being slowed by makeshift bombs and sniper attacks.

Bali authorities failing to control rabid dogsAudioTranscript

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:23

Rabies has spread out of control amongst the huge dog population of Bali island's and its proving to be a killer of humans. The Balinese government has tried vaccinations and culling but so far it's been powerless to stop the disease.

Thailand's poor dig deep for quake-destroyed HaitiAudioTranscript

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:23

In Thailand, Valentine's Day took on a new meaning when the slum community of Klong Toey came together to raise funds for the children of Haiti. The Klong Toey residents readily identify with the hardships faced by the communities in Haiti still struggling to recover from last month's earthquake.

New offensive test of Obama's Afghanistan strategyAudioTranscript

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:24

For a second day, US, NATO and Afghan troops have been waging an offensive designed to break the Taliban's grip on southern Afghanistan. The troops are meeting pockets of resistance and the operation has been complicated by the large number of makeshift bombs planted along local roads.

Defence concerns in East Timor political attacks trialAudioTranscript

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:24

Lawyers for a Timorese-born Australian woman standing trial over an alleged plot to assassinate East Timor's President say new evidence has come to light that further undermines the prosecution's case. Angelita Pires and 27 men are on trial for attacks on President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao two years ago. After seven months of hearings the trial is expected to come to an end this week and the defence is concerned crucial witnesses won't be heard.

Burmese regime releases deputy opposition leaderAudioTranscript

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:24

The deputy leader of the Burmese opposition party, Tin Oo, has been released after a six-year period of detention expired. The 83-year-old has vowed to resume his political activities ahead of elections later this year, despite saying he was warned by the government not to take actions which could "disturb the building of the state".

Thai-Cambodia dispute heats upAudio

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:23

Cambodia's Prime Minister says he may seek international arbitration to settle a dispute with Thailand over land surrounding a temple on their shared border. The Preah Vihear temple has been at the centre of an intensified conflict since mid-2008, and could now involve internet search engine Google and the International Court of Justice.

Attack puts India on alertAudio

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:24

India is on high alert after a weekend bomb blast targeted a popular tourist cafe in the western city of Pune. It's the first major incident since the attack on Mumbai in November 2008 and Pakistani-sponsored terror groups are being blamed.

Proposed open skies between Australia and ChinaAudioTranscript

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:23

Australia and China on Sunday agreed to increase the number of flights between the countries as they move towards talks on an "open skies" agreement. Seat allocations were previously capped at 8,500. Now though, the airlines of both countries will be able to offer up to 10,500 seats a week on flights between Australia's major airports and China, with the capacity to rise by a further 4,000 seats from November.

People smuggling envoy leaves behind little changeAudioTranscript

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:23

Australia's Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues is leaving the job after just eight months, leaving a promised framework agreement with Indonesia on people smuggling to his successor. Peter Woolcott has been promoted to the key post of Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. In evidence to Parliamentary committee hearings in Canberra, Mr Woolcott has shed little light on progress with Indonesia on a people smuggling agreement - a matter some observers thought was testing the Canberra-Jakarta relationship late last year.

Work in Australia's outback attracts JillaroosAudio

Updated 15/02/2010 12:40:23

While Australia's agriculture industry struggles to attract young people to the work force, some students are traveling across the country to study jackerooing - the Australian equivilent of being a cowboy, or in the case of jillarooing, a cowgirl. One local institute is training up to 50 students a year in horsemanship, sheep and cattle mustering and all the other skills you need to be a jackeroo.

More than just Maoists caught in India's military offensiveAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

The Indian government has vowed to unleash a massive offensive on Maoist rebels in five central and eastern Indian states, worst-hit by the insurgency. But there are voices of caution from civil society that an armed confrontation could further hurt the marginalised and largely indigenous populations in the worst affected states.

Australian politicians throw support behind Malaysian Opposition leadeAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

Australian MPs are rallying to the cause of Malaysian Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Almost 60 Federal MPs have signed a letter in support of Mr Anwar calling on the Malaysian Government to drop charges against him. He's facing a second trial on sodomy charges - trial currently postponed while the judge presiding over the case decides whether to step down over accusations of bias. The Australian MPs say they hold grave concerns for Mr Anwar so soon after his party made big gains in national elections.

Jail for Indonesia's former anti-corruption commissionerAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

Indonesia's former anti-corruption chief Antasari Azhar has been sentenced to 18 years' jail, after a murder trial last year that gripped the nation. The former anti-graft official was convicted of ordering the murder of a businessman over an alleged love triangle with a female golf caddy. Antasari Azhar consistently said he was innocent, adding that the charge was revenge for his work unveiling corruption among officials. After the verdict was read, Mr Azhar said he respected the court's verdict, although as a citizen and law-enforcer he intended to appeal.

China demand behind Rio Tinto profits, despite executive trialAudio

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

Mining giant Rio Tinto, in announcing its annual profit report, was reluctant to speak out about the fate of its four executives standing trial in China. Chinese steel mills are Rio's best customers and the company yesterday announced profits of nearly $US5 billion in 2009, helped significantly by the appetite of the expanding Chinese economy.

Diplomatic approach from Canberra to Rio Tinto China trialAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

The Australian government is being diplomatically quiet after the announcement that Australian national Stern Hu and his three Rio Tino colleagues will face trial in China within weeks.The four executives face jail terms of up to 12 years and Canberra is again calling on Beijing to ensure a transparent and expeditious process.

China's wealthy bank on Hainan developmentAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

China's economic surge is creating huge pockets of wealth in a country that already boasted more millionaires than any other. There's just one problem for China's wealthy: where to park your millions in a command economy where investment options are limited and bank interest rates perpetually low.

Progress, but gap still wide in Australian Aboriginal disadvantageAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

The Australian Government has reinforced "closing the gap" a defining feature of its approach to addressing Aboriginal disadvantage. In a keynote speech yesterday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised to give annual updates on efforts to narrow the vast difference in life expectancy between Australia's indigenous peoples and the wider community. But have things improved for Australian Aboriginal communities?

Big plans for Sydney's Chinese New Year festivalAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:26

The final preparations are being made in Sydney to kick off the city's celebration of Chinese New Year. The annual festivites to celebrate the new year on the lunar calender have expanded in recent years, on the back of a growing migrant population and the keen involvement of the Chinese government. And it's not just in Sydney where the festival is making inroads.

The zero currency oils India's wheels of anti-corruptionAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

For many Indians, bribing corrupt officials is a way of life. Last year, international corruption watchdog Transparency International said almost four million Indian families had to bribe officials for access to basic services. India also dropped in Transparency's corruption index from 72nd to 85th in a list of 180 countries. now Indians are fighting corruption using a novel idea - the zero rupee.

Unlikely win cheers Chinese soccer fansAudioTranscript

Updated 12/02/2010 14:32:27

China has caused a major upset at the East Asian Football championship in Tokyo, by defeating defending champions South Korea. It's China's first victory over the Koreans since the countries began playing full internationals 32 years ago.

Home-grown online competition for China's BaiduAudioTranscript

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:35

The extraordinary run of success continues for China's dominant internet search engine, Baidu, with the most recent profit figures confirming its status as a market darling. The company has made no secret it wants to be in the top echelon of global companies, but with its closest rival Google contemplating leaving Chinese cyberspace, Baidu could face increased competition on its home turf.

Enough evidence in Rio Tinto executives China caseAudioTranscript

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:36

It's been more than six months since four of Rio Tinto's iron ore trading team were taken into custody in Shanghai, facing accusations of industrial espionage. Until last night there was still some hope in the Rio camp that Australian Stern Hu, and his three Chinese colleagues, might not have to face a Chinese court and the likelihood of a prison term. But prosecutors have decided that there is enough evidence to proceed and the Shanghai Number One Intermediate People's Court will soon be the scene of trial which is likely to test Australia-China relations.

Australian defence admits lapse after East Timor woman's deathAudioTranscript

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:36

Australia's highest military officer has admitted there was a lapse by his officers in the case of East Timorese woman Gracinda da Costa, who died last month after being hit by an Australian military vehicle. The Australian opposition is describing it as 'delinquent'. The chief of the Australian Defence Force made the admission at a Parliamentary committee in Canberra, raising new questions about the accountability and transparency of the Australian military presence in East Timor.

Researchers warn Australians of high salt intakeAudioTranscript

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:35

New Australian research shows that more than 70 per cent of processed meats, cheeses and sauces contain unacceptably high levels of salt. The findings, published in this month's 'American Journal of Clinical Nutrition', coincided with World Salt Awareness Week and a call for Australia to set tough low-salt targets for processed and take-away foods.

Mining executives trial impacts Australia-China business tiesAudio

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:36

Mining giant Rio Tinto has to keep doing business in China whatever happens to four of its staff in the courts. So what are the options for Rio Tinto, and the Australian government, from here?

US President and First Lady tackle childhood obesityAudioTranscript

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:35

In the United States, the President and the First Lady have set an ambitious goal of eliminating childhood obesity within a generation. But it's Michelle Obama who's in charge of the nationwide campaign. About one in three American children are either overweight or obese and that threatens to make them the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents.

Alternative Pacific solution to US marines dilemmaAudio

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:35

It's been the cause of tension between Japan and the United States - but the push by the Japanese government for the US to move their air base out of Japan may have an alternative. A delegation sent by the newly-elected Japanese government is currently in Guam pushing for the entire Futenma US air base to be relocated there. But Guam says the island cannot deal with anymore than the 17,000 US marines and their families it's already prepared to take from the base in Japan. But Japanese media reported that the Northern Mariana Islands has stepped-in and offered to host the entire Futenma air base.

Hefty price for Australian Nintendo game fanAudioTranscript

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:35

Still in cyberspace... and computer games giant Nintendo has sent a clear message to would-be pirates and delivered a very costly lesson to a young Australian computer games enthusiast. 24-year-old James Burt has agreed to pay Nintendo $AU1.5 million for illegally putting a file from a new computer game online for others to copy.

Search continues for hundreds trapped after Afghan avalancheAudio

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:36

Rescuers are continuing to dig through snow in northern Afghanistan to reach hundreds of people trapped after avalanches blocked a mountain pass outside the capital Kabul.

Election massacre charges laid as campaigning begins in PhilippinesAudioTranscript

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:36

Campaigning for the Philippines' May elections started this week, coinciding with charges laid against almost 200 people over killings last November in southern Maguindanao province. Among those charged over the massacre of 57 people, is Andal Ampatuan Senior, the head of a Muslim clan, former provincial governor and former close ally of President Gloria Arroyo. Prosecutors allege that Ampatuan Junior and about 100 of his gunmen committed the killings to stop a political rival, from running against him for the post of governor in the upcoming May elections.

Too few gold stars on Australia's Indigenous report cardAudioTranscript

Updated 11/02/2010 13:12:36

The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will today deliver his second report on closing the gap on indigenous health and education. It comes two years since the Prime Minister delivered his 'Sorry' speech to the Stolen Generations - the generation of Aboriginal children forcefully taken from their homes - promising more than $AU5 billion over 10 years to close the gap. But indigenous experts say much more work and a lot more money is needed.

Drowning research centre to open in AsiaAudioTranscript

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:09

Child drowning has assumed epidemic proportions in Asia, according to Royal Life Saving Australia. And that's why it's setting up the world's first international drowning research centre in Asia. As many as 350,000 children drown each year in Asia, compared to 50 last year in Australia.

Sexualised images stir Australian parliamentary debateAudioTranscript

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:09

The Australian parliament is considering a private members bill aimed at cutting down the sexualisation and objectification of girls in the media. The bill's proponent, the Labor MP Amanda Rishworth, wants a new code of conduct for the industry. She won support from some members on both sides of Parliament. But media commentators say the Government should take a cautious approach to regulation.

Australian Greens says Navy exercise with Burma unacceptableAudio

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:10

Australia's minor opposition political party, the Greens, is questioning why Australia sent a Navy patrol boat to take part in a military exercise with Burma, despite having military sanctions against the regime. The Australian patrol boat, HMAS Glenelg, has just finished taking part in 'Exercise Milan'. The annual exercise is organised by India and involves the navies of 13 countries, including Burma. It's the third year Australia's taken part, despite signing up to sanctions against Burma, which ban training and arms sales.

Iconic kiwi suffering in New Zealand droughtAudio

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:07

A long, dry spell in the North Island of New Zealand is causing problems for the country's iconic bird, the kiwi. An increasing number of the nocturnal creatures are being found staggering around in the daytime, and many have died from dehydration and hunger.

India prepared for Games threats: analystAudio

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:09

Security for the Commonwealth Games is proving a special challenge to the Indian authorities. Athletes from some countries are nervous about their safety, but Indian police, military and security services say they're now better prepared than they were at the time of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Sri Lanka to go to polls in AprilAudioTranscript

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:10

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse has dissolved parliament before legislative elections in April, even as his arch rival, former military chief Sarath Fonseka languishes in jail. The April elections follow last month's bitter poll for the presidency, which Mr Rajapakse won comfortably, but which General Fonseka claimed was rigged.

Toyota President apologises for recallsAudioTranscript

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:10

The president of Toyota has made an unreserved apology for the string of embarrassing recalls plaguing the carmaker. The company says more than 400,000 of the current model Prius hybrids, sold in 60 countries, will have go back to the dealer to have a brake problem rectified. And with lawsuits hanging over its head, the company faces billions of dollars in costs and it's carefully cultivated reputation for reliability and quality may never be the same.

Higher productivity key to world's food securityAudio

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:09

Food prices are expected to spike again this year with India suffering its worst drought in 40 years. And the outlook for food prices and production don't look good in the long run either. The United Nations says food production must double within 40 years to meet the demand of a growing world population. Already a billion people suffer from hunger and a lack of nutrition, partly due to depleted investment in agricultural production.

Confusion over China coal dealAudio

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:09

Earlier this week, it was claimed a $AU70 billion coal exporting deal had been completed between Australian mining firm Resourcehouse and China. Now, it seems, there is some confusion about whether it's a deal or not. Now the Chinese company concerned insists that it was merely a "framework agreement" -- and that further negotiations are necessary before the signing of an actual contract.

WTO head positive on Doha trade agreementAudioTranscript

Updated 10/02/2010 14:33:10

The head of the World Trade Organisation won't say whether the political will exists to complete the troubled Doha Round of free trade talks this year. G20 leaders have ordered the talks get wrapped up, but Pascal Lamy says while it is do-able, progress at present is too slow. It's estimated that a completed agreement would boost the global economy by anywhere between $US300 and $700 Billion a year, a substantial contribution to global economic recovery.

Mobile TV a truly Korean crazeAudio

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:51

The technology for viewing television programs on your mobile phone has been around for a number of years. But only in South Korea is it widely used.

Indigenous leader attacks Australian native title lawsAudio

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:51

Prominent Australian Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson has given a damning assessment of Native Title. Speaking to members of the American Bar Association in Sydney, Mr Pearson labelled Australia's laws governing the ownership of land by Indigenous Australians a travesty and a quagmire. And he's accused the judicial system of failing to serve indigenous Australians.

Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate arrestedAudioTranscript

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:52

Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka has been arrested for unspecified "military offences." A spokesman for the main opposition alliance the JVP, said General Fonseka, who unsuccessfully challenged President Mahinda Rajapakse, in national elections last month, was taken away by force by about 100 soldiers.

Australia warned over aid boost to BurmaAudioTranscript

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:52

Australia has announced a 40 per cent rise in humanitarian aid to Burma, hoping to encourage a democratic election later this year. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says Australia can't stand by and watch Burma disintegrate, while waiting for political change. But long-time Burma-watchers warn the Burmese generals are masters of political charade and say Australia should be careful trying to deliver more aid to the military regime.

Australia works with Burma navy in regional exerciseAudioTranscript

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:52

Despite Australian military sanctions on Rangoon, a navy ship from Burma will be working alongside the Australian navy in a regional navy exercise in the Indian Ocean. Ships from 13 navies across the Asia-Pacific region are currently taking part in the anti-piracy and counter-terrorism exercises, run from Port Blair on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Whaling activists to face courtAudioTranscript

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:52

A United Nations committee says Japan has breached the human rights of two Greenpeace activists who exposed an illegal trade in whale meat. The UN Human Rights Committee's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, were jailed without charge, after being arrested in 2008. The pair known as the 'Tokyo Two' are due to stand trial next Monday for theft and trespass, after tracking and intercepting a parcel of whale meat from a mail depot in northern Japan, to prove the illegal sale.

Changes sought by East Timor's new anti-corruption chiefAudio

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:51

East Timor's new Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Aderito Soares, says better co-ordination is needed with the country's Prosecutor's Office to avoid adding to the existing backlog of graft cases. There have been doubts about the effectiveness of the new Commission, but Mr Soares says he's aiming for generational change as well as prosecutions in court.

Death of child highlights Pakistan's vulnerableAudio

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:51

Shazia Masih, a 12-year-old housemaid from Lahore, was buried last Monday after she died of unexplained injuries at the house of her employer. He says she fell down the stairs, but her family claim she was tortured to death. The case again highlights the vulnerability of both women and the poor in Pakistan.

A galloping good time as Mumbai residents head to the DerbyAudio

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:51

It's the biggest horse race in India with a huge international audience. The Indian Derby weekend, held at the Royal Western India Turf Club in Mumbai, has all the glitz, glamour - and champagne - that's demanded of an international horse race. It also has a winning purse of more than $US400,000.

Australian indigenous stars to sing at Vancouver Winter OlympicsAudio

Updated 09/02/2010 13:10:51

A group of Indigenous Australian musicians are heading to Vancouver, to take part in the Winter Olympic Games this week. The Black Arm Band have been asked to perform their musical and spoken word show, Hidden Republic, alongside some of the world's most high profile artists from around the world. It's the first time in the Games history that such a showcase of Indigenous talent will be presented.

Australia key food technology role in AsiaAudio

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:04

Australia's Agriculture Minister says technology is becoming increasingly important for maintaining food security, as climate change makes farming more difficult around the world. He says Australia has a key role to play in Asia by exporting technology to farmers and food producers in the form of government aid and by establishing joint ventures with foreign businesses. The Minister's comments came at a meeting of key figures in Australia's food industry, held in the south-eastern city of Melbourne.

Iran nuclear move prompts international condemnationAudio

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:04

Iran has heightened suspicions in the West that it plans to build a nuclear bomb. Iran has announced plans to produce a much higher grade of uranium - something that means it would need less uranium - and time - to produce a nuclear weapon. But the move has drawn immediate condemnation and new calls for sanctions.

New focus for US defense strategyAudioTranscript

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:04

The United States Defence department has outlined a strategy for what it calls 'rebalancing' its force structure to respond to burgeoning sources and types of threats. The Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review says conventional wars are still on it's agenda but addressing non-conventional threats is to be given much more attention.

Japan PM prepared to get tough on disputed islandsAudio

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:04

Japan's Prime Minister says he'll do his best to resolve a decades-long territorial dispute with Russia. Speaking on Northern Territories Day, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said the return of the four Russian-held islands was ''the biggest wish'' of his administration.

Australia to shorten skilled worker migration listAudioTranscript

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:05

The Australian Government has announced a dramatic overhaul of Australia's skilled migration programme. The move will affect thousands of overseas students in Australia, hoping to study their way to permanent residency. Effective from today, the government will revoke the list of jobs where skilled migrants are most needed. The list - known as the Migration Occupations in Demand List - will be shortened and re-issued later this year.

Airshow brilliance belies shaky year for travelAudioTranscript

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:04

Participants in the Singapore Airshow have expressed optimism that the region, particularly China, will lead the rest of the world to recovery after one of the worst years on record for global travel. Just a few years ago, Boeing and Airbus left the Singapore Airshow with more than $US60 billion in their order books. By the end of the airshow just $10b worth of contracts were signed but after a year of massive losses, the industry is re-grouping and it's hoped Asia will provide the impetus for growth.

Low budget Australian film captures Indian imaginationAudio

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:04

A Bollywood-inspired short film made by students in the Australian city of Adelaide for just $AU3,000, has screened in over 160 countries over the weekend. Mumbai-based Zee TV has picked up the rights to the film Priya, which will screen to a potential audience around the world of more than 100 million people. The short film about an Australian who falls in love with an Indian student has captured the imagination of India. It's being televised as tension still runs high between the two countries over reports of racist attacks on Indian students. As the show's writer and director Chris Kellett explains, sometimes it's the simple love stories that give people hope.

Little progress in case of missing Thai rights lawyerAudioTranscript

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:04

It's almost six years, since Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit disappeared. Khun Somchai is now believed to have been murdered but investigations continue with little progress despite early arrests of several police officers. The Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has also been unable to fulfill promises he made soon after coming to office to see justice done in this case.

Australian migration changes to affect studentsAudioTranscript

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:05

The immediate scrapping of the list of jobs used by Australia to pick migrants, replacing it with one more focused on highly-skilled work. It means that some overseas students will lose the chance to apply for permanent residency.

New deal a step forward for China-Australia ties: analystAudioTranscript

Updated 08/02/2010 13:41:04

Australian miner Resourcehouse has signed a $US60 billion coal deal with China. Resourcehouse has described it as Australia's "biggest-ever export contract." The company says it has negotiated a 20-year agreement to supply China Power International with 30 million tonnes of coal a year, from a mine in central Queensland. And while the contract has an approximate value of $3 billion a year, and create thousands of jobs for the state, environmentalists aren't so sure that the deal is good for Australia.

No responsibility found in Australian illegal internet download caseAudio

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:49

In a landmark piracy case that had been followed closely around the world, the film industry has lost a copyright battle against Australian internet service provider IINET. The case, involving major studios such as Warner Brothers, Disney, Paramount, Columbia and Twentieth Century Fox, was seen as an ambitious attempt to force ISPs to act against piracy. But the Australian Federal Court found the company was not responsible for the copyright violations of its users.

Post-Sumatran quake rebuild must be long-term: expertsAudio

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:48

Authorities in Indonesia are ramping up efforts to rebuild areas in Sumatra devastated by an earthquake last September. It's estimated almost $US2.5 billion will be needed to rebuild the hundreds of thousands of houses, schools and other structures damaged by the quake. Authorities say reconstruction of Sumatra will be complete by 2011, but experts are warning them not to jeopardise safety in the rush to re-build.

MAG Cambodia achieves significant landmine clearanceAudioTranscript

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:48

Cambodia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world and as a result, has a high number of people with missing limbs. Most of the people in Cambodia work on the land, putting them in direct danger of the mines left behind by three decades of civil war. UK-based non-government organisation MAG, or Mines Advisory Group, works around the world to clear former conflict zones of the remnants of war.

US promises to battle currency disadvantageAudioTranscript

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:49

US President Barack Obama says he will increase pressure on China and several other Asian nations to increase the value of their currencies. President Obama said Asia will be America's biggest trade market in the future, and he wants to create a fairer trading climate for US exporters. The comments come at a sensitive time for US-China relations.

Hope for better Pakistan-India tiesAudioTranscript

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:49

There's fresh hope of improved relations between India and Pakistan, with both sides signalling a resumption of high-level talks. The dialogue was suspended after the 2008 Mumbai attacks which killed 166 people. The latest Indian proposal marks a significant shift, as New Delhi had previously insisted on Pakistan handing over the militants who planned the attacks, thought to be still on Pakistani soil. The planned talks between the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers are a small step but is it a significant one?

A rethink needed on Australia's indigenous youthAudioTranscript

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:49

Researchers have told a new Parliamentary inquiry in Canberra that jailed young Aboriginal Australians are being dehabilitated rather than rehabilitated. A lack of alternatives to incarceration is being blamed for Aboriginals heavy over-representation in prison numbers. Only three per cent of Australia's population is indigenous, but in 2005-06, 38 per cent of the young Australians in jail were indigenous. The issue has festered for decades, and experts at the hearing are pleading for money to be diverted from prisons to more creative programs in an approach called 'justice reinvestment'.

Depressing child report prompts calls for greater fundingAudioTranscript

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:49

A new UN report has registered particular concern of the dire situation for many children in South Asia. UNICEF'S latest Humanitarian Action Report, released today, paints a dismal picture of children in 28 countries suffering humanitarian crises. For the first time, the Philippines and Pakistan are listed as two of the world's worst trouble spots and UNICEF is calling for an extra one billion dollars in funding.

Gains made, but global child health still concernAudio

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:49

International healthcare professionals and medical experts are meeting in Melbourne to address the issue of children's health. About 22,000 children under the age of five die each day in developing countries, with neo-natal infections, low birth weight and malnutrition the main cause of death. But huge gains have been made over the past couple of decades, in addressing diseases like polio and measles.

Beggars face court as India cleans up for Commonwealth GamesAudio

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:48

Mobile courts in the Indian capital New Delhi are conducting summary trials of beggars, to get them off the streets. It's all part of New Delhi's efforts to revamp its image ahead of this year's Commonwealth Games.

Thais on edge over political futureAudio

Updated 05/02/2010 13:27:49

For weeks now, Thais have endured front page reports of an imminent coup. The speculation is set to rise in coming days with the chief of the army out of the country, and supporters of fugitive Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ramping up protests ahead of a planned mass rally on Valentine's day, the 14th of Feburary. The uncertainty has seen Thai stocks fall in January and many are fearful that further destabilisation could be disastrous for Thailand's reputation and economy.

Bomb injures several people in northern Australian cityAudio

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:09

An insurance company targetted by an explosion in the northern Australian city of Darwin yesterday says dealing with threats is part of the insurance business. Northern Territory police say the man responsible for the blast was a disgruntled claimant who'd previously made a number of threats. Some of the 17 people treated after the blast remain in hospital.

Car makers race for electric marketAudioTranscript

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:08

They've been touted as the next big trend in the car industry, but it will be a few years before you have to un-plug the toaster to charge your electric car. However, an Australian importer plans to have Chinese made electric cars on Australian roads by the end of 2011.

Indian anger over attacks in Australia continuesAudioTranscript

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:09

Calls by an Australian state premier for balanced reporting on violence against Indians in Australia has drawn an angry response from sections of the Indian media. Victorian state Premier John Brumby made the comments after police in Melbourne charged Indian man, Jaspreet Singh, for allegedly making a false report, after he set himself on fire, by accident. Mr Singh said he was set on fire by a group of men, but Victorian police say he tried to set fire to his car for insurance purposes.

Public shaming expected for North Korean officialAudioTranscript

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:09

A senior North Korean finance official has been sacked, after overseeing the country's disastrous currency revaluation. Under a decree issued last November, old banknotes were swapped for new ones, at a rate of 100 to one. But the amount which could be exchanged was restricted, effectively wiping out many people's savings and causing widespread anger. South Korea's intelligence agency says the senior official in charge, Pak Nam-Ki, has been absent from public activities since early January. It's been reported the official will be put on trial amid a wave of recriminations over the policy.

Japan's rock port plans angers ChinaAudio

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:09

Japan has set aside $US7 million towards building a port on a tiny outcrop of rocks called Okinotori, almost 2,000 kilometres south of Tokyo. If Japan conducts economic activity there, it can expand its Exclusive Economic Zone by hundreds of kilometres out into the ocean. And there's a suggestion there may be oil under the seabed as well. Not surprisingly, Japan's big plans for these small rocks isn't sitting well with China.

Malaria breakthrough for Australian researchersAudioTranscript

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:09

Australian researchers has discovered how the malaria parasite is able to invade human cells.

Long wait taking its toll for Sri Lankans in Indonesian portAudioTranscript

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:09

For three months a group of 240 Sri Lankan Tamils have been stranded on a boat in western Java, in Indonesia, caught short of reaching Australia where they planned to apply for asylum. The Tamils were taken back to the port of Merak but they are refusing to leave the boat and Indonesian officials have banned media and rights workers from getting close to the vessel. Refugee advocates who recently tried to visit the Sri Lankan asylum seekers say their living in terrible conditions.

Old traditions fall with Malaysian forestsAudio

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:08

The indigenous wood carvers of Malaysia say their livelihood is under threat from rampant deforestation on their island, off Port Klang in western Malaysia. Clearing the native forest for palm oil plantations means the only suitable tree for wood carving is in danger of becoming extinct.

Plenty more jellyfish in the seaAudioTranscript

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:08

Overfishing and climate change are posing twin threats to the world's fisheries. Shortages and changing eco-systems may force the fishing industry to turn to more abundant, and what some might consider less palatable options. Delegates at an international sustainable seafood summit in Paris have just been told that if overfishing continues, jellyfish could soon be on the western menu.

More bad news for ToyotaTranscript

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:09

Having announced the recall of eight million vehicles around the globe because of faulty accelerators, the world's biggest car-maker Toyota has hit more pot-holes. The Japanese Government is ordering the company to investigate dozens of complaints about brake failures involving its pioneering Prius hybrid. Drivers in the United States and Japan have reported that on bumpy roads the brakes on the Prius can temporarily malfunction.

Taliban attacks school in northwest PakistanAudioTranscript

Updated 04/02/2010 13:45:09

Pakistan's volatile north-western region has again been hit by violence - this time, an attack on a school which killed at least 10 people, including three schoolgirls and three American soldiers. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, which also wounded 40 school girls. The violence occured near the Swat Valley, where Pakistani security forces mounted an assault against Taliban militants earlier last year.

US to review military's gay policyAudioTranscript

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:21

The US is moving a step closer to lifting its ban on gay men and women serving opening in the military. The country's most senior military officer says he can no longer support a policy that asks young men and women to lie about who they are. The issue almost derailed Bill Clinton's first term 17 years ago and it's set to spark furious debate again. Now, President Barack Obama says he wants the ban lifted.

Indonesian media giant launches democratic movementAudioTranscript

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:21

Thousands of people gathered in an indoor stadium in Jakarta on Tuesday, to witness the birth of a new movement. Calling itself the National Democrat Organisation, it's been widely seen as a platform to launch the presidential aspirations of media tycoon Surya Paloh and as a base to continue his feud with rival businessman Aburizal Bakrie. Surya Paloh insists it's a movement and not a political party but observers in Jakarta think that's likely to change before the next Presidential elections in 2014.

Climate dominates Australian politicsAudioTranscript

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:21

Climate change politics have dominated the start of a new year in the Australian Parliament. Australians go to the polls later this year, to deliver a verdict on the Rudd Labor government. The economy is bound to remain the single biggest issue for Australians. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's pledge to act on climate change was also a major reason for his election win in November 2007. Now, the opposition has put up an alternative policy, just as the public appears to be warming to a new opposition leader.

Massive US budget calls for thriftAudioTranscript

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:20

A surprising burst in growth over the last quarter has led to some predictions that America is shaking-off the recession it fell into, in late 2007. Unemployment usually keeps rising well after a recession ends, and that's what President Obama's economic policy-makers have kept clearly in mind when they framed the US federal budget for the coming fiscal year.

New research on sudden infant death syndromeAudio

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:20

There's more evidence to support the theory that babies who die of sudden infant death syndrome have a chemical deficiency. A Harvard University team found that a lack of seratonin in the brain may leave some babies vulnerable as they sleep. The finding is being published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. A leading Australian expert on SIDS says it's important research.

A book of memories from Vietnamese diasporaAudio

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:20

More than 30 years ago, Nathalie Nguyen's family came to Australia as political refugees from Vietnam. Her father was a South Vietnamese diplomat based in Japan, and after the collapse of his government, the family became stateless and eventually resettled in Australia. They were one of the first families in a flood of Vietnamese refugees to Australia, and the world. Now, Nathalie Nguyen has documented the oral histories of 40 Vietnamese women who sought asylum in Australia, in a new book.

US rejects China pressure over Dalai Lama meetingAudioTranscript

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:21

China is warning United States President Barack Obama not to meet Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. While no date for the meeting has been set, the White House again confirmed that President Obama will meet the Dalai Lama. It comes in the wake of Beijing's annoyance over a US plan last week, to sell billions of dollars worth of weapons to Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province.

Dengue fears in north east AustraliaAudio

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:21

As the people of Australia's northeastern state of Queensland clean up from tropical cyclone Olga, a new danger is emerging from waterlogged backyards in the state's north. Teams of inspectors are combing through inner city Townsville looking for mosquito breeding sites, after the first confirmed case of dengue fever this year.

Bio-security training attracts Indonesian participantsAudio

Updated 03/02/2010 13:11:20

A training course being held this week in Geelong, an hour's drive from Melbourne, is giving senior officials from Indonesia experience in dealing with potential bio-risk hazards. The course, run by Australia's peak scientific body, the CSIRO, covers international standards on containing dangerous viruses and toxins. It comes in the wake of global epidemics such as avian and swine flu.

China, US race to dominate renewable energyAudio

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:38

In the face of global warming and environmental concerns, the world is likely to get more and more of its energy from renewable sources. It's a fact not lost on China, which is now the biggest manufacturer of solar panels globally. That fact hasn't escaped the attention of the United States where's there's growing anxiety about China's ambition to dominate the world's renewable industries.

Bangkok gets that sinking feelingAudio

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:38

An advisor to the Thai Government on climate change is warning that the capital city Bangkok is at severe risk of sustained flooding over the next 40 years. Dr Anond Snidvongs, one of South East Asia's foremost marine scientists, says the issue of rising sea-levels pales in comparison to the more serious problem of Bangkok sinking.

Some progress, but Asia terrorism hot spots remainAudioTranscript

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:38

A leading global risk management company has warned of ongoing terrorism threats in Asia, despite modest successes by regional governments last year. FTI-International Risk points out Pakistan, India, Indonesia and the southern Philippines as regional "hot spots." At the same time, it warns that terrorists may still aim for so-called "high-value foreign targets" like western businesses and venues, in cities like Jakarta.

Anwar trial from 'medieval times': lawyerAudioTranscript

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:37

Will the trial of Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's opposition leader, be a sideshow, or will it be legitimate?

Malaysian Opposition leader to face courtAudioTranscript

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:38

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim goes on trial today on one charge of sodomy - for the second time in 10 years. Datuk Seri Anwar, once Malaysia's Finance minister and second most powerful man, says the trial is a political stunt, aimed at ending his challenge to the UMNO-ruled government. Anwar Ibrahim is the head of the three-party Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition.

The face of Tokyo's homeless gets youngerAudioTranscript

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:37

Japanese charities say the demographic of homeless people is changing, with the global financial crisis pushing younger people out on the streets. While Japan's economy is starting to recover, those who find themsleves without a fixed address are struggling to get a foothold back into the workforce.

Indian central bank tinkers with policyAudioTranscript

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:37

Australian authorities are tipped to increase interest rates today, and India late last week took the first steps to raise the cost of borrowing over coming months. While economic conditions are improving, the debate continues over tougher regulation of global financial activity.

Obama to visit Australia in election yearAudio

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:37

The United States President, Barack Obama, has announced a visit to his boyhood home of Indonesia in March, followed by talks in Australia with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The visit comes during a busy time for the Australian leader who'll face an election some time this year.

Government crackdown on Sri Lankan opposition supportersAudioTranscript

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:38

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sacked a dozen senior military officers, as part of a crackdown after last week's presidential election. They include three Major-Generals who allegedly had ties with the defeated opposition candidate, General Sarath Fonseka. General Fonseka has accused the government of hounding his supporters -- and opposition activists are threatening to stage a mass rally.

Deported refugee advocate says Indonesia frustrated by Australian immiAudio

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:38

Two Australian refugee activists have been deported back to Australia from Indonesia. Sara Nathan, Pamela Curr and a Canadian colleague, were held twice by port police in Merak, after allegedly entering a restricted area near a group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers. The 240 Sri Lankans have been on the boat since October, after Australia asked Indonesia to stop them on their way to Australia. Sara Nathan says despite the visa dispute and subsequent deportation, she was able to speak to Indonesian authorities about what is being done to solve the impasse. She says that Indonesian officials are frustrated by Australia's unwillingness to help.

Farmers welcome rains in eastern AustraliaAudioTranscript

Updated 02/02/2010 13:35:38

Farmers in the eastern Australian state of New South Wales hope what's left of Tropical Cyclone Olga will keep heading south, to bring much needed rain. While the rivers in the northern Murray-Darling catchment are running again, it's only a moderate flow so far and follow up rain is needed to soak the parched outback landscape.

Journalist disappears after Sri Lanka electionAudioTranscript

Updated 01/02/2010 13:34:59

International media rights groups have accused the government of Sri Lanka of intimidating and harassing journalists, after last week's bitterly-contested presidential election. One local journalist has disappeared, after writing a series of articles favouring opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka. Local media groups have also condemned authorities' suspension of a pro-opposition newspaper and the detention of its editor.

Apple banks on public appetite for tech-tabletAudio

Updated 01/02/2010 13:34:59

Apple has unveiled its latest tech toy, the iPAD. It's a so-called 'tablet computer' somewhere between the smartphone and a laptop. The computer software giant is hoping to have another mass market hit on its hands.

Bushfire-hit town prepares for 'Black Saturday' anniversaryAudio

Updated 01/02/2010 13:34:59

This Sunday, the people of several small communities in Australia's southeastern state of Victoria mark a dark anniversary. February 7 marks one year, since the 'Black Saturday' fires which killed 173 people, injured more than 400 and destroyed over 2,000 homes. Perhaps nowhere are the effects of 'Black Saturday' felt more than in Marysville - where 34 people died and only 14 of some 400 buildings were left standing after the firestorm.

Taiwan arms deal sparks China-US rowAudioTranscript

Updated 01/02/2010 13:35:00

A row has erupted between the United States and China over Washington's decision to move forward on a deal to sell arms to Taiwan. The agreement is worth some $US6.4 billion, including state of the art military hardware, to aid Taiwan's defence modernisation. In response, China has suspended military exercises with the US, and is now threatening commercial sanctions.

Modern warfare less deadly than pastAudioTranscript

Updated 01/02/2010 13:34:59

Research on the human toll of war has found far fewer people die now compared to the 1950s, contrary to perceptions that war's now more deadly. Part of the reason is that conflicts have become smaller. But better healthcare and humanitarian efforts have generally cut national death rates and the report finds that's not reversed by deaths in war. The report also recommends that the United Nations do more to gather evidence to help fill big gaps in information on the impact of war.

Toyota recall hits stock priceAudioTranscript

Updated 01/02/2010 13:34:59

Japan's leading car-maker Toyota is recalling more than seven million cars worldwide, in a move that will cost at least $US1 billion. Some models are suffering problems with sticking accelerator pedals. Toyota had recently overtaken General Motors to become the world's biggest car manufacturer, but it's fortunes have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks. It's now planning to close down production in the United States in a frantic attempt to limit damage to its reputation from the recall.

China sees investment as cure for ethnic unrestAudioTranscript

Updated 01/02/2010 13:35:00

China is planning a surge of economic development for the far-west region of Xinjiang, where ethnic riots killed almost 200 people last year. While Beijing deals with the politics of the issue, security forces continue to round up Uighurs who fled after the violence, with 17 Uighurs deported from Burma.

Another Federer triumphAudio

Updated 01/02/2010 13:34:59

Andy Murray had the weight of Britain on his shoulders at last night's Australian Open tennis final, but he didn't come close to beating Roger Federer. It was a straight sets victory for the man dubbed the greatest tennis player of all time and a missed opportunity for the man who was asked to bring home Britain's first grand slam victory in 74 years.

'Don't jump' urges Indonesian suicide helpAudio

Updated 01/02/2010 13:34:59

A group of psychologists in Jakarta have set up a suicide-prevention service, following several incidents, where people jumped off tall buildings to kill themselves. They've set up a website called 'jangan bunuh diri' or 'don't kill yourself' and a telephone hotline. The group's founder says clients can change their minds about suicide, by talking through their problems.

Philippines talks with separatistsAudio

Updated 01/02/2010 13:34:59

The Philippine government and Muslim separatists have held two days of talks in Malaysia, to work towards a peace plan. After a 16-month impasse, the two sides last month resumed negotiations towards ending a decades-long separatist conflict in southern Mindanao, that's killed 150,000 people. The Asia Foundation is the international contact group between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.