March 2010

Australia's top minds unite to fight for global financial reformAudio

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

The heroic outlaw of English folklore, Robin Hood, robbed the rich and gave to the poor. Robin Hood's controversial initiative may become a modern reality, with an international push to tax banks to fight poverty. The so-called 'Robin Hood Tax' aims to tax banks a minimum of point-zero-five percent on financial transactions, to raise money for the poor, as well as tackle climate change. Its European supporters include British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. Australia's prime minister Kevin Rudd is yet to make his position known but today Australian charities and non profit groups are joining forces to support the campaign.

China angry at Australian criticism of Rio Tinto trialAudioTranscript

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

China has reacted angrily to the Australian government's criticism of the sentencing of four Rio Tinto employees. On Monday, a Shanghai court found the four men, including Australian national, Stern Hu, guilty of corruption and corporate espionage. They've been jailed for between seven and 14 years. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says Stern Hu's 10 year sentence is harsh and China must clarify why he was convicted of industrial espionage. But the Chinese foreign ministry has fired back, telling Australia to keep its nose out of China's legal system.

Graft allegations against Indonesia's tax officeAudio

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

Despite repeated promises to fight corruption, graft and kickbacks have dogged the Indonesian government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani, has also made anti-corruption reforms a key goal. But the latest scandal is in the tax office under her direct authority. Gayus Tambunan, a minor tax official, was found to have 28-billion rupiahs in his account, that's more than three-point-eight million Australian dollars despite being on a salary of less than 17-thousand dollars a year. The case hit the headlines when a former senior detective accused the country's top police officials, and prosecutors, of taking bribes to look the other way.

India's shelter for oprhaned children from Jammu and KashmirAudio

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:21

The UN's children's agency UNICEF says over the past two decades, about 100-thousand children have been orphaned in India's troubled region of Jammu and Kashmir. UNICEF says the orphans' parents died through conflict, poverty or ill health. And it's when children have no parents to protect them, that they're at their most vulnerable to physical abuse, exploitation, violence and even death. Non-government agencies do what they can, to look after the orphans. One organisation in New Delhi is protecting orphans specifically from the Jammu and Kashmir region, it looks after both Hindu and Muslim children.

Australian plans for mandatory internet block on illegal material undeAudioTranscript

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

Australian plans for mandatory internet blocks on illegal material have put Canberra on a collision course with Washington and its push for international internet freedom. The U-S State Department has expressed concern to Australia about the planned measures. The international press freedom group, Reporters Without Borders, is also vocally opposed to the new measures, which aim to block material like child pornography. Australian media researchers say the government may be well-intentioned but has cast its net on the net, too wide.

Geneva atom smasher sets new collision recordAudio

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

Scientists are celebrating after the world's biggest atom smasher near Geneva started triggering particle collisions at energy levels said to be close to that of the Big Bang. The breakthrough, at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research or CERN may help unlock secrets about the universe. After a couple of false starts, beams of protons raced around the Large Hadron Collider and smashed into each other close to the speed of light.

Darjeeling tea, is it the real brew?Audio

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

Darjeeling is expensive and fraudulently labelling cheaper teas with the Darjeeling name is a problem not just for consumers, but for tea producers in India. Now, though, a group of chemists in Western Australia have come up with a method of analysing food products, which can prove where it was grown to within a few kilometres.

Five on death row over Indian honour killingAudioTranscript

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

An Indian court has sentenced five men to death for murdering a young couple who got married against the wishes of local village elders. It's the first time a court in the Indian state of Haryana has ordered the execution of the perpetrators of a so-called 'honour killing'. All of the murderers were members of the bride's family.

Red Cross appeals for aid as Mongolia's winter takes a tollAudio

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

The Red Cross has issued an urgent appeal for aid to help thousands of farmers and herders left destitute by one of the worst winters in decades. The freezing conditions followed a dry summer, which had left farmers dangerously short of animal feed as winter got underway. Aid agencies are calling it "a slowly unfolding disaster." At least four million animals have died in the heavy snow and blizzards that's 10 percent of Mongolia's livestock population. Mongolia's rural economy in danger of collapse.

World bank chief calls on China to raise the yuanAudioTranscript

Updated 31/03/2010 10:41:22

The head of the World Bank Robert Zoellick has joined the international chorus calling on China to allow its currency to rise against those of its major trading partners. He says this will send a signal to Chinese firms to focus more on producing for domestic demand rather than export markets.

Thailand's prime minister refuses to dissolve parliamentAudio

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:08

Thailand's political crisis has intensified, after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rebuffed a demand by anti-government leaders to dissolve parliament in two weeks.
The stalemate after two days of talks has dashed hopes of an end to the mass protests. The so-called 'Red Shirts' or the U-D-D which stands for United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, had been protesting for two weeks in Bangkok, in an ongoing campaign to unseat the government, which it sees as illegitimate.

Australia reacts to China's Stern Hu verdictAudio

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:08

With sentences now handed down to four Shanghai-based Rio Tinto executives after an eight-month ordeal, Australia has served up some strong criticism of China over the handling of the matter. Canberra says the case won't affect its relations with Beijing but has strongly criticised the closed part of the trial on commercial espionage.calling it a "lost opportunity" to enlighten the world business community. Foreign minister Stephen Smith has also described the ten year jail term for the Australian executive, Stern Hu as tough and harsh. The Shanghai court also sentenced Chinese nationals Wang Yong, Ge Minqiang and Liu Ciakui to 14 years, eight years and seven years respectively. All four are destined to serve their sentences in Shanghai's Qingpu prison.

Australian manufacturers stops advertising unhealthy food for kidsAudioTranscript

Updated 30/03/2010 11:22:02

A group representing Australia's major food manufacturers says that the marketing of unhealthy food to children has virtually ceased. The Australian Food and Grocery Council says 16 of its largest member companies have scrapped the advertisements in children's television time slots unless they promote healthy dietary choices. But consumer and health organisations say the voluntary commitments are riddled with loopholes.

India's ascetics in hot water over alleged indiscretions.AudioTranscript

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:07

India's so called "godmen" have fallen on bad times with reports of questionable sexual and fraudulent behaviour leading authorities to warn followers to be vigilant. Some of the Hindu ascetics have been embroiled in sex scandals while others have been exposed for duping people with the promise of instant spiritual salvation. There are now calls for authorities to crack down on the charlatans whose so called special powers are more often than not visual trickery.

China set to be world's biggest car-makerTranscript

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:08

China is set to become the world's biggest car-maker with the country's largest private auto manufacturer buying the Volvo brand from Ford. Geely is cashed-up thanks to the aspirations of China's middle classes to own that most visible symbol of rising prosperity.

Australian manufacturers stop advertising unhealthy food for kidsAudioTranscript

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:07

A group representing Australia's major food manufacturers says that the marketing of unhealthy food to children has virtually ceased. The Australian Food and Grocery Council says 16 of its largest member companies have scrapped the advertisements in children's television time slots unless they promote healthy dietary choices. But consumer and health organisations say the voluntary commitments are riddled with loopholes.

China's diabetes epidemicAudioTranscript

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:07

China's economic boom has brought plenty of benefits but it's also brought a host of problems, including a huge rise in levels of Type 2 diabetes. A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found China's experiencing a diabetes epidemic, with one in 10 Chinese adults testing positive. That translates to about 90 million diabetics in China, with 150 million more showing early symptoms. It's a similar percentage to the US, and higher than many other Western nations.

Burma's opposition to boycott electionsAudio

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:08

Burma's opposition National League for Democracy has announced it will boycott upcoming elections. Under new election laws pushed through by the military government, the NLD had to expel its leader, detained Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, because of what the junta calls her "criminal record." In refusing to take part, the NLD has thrown its support behind Ms Suu Kyi, who was NOT in favour of participation.

Indonesian rights groups want action over Islamic anti-gay raidAudioTranscript

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:08

Rights advocates in Indonesia are urging police to arrest members of several Islamic groups who raided a hotel occupied by several Gay and Lesbian campaigners in Surabaya over the weekend. The advocates were in East Java to attend an international conference on homosexual issues. Some observers say the Islamic groups actions are a sign rising religious conservatism in Indonesia.

Rio Tinto sacks Stern Hu and three Chinese colleaguesAudioTranscript

Updated 30/03/2010 12:29:08

Rio Tinto has acted swifty, following the convictions and sentencing, by sacking Australian national Stern Hu and his three Chinese colleagues within hours. Rio Tinto's also announced what it calls a "far reaching" investigation into its now diplomatically-sensitive operations in China.

New study shows jump in Australian long term cannabis usersAudioTranscript

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:03

New Australian research has shown a dramatic increase in the number of hospital admissions for long term cannabis users. The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre has found the number of Australians seeking treatment with cannabis-related problems has jumped by 30-percent since 2002. And that increase in the rate of harmful use is mostly among older Australians.

Pakistan clamours for Australian dairy cattleAudio

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:02

Pakistan is the latest country to clamour for Australian dairy cattle. Heifer exports from Australia are booming, with overseas investors wanting to put their money into milk. Pakistan now joins China in the battle to secure more of Australia's farming skills and dairy cattle.

UNAIDS calls for lift of travel restrictions on HIV positive peopleAudioTranscript

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:03

The UN agency, UN-AIDS has called for the lifting of travel restrictions on HIV positive people. The restrictions are still in place in 52 countries, including 15 in the Asia Pacific region. There are complete entry bans on HIV-positive visitors in 11 countries, including Singapore and China. Other restrictions including the refusal of residency rights remain elsewhere, including Australia and New Zealand. The call for bans and restrictions to be lifted was made by UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe, at the Inter-parliamentary Union meeting in Bangkok, which brought together 680 lawmakers from 128 countries supporting the move.

Asylum seeker transfer concerns Australia's oppositionAudioTranscript

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:02

Australia's federal opposition says there could be severe legal ramifications over the transfer of asylum seekers from Christmas Island to the mainland. A surge in the number of people seeking to enter Australia illegally by boat has overloaded the island facility. At the weekend a large group of men, deemed NOT to be refugees, were taken from Christmas Island to Villawood detention centre in Sydney. Among the group were seventeen men who still have appeals underway. The lawyer representing the men says all legal avenues will be considered and that concerns the opposition.

Moscow's Bolshoi opera signs Australian voiceAudioTranscript

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:02

It's one of the world's best known opera companies and Moscow's Bolshoi opera has included an Australian voice in its most recent production. Andrew Goodwin has performed in Russia many times over the last decade, a period during which the arts in Russia struggled to regain the level of support they enjoyed under communism. But funding has slowly been restored and Andrew Goodwin believes Australia would do well to follow Russia's tune.

Barack Obama makes first trip to AfghanistanAudioTranscript

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:04

Barack Obama has made his first visit to Afghanistan as US president. At Bagram airbase just outside the capital Kabul, President Obama told American troops, the Taliban continues to pose a direct threat to U-S and world security. It was a surprise whistle-stop visit, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai reportedly had one hour to get ready to meet the US military's commander-in-chief.

Australia's top banker warns Asia expansion could moderateAudioTranscript

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:03

Australia's top banker Glenn Stevens has highlighted the problems for policymakers caused by the uneven pace of the global recovery. He's acknowledged that high debt levels will act as a brake on growth in Europe and the US, and cautioned the expansion in Asia could moderate this year.

Cannabis use high among Australia's remote indigenous communityAudio

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:02

Police in Australia's Far North Queensland say they're concerned about the increasing use of cannabis in remote indigenous communities. The state's Crime and Misconduct Commission has released a report which shows up to sixty percent of indigenous residents on the Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait Islands might now be regularly using cannabis. It says some people on low incomes are spending more than 100 dollars a week on cannabis. And police say people are paying a premium for it, with drug-dealers seeing the region as a lucrative market.

Canberra says asylum seekers won't get new legal rightsAudioTranscript

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:02

Australia's Immigration Minister, Chris Evans is confident that asylum seekers won't succeed in getting new legal rights now that they are on Australia's mainland.

Afghan militant group wants peace plan with Taliban and KabulAudio

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:03

Last week Afghanistan's second biggest militant group said it wanted to broker a peace deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government. The group, Hezb-e-Islami also wanted foreign troops to start withdrawing from Afghanistan next year. Hezb-e-Islami delegates met the top UN envoy for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, late last week but there are some who're deeply sceptical about the peace plan.

Philippines election campaigning underwayAudio

Updated 29/03/2010 11:00:03

In the Philippines, election season has started, with thousands of candidates hitting the campaign trail. The May 10th election offers hope for change, after nine years under President Gloria Arroyo and allegations of corruption and electoral fraud. The son of People Power heroine and the late President Corazon Aquino, Benigno Aquino III, is leading the presidential race, with a message of cleaner government while millionaire property developer Manny Villar is trailing second in opinion polls. Adding to the colour, are boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, former first lady Imelda Marcos and even President Arroyo herself, all running for Congressional seats.

Malaysia's sex industry under the spotlightAudio

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:38

The head of Malaysia's Immigration Department has warned that many foreign sex workers are marrying local men, to obtain a visa - and then paying their new husbands a monthly rate as part of the deal. The statement also points to a lack of clear information on foreign workers and the sex industry in Malaysia.

UN and Afghanistan fight illegal trade in banned chemicalsAudioTranscript

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:38

The United Nations and Afghanistan have agreed to work together to fight the illegal trade in banned chemicals. In a memorandum of understanding signed in Bangkok, the U-N and Afghanistan took aim at chemicals that scientists say harm the ozone layer and contribute to climate change. The UN has also agreed to help Afghanistan train Afghan custom officials to identify the dangerous chemicals.

ICG warns Indonesian prisons breeding ground for terrrorismAudioTranscript

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:37

A leading independent global analysis group is warning that Indonesian terrorists are using their time in jail to recruit and plan new attacks. The International Crisis Group's Indonesia expert, Sidney Jones is a recognised expert on terrorism in Southeast Asia. She warns that Indonesian prisons are a breeding ground for terrorists because prison rules are not enforced. Ms Jones says several of the leaders of a new terror alliance discovered in Aceh province last month had met in prison or through prison contacts. These included Aman Abdurrahman who was arrested in 2004 over his involvement in a bomb making cell and released from prison in 2008.

Malaysia's economy continues to growAudioTranscript

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:37

New economic figures show Malaysia's economy should grow this year at a rate which will be the envy of many developed countries.In its annual report, the country's central bank says increasing demand for exports from other countries in the region and domestic consumer spending will fuel growth.

Diabetes number one health issue for indigenous AustraliansAudioTranscript

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:37

Aboriginal leaders say diabetes is the number one health issue affecting indigenous Australians. Half of all Australia's indigenous people either have type 2 diabetes or a condition known as pre-diabetes. An Indigenous Diabetes forum begins in Melbourne this morning, which aims to get corporate Australia engaged in new ways to prevent the disease.

Indonesia considers more troops to PapuaAudio

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:37

The Indonesian military says it's considering sending thousands more soldiers to Papua province. It says at present it takes at least eight hours for troops to reach the province from Jakarta when reinforcements are required. The military says extra troops will help in the fight against separatists and terrorism.

The trouble with foreign maids in SingaporeAudio

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:37

The inability of foreign maids to settle into Singapore homes has been a hot issue for many years. Last year, almost a third of Singaporeans who engaged a new foreign domestic worker, ended the employment contracts after only 3 months. Singapore's Ministry of Manpower and Health says it's likely the employers thought the workers were not a good match for their family. There were also complaints against employment agencies for poor job matching or inaccurate worker bio-data.

Fossiled dinosaur bone found in AustraliaAudio

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:37

Australian researchers at Museum Victoria say they've found a piece of fossilised bone that belonged to a distant relative of Tyrannosaurus Rex. It's the first time that fragments of this older, smaller member of the Tyrannosaur group have been found in the southern hemisphere. News of the find's study is published in today's Science Journal. But not all Australian paelaontologists agree on whether tyrannosaurs lived here at one time or not; they say more evidence is required to be certain.

Australia calls for stronger border controls to curb boat people surgeAudioTranscript

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:38

The Australian Government is warning the country's humanitarian program is under pressure because of a surge of asylum seekers arriving by boat. The ninety seventh boat in 18 months carrying asylum seekers to Australia has been intercepted in the country's north western waters. Immigration Minister Chris Evans says the sympathy Australians feel for refugees is being challenged by the boat arrivals, as well as the payments some make to people smugglers and the perception of unfair queue jumping. But he's used a speech to a conservative think tank in Sydney to join refugee advocates in challenging the idea that there's a queue in the first place. And he's put his case for doing more to strengthen border controls and refugee protection regimes in countries like Indonesia.

Another US internet company withdraws from ChinaAudioTranscript

Updated 26/03/2010 12:30:38

Another U-S internet company has announced it will follow Google's lead and partially retreat from the Chinese market, because of concerns about censorship.
The domain registration company, GoDaddy, says it will no longer register web sites in China because of what it calls intrusive new Chinese Government rules.
At the same time, one of the co-founders of Google is appealing to the US Government to put more pressure on the Chinese.

Google withdraw puts China's censorship laws under spotlightAudioTranscript

Updated 25/03/2010 11:59:35

The internet giant Google has lifted the lid on China's censorship laws.Three days after shutting down its China operations, the US has cautioned Beijing to consider the implications of Google's retreat from Chinese cyberspace. Few experts believe the move, sparked by cyber attacks on Google's site two months ago, will spur the government into relaxing censorship of the search engine.

Signs Rio Tinto drama in the past for Australian governmentAudio

Updated 25/03/2010 11:59:35

Whatever the outcome of the Rio-Tinto verdict in Shanghai, it seems the Australian government is ready to put the drama behind it, with Resources Minister Martin Ferguson yesterday signing a multi-billion dollar gas export deal in Beijing. Rio Tinto has also moved to distance itself from the alleged activities of its Shanghai executives.

US-Pakistan meetings herald new chapter in relationsAudioTranscript

Updated 25/03/2010 11:59:35

After months of tension and mistrust, Pakistan and the United States say they are beginning a new chapter in relations. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting with her Pakistani counterpart, Mehmood Qureshi in Washington for two days of high level talks. Pakistan says it's looking to the US to take a "constructive" role on disputed Kashmir as well as a "non-discriminatory" access to energy. While the US wants Pakistan to do more to combat militants. Both countries have agreed to step up security co-operation.

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou on Pacific tourAudio

Updated 25/03/2010 11:59:35

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou is on a tour of the south Pacific, arriving in Solomon Islands to a warm reception. However, the local Solomons media hasn't been quite so welcoming, with claims that Taiwain's aid money is being abused by politicians. President Ma is in the middle of a week-long tour of the six Pacific nations that recognise Taiwan rather than China.

US Ambassador to Australia discusses key issues ahead of Obama visitAudioTranscript

Updated 25/03/2010 11:59:35

U S President Barack Obama is celebrating a political win, with his health reform bill signed into law. The document's centrepiece is a 940-billion dollar plan, to extend insurance coverage to an estimated 32-million additional Americans. It was a significant step toward universal coverage sought by every Democrat president, since Harry Truman. So significant that President Obama postponed his visit to Australia and Indonesia this month to ensure the bill was passed. Jeffrey Bleich has known President Obama for twenty years. The top Californian lawyer is currently the US ambassador to Australia and he speaks to Sen Lam about President Obama's plans for the region.

Amnesty urges Malaysia to crackdown on abuse against migrant workersAudio

Updated 25/03/2010 11:56:49

There're fresh calls for the Malaysian government to crack down on employers who abuse migrant workers. Migrant workers make up over 20 percent of Malaysia's workforce and are crucial to the economy. Amnesty International in its latest report, has detailed widespread abuse against migrant workers, by Malaysian employers and police. Amnesty says the workers, many of them from Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nepal are often subject to verbal, physical and sexual abuse by both employers and some local authorities.

Law experts say China's rule of law below world standardsAudioTranscript

Updated 25/03/2010 11:59:35

In Shanghai the trial of Australian Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu and his three Chinese colleagues has ended. The four defendents have pleaded guilty to charges of bribery but Stern Hu has reportedly denied the second charge of stealing commercial secrets. That second charge was heard yesterday in a closed court with diplomats and the media barred from observing the third and final day of the trial. It could be days, even weeks, before the Shanghai judicial system delivers its verdict. But legal observers and Chinese law experts in Australia say the fate of the four is probably sealed, under a system which they say fails by all measures to meet international human rights and rule of law standards.

Saudi Arabia foils alleged terror plotAudioTranscript

Updated 25/03/2010 11:59:35

In Saudi Arabia, more than 100 suspected militants linked to al-Qaeda have been arrested. The Saudi Interior ministry said 58 Saudis and 55 foreigners were planning, in three different groups, to target oil facilities and security forces. Observers say Al-Qaeda has exploited instability in Yemen to set up bases, in the Arabian peninsula.

Security forces on alert in India after Maoist attacksAudio

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:46

Security forces are on alert in eastern India after a series of attacks by Maoist militants. The rebels blew up rail lines in four states and they're promising further attacks as part of their campaign to overthrow the Indian government. The Maoists say they're fighting for the rights of India's rural poor, but the government says the militants are now the biggest threat to India's internal security.

Aung San Suu Kyi against opposition registering for Burma pollAudioTranscript

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:47

Burma's Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has opposed her party registering for forthcoming elections, saying the junta's new election laws are "unjust". Ms Suu Kyi, who's under home detention, adds that the decision is not for her to make. The new laws put in place recently by the military government, prevented key figures from Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy from running. The NLD won the 1990 elections by a landslide but was never allowed to rule by Burma's military.

New study says exercise not enough to control weightAudioTranscript

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:46

It's widely accepted that 30 minutes a day of exercise will lower the risk of some chronic diseases, but new research suggests it's not enough to control weight gain. The new study from the US has found that among middle aged and older women, there's little difference in weight gain between women who get their 30 minutes and those who don't.

New figures show Australia's population to hit 22 millionAudio

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:46

The latest figures on Australia's growing population to be released tomorrow, are expected to confirm that Australia's population has hit 22-million 200 thousand. It'll show a continuing recent annual growth of just over two percent. As a result, the Australian Conservation Foundation wants population growth to be named as what it calls "a key threatening process" under the Australian Enviroment Protection and Bio-diversity Conservation Act.

Scientists say volcanic activity caused extinctionAudioTranscript

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:46

There's still no agreement among scientists about what caused mass extinctions in our prehistoric past. A recent paper argued there was convincing evidence that an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. But now the latest research in the U-S outlines the case for a volcanic cause for a previous mass extinction one which actually gave rise to the dinosaurs.

Australia's uranium policy leaves India in the coldAudioTranscript

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:46

Australia has created more dismay over it's attitude to India, after approving uranium sales to Russia but leaving India subject to a ban. The ban is the policy of the ruling Labor Party and it applies to countries like India which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In contrast, Australia's previous Liberal government received international standard safeguard agreements from India, therefore clearing the way for uranium sales. Indian companies are lining up to invest in Australia's massive uranium deposits but while they may patiently take a long term view, others say the policy position makes no sense.

Political uncertainty in Nepal following Koirala deathAudio

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:46

Nepal is edging towards a May deadline for a new constitution the cornerstone of a long peace process, which ended the civil war with the Maoists. But instability is increasing, and the death of the country's most senior politician could make things even more uncertain. Girija Prasad Koirala died over the weekend, he led Nepal's government on five occasions, and was a key negotiator with the Maoists. Many in the country fear political divisions will now deepen, damaging hopes for a peaceful transition.

Coca Cola ordered to pay damages in IndiaAudio

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:46

Coca Cola has been asked to pay 47 million US dollars in compensation for alleged environmental damage caused at a bottling plant in southern India. The company's plant at Palakkad in the state of Kerala was forced to close five years ago after a High Court ruling. But now Kerala's state government has accepted the findings of an investigation into the allegations about Coca Cola's district plant.

Business community watching Stern Hu trialAudio

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:47

In Shanghai the trial of Australian Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu and his three Chinese colleagues enters its third day. For the first phase of the trial concerning bribery allegations the media wasn't allowed in, but Australian consular officials were. Now, for the part of the trial involving alleged industrial espionage, even they, the consular officials, have been barred. The four Rio executives on Monday admitted in court to taking bribes. Today, they have to defend themselves against allegations that they offered inducements to Chinese steel companies in return for sensitive information. While Australian diplomats won't be hearing evidence, both Australian and Chinese businesses will be watching events closely.

Indonesian people smuggler to be sentencedAudioTranscript

Updated 24/03/2010 11:50:47

The notorious Indonesian people smuggler, Captain Bram, will be sentenced in court today. Captain Bram was responsible for the boat load of more than 250 Sri Lankans, which was intercepted by the Indonesian navy last year, after Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called Indonesia's President Susillo Bambang Yudhoyono. Captain Bram has been described as a people smuggling kingpin, but he's unlikely to be punished severely.

Asia Pacific free trade advocates optimism after US commitmentAudioTranscript

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:04

Advocates of a free trade area in the Pacific rim, the Trans-Pacific Partnership are optimistic that a strong commitment from the United States has given it a big push forward. The partnership or T-P-P shows President Barack Obama is proactive on free trade, although it plays to fears in Australia that the U-S might abandon the troubled Doha round of free trade talks.

Google pulls out of ChinaAudioTranscript

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:05

Google has announced it's closing its China operations, after refusing to comply with China's strict censorship laws. Google had flagged its intention to withdraw in January, after experiencing cyber-attacks which it said originated from China. Now, Google says it will direct Chinese users to an uncensored search engine, based in Hong Kong. Google will however, retain much of its existing China operations, including its research and development team and its local sales force. Human rights groups have hailed Google's decision as 'courageous', while Beijing described it as "totally wrong".

Calls for funding to train teachers on Asian studiesAudio

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:04

Earlier this month, the Australian government launched the first draft of its new national school curriculum. The draft plans to incorporate Asian perspectives into almost every subject, from the first year of primary school to year 10, the fourth form. But there are concerns about how the plan will be implemented. The Asia Education Foundation says Australian teachers won't be able to deliver on the proposed curriculum because they're not properly trained.

Afghanistan's president holds talk with militant groupAudioTranscript

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:04

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has held talks with the leader of the country's second biggest militant group. Gulbuddin Hekmatrya is a man labelled as a terrorist by the United Nations and the United States. He's also a former Prime Minister and powerful warlord, who leads the group, Hezb-e-Islami. While the talks are controversial, the negotiations may well be the only way forward .

Rio Tinto executives admit to taking bribes in Chinese trialAudioTranscript

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:05

Four executives from the Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, have admitted in a Chinese court, to taking bribes. Australian national, Stern Hu and three of his colleagues however, contested the amounts involved. According to Australian diplomats who are observing the first part of the trial Stern Hu was alleged to have accepted more than one million dollars in bribes in two separate incidents. Mr Hu and his Chinese colleagues, Liu Caikui, Ge Minqiang and Wang Yong, are accused of taking bribes and violating commercial secrets but details of the proceedings were hard to come by.

China law expert baffled by Australian stance on Stern Hu caseAudioTranscript

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:05

One China law expert says he's baffled why the Australian government is not being more forceful in getting Australian diplomats admission to the hearings, especially the part dealing with commercial secrets.

Signs of confidence returning to global art marketAudioTranscript

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:04

Confidence may be returning to the global art market as a Picasso with a disputed history and a rare painting by well-loved Australian artist, Sidney Nolan, are tipped to fetch record prices when they go to auction in coming weeks. The Picasso has come back onto the market after a four year legal battle and is said to carry the highest pre-sale estimate for any work of art ever offered in Europe. And in Sydney this week auctioneers are expecting a three to five million dollar price tag for what's been dubbed 'the missing Nolan'.

Another Australian international college closesAudioTranscript

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:04

Another international college has shut its doors in Australia, leaving around 700 mostly Indian and Nepalese students stranded. The Austech Institute in Sydney was a cooking and hospitality school, some of the students only had two weeks left before they graduated. One immigration agent doubts that many students will be able to find another place..

Environmentalists warn against not protecting coralsAudio

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:04

Environmental groups have accused international governments of failing to protect the world's unique red and pink corals. The Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species meeting in Doha has rejected a proposal to monitor the trade of valuable corals, despite an 85 percent decline in global harvests since 1980. Japan led opposition to monitoring the coral trade, targeting seven species, one in the Mediterranean and six in waters near Japan and Taiwan. Environmentalists are now warning that the consequences of failure to act, could be irreversible.

Indian workers mistreated in Commonwealth Games preparationsAudioTranscript

Updated 23/03/2010 12:17:04

In New Delhi, migrant labourers are rushing to finish construction for the Commonwealth Games in October. But according to a panel set up by an Indian court, the labourers are living and working in "rock-bottom" conditions that violate Indian laws. The committee has filed a report accusing government-appointed companies of denying minimum wages, adequate accommodation, basic equipment and medical care to many of the 17 thousand workers on the Games sites.

World Health Organisation says drug resistant TB on the riseAudioTranscript

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:53

The World Health Organisation estimates that drug resistant tuberculosis is on the rise, most notably in Russia, China and India. It says of the 440 thousand cases of resistant TB reported in 2008, one third died and half of those were in India and China. The reported rise comes as the United States records a fall in TB cases of almost 12 percent in 2008. But the World Health Organisation says despite the drop in the U-S, drug-resistant tuberculosis has spiked far more than ever anticipated and poses a global risk.

Rio Tinto trial begins in Shanghai courtAudioTranscript

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:54

Eight months after Chinese security agents detained a group of Rio Tinto executives, Australian Stern Hu and three Chinese colleagues are about to have their day in court. Australia has asked that diplomats be allowed to monitor the entire hearing and that journalists be permitted to observe even a small part of it. But both requests have been denied. The hearing comes as the head of mining giant Rio Tinto prepares to deliver a speech to government and business leaders in Beijing today when he is expected to, at least briefly, raise the issue of the trial of his company's iron ore negotiating team.

Australian croc death prompts demands for better public protectionAudioTranscript

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:53

In Australia's Northern Territory, a coronial inquest is getting under way into the death of 11 year-old Briony Goodsell who was taken by a crocodile in a rural area of the territory's capital, Darwin, just over a year ago. After her death the Territory Government announced a new plan for managing crocodiles in greater Darwin where both human and crocodile populations are expanding. The experts argue still more needs to be done to protect the public.

Indigenous Indonesians map the land for ownershipAudioTranscript

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:53

Indigenous people in Indonesia are mapping their land across the country as part of a push to defend their land rights, in conflicts with business and government. But with a rich variety of communities and many forms of land ownership, it's no easy task.

Thailand's political deadlock continuesAudio

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:54

As anti-government protests enter their ninth day in Thailand, Red Shirt protesters have vowed to keep up the pressure for at least another two weeks. Thai affairs specialist, Nicholas Farrelly from the Australian National University in Canberra talks about whether the protest can break the political deadlock.

Thai Red Shirts in renewed show of forceAudioTranscript

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:54

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have continued to mass rally in Bangkok in the latest stage of their campaign to topple the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Red Shirts many of them supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, wants the government to call new elections. The Prime Minister is refusing to dissolve parliament but says he's willing to negotiate with the Red Shirts once their campaign is called off,

Australia's Afghan strategy under the spotlightAudioTranscript

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:54

Australia has appointed a new senior military position to NATO and will send an advisor to the Afghan Defence minister as the Rudd government defends it contribution to the war in Afghanistan. In a regular report to Parliament on Australia's role in Afghanistan, Defence minister John Faulkner has rejected claims that Australia has limited its war-fighting operations but has again said the current size of Australia's deployment is right. Senator Faulkner's report comes as the U-S led "Operation Moshtarak" shifts its focus from the Taliban heartland of Helmand to Kandahar province.

Pakistan, US gear up for key strategy talksAudioTranscript

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:54

Pakistan and the United States are set to hold their first high level strategic dialogue this week in Washington. The talks will be co- chaired by U-S Secretary of State Hillary Cliton and Pakistan's foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. While there will be a range of issues on the agenda, Pakistan's role in fighting extremists will remain the centrepiece of any discussion.

China's billionaires rival US counterparts in Forbes rich listAudioTranscript

Updated 22/03/2010 12:26:54

Every year Forbes magazine publishes a list of those individuals with serious net worth. This year China is rivalling the US for those whose business acumen has paid-off handsomely.

Barack Obama postpones Australia, Indonesia visitAudioTranscript

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:45

The U-S President Barack Obama has scrapped next week's trip to Australia and Indonesia as he wages a last ditch political battle over his health care reforms. The White House has announced the Presidential visit has been re-scheduled to June and says Barack Obama "deeply regrets" the delay. The postponement comes as no surprise, because his Presidency is hanging in the balance.

Burma junta frees and deports activistAudioTranscript

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:45

Burma's military authorities have freed and deported a Burmese-American activist, who was sentenced last month to three years' jail. Nyi Nyi Aung was convicted of forgery and immigration offences, and had only served five weeks of his sentence. He was a student activist in the 1988 Burma uprising against military rule and had returned to Burma several times, on an American passport.

Australia pushes for access to China Rio Tinto trialAudioTranscript

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:45

Australia is pressing for its consular officials to be allowed to observe the full trial of Chinese-born Australian national Stern Hu, after the Shanghai court ordered part of the hearing to be closed. Stern Hu and three other executives of the Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto go on trial on Monday, after eight months of detention. Chinese authorities have decided the trial on bribery charges will be open, but the hearing on allegations of theft of commercial secrets, will be closed. There are now calls for the mining giant Rio Tinto to stop all business negotiations with China until the case is over.

More Japanese women call Australia homeAudio

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:45

A growing number of Japanese working holiday makers in Australia are staying on permanently and they are overwhelmingly women. In the rapidly growing Japanese community in Australia, women outnumber men almost two to one. New research on this striking gender imbalance is showing that some young Japanese women find that travel, followed by immigration and sometimes marriage in Australia, is an attractive alternative to a demanding work culture and limited opportunities at home.

German scientists test invisibility cloakAudio

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:44

It sounds like an excerpt from a Harry Potter book but German scientists say they've created a three dimensional invisibility cloak. The researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of technology have hidden a bump on a gold plate using "metamaterials". The materials make the gold plate appear flat in infrared light. The research which is published in the latest Science journal is the first experiment to hide an object in 3D.

Calls for more Indigenous doctorsAudioTranscript

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:44

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders make up two and a half percent of the Australian population, but indigenous doctors account for just zero point two percent of all medical practitioners. To help close the gap, there are calls for more gp training places for indigenous medical graduates on top of the extra places announced by the Prime Minister earlier this week.

Australia moves to sell Uranium to RussiaAudioTranscript

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:44

The Australian Government has paved the way for it to sell uranium to Russia. The former Howard Government signed an agreement in 2007 on the sale but it was never ratified. In 2008 a parliamentary inquiry recommended the deal be scrapped unless eight stringent conditions were met, including the resumption of inspections of Russian nuclear facilities by the global watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. Now, the federal government has decided the treaty contains "appropriate safeguards" for Australian uranium to be used in Russia's civil nuclear sector. The government says it will make a final decision on ratifying the agreement "in due course".

Australian bloggers head to Bangladeshi slumsAudioTranscript

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:44

Two Australian bloggers are heading to the slums of Bangladesh, as part of a project to raise awareness about the lives of people in poverty. The anti-poverty organisation ACTION AID chose two bloggers from more than fifty around Australia who applied to join. Over a two-week period, the Aussie bloggers will teach Bangladeshis living in slums how to blog, and will blog on their own experiences at the same time.

World Bank urges China interest rate riseAudioTranscript

Updated 19/03/2010 11:19:44

The World Bank has indicated an interest rate rise is needed to keep the lid on the rapidly growing Chinese economy. The bank has lifted its growth forecast for China, from nine to 9 and -a-half per cent this year, amid increasing fears the property sector is heading for a crash.

Taiwan's new slogan competition to boost birth ratesAudio

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:44

In Taiwan, authorities have resorted to a slogan competition to help encourage more couples to have babies. It's the latest measure to boost Taiwan's birth rates, with the government also planing to offer subsidised fertility treatments. But Taiwan's not the only country ringing the alarm bell, with Singapore and South Korea also acting to try and encourage more births.

Five Vietnam ministers face public grillingAudioTranscript

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:44

In Vietnam five senior cabinet ministers are preparing to be questioned this week by the National Assembly Standing Committee. The five ministers will be questioned on "live" television this Saturday on volatile issues like inflation, shoddy construction standards and labour safety. While it's not unheard-of for Vietnamese ministers to face public questions, five at once does raise the political stakes. Hanoi says it's trying to respond to public pressure by giving a limited degree of increased open-ness to discussions.

Australia praised for supporting Burma UN inquiryAudioTranscript

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:45

Australia has won rare praise from Burma-campaigners for supporting a move in Geneva that could lead to an international legal case against Burma's military junta for crimes against its people. It comes after a discussion in the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva of a report by Special Rapporteur, Tomas Quintana. The reports calls for an investigation into Burma's military for human rights and war crimes against civilians - a move which has been angrily rejected by Burma as unobjective and politically motivated. But at the Genvea meeting, Australia endorsed an investigation into ways a U-N commission of inquiry might be held.

Sri Lanka's former army chief faces court martialAudioTranscript

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:45

The court martial of Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka has been adjourned until next month. General Fonseka, who ran against President Mahinda Rajapakse in January's poll, faces one set of charges that he interfered in politics, while still military chief, and also charges that he was allegedly involved in corrupt arms deals. The court martial has been denounced in some quarters as a political trial, given that General Fonseka and Mr Rajapakse had a spectacular falling out, after the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels last year.

Stern Hu set to face secretive Beijing trialAudioTranscript

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:45

It's been eight months coming but the detained executives from Rio Tinto's Shanghai-based iron ore negotiating team will finally face court next Monday. Stern Hu and his three Chinese colleagues are charged with giving and receiving bribes as well as inducing Chinese steel company executives into leaking them sensitive commercial information. But before the trial has even started, the Australian government is already not happy with the way it's being handled.

India pins its Commonwealth Games medal hopes on the minority SiddisAudioTranscript

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:44

When the Commonwealth Games begin in New Delhi in October, no one expects the event's hosts to make much of an impact on the track. Despite its billion plus population, India hasn't won a medal in athletics since Paris in 1900 and even then, the runner Norman Pritchard, was arguably British. But it could have been different. Back in the late 1980's, inspired by the success of black athletes Carl Lewis and Daley Thomson, India began to train up its own tiny African minority with incredible results.

Indian film festival reels in studentsAudio

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:44

Film lovers in Australia are being treated this month to the Indian Film Festival currently making the rounds of Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. The festival dubbed Bollywood and Beyond is tempting movie fans with an array of Indian offerings, leading with the blockbuster Three Idiots.

Evidence humans were on Flores a million years agoAudioTranscript

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:44

Scientists on the Indonesian Island of Flores have discovered evidence that early humans were living there at least one million years ago. An archaelogical dig has discovered stone tools that has pushed back the age that hominins were living on the island by more than one hundred thousand years ago. Now scientists are speculating that this mystery human may have evolved into the now famous hobbit of Flores.

Indigenous Cambodians call for land protectionAudioTranscript

Updated 18/03/2010 12:14:44

Cambodia's indigenous community has called on the government to live up to its obligations under local and international law and protect their interests. Representatives of Cambodia's 17 ethnic groups are urging the government to suspend hundreds of concessions awarded to foreign and local companies they say are operating on their land. The call comes after a recent United Nations committee hearing submitted evidence about serious shortfalls in Phnom Penh's commitment to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

China accused of manipulating yuan and adding to economic woesAudioTranscript

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:55

The White House is being urged to act as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao refuses to revalue China's currency, the yuan. A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S Senate is threatening Beijing with duties on some of its exports, if it fails to revalue its currency. It's pressing China to change policies that critics say keep its yuan currency cheap and effectively subsidise Chinese exports and tax competing imports. Now Nobel prize winning economist Dr Paul Krugman is certain to fuel the debate between the US and China over the exchange rate of the yuan. He advocates playing policy hardball with the Chinese, whom he accuses of adding to the world's economic problems.

Small condoms for sexually active young boysAudioTranscript

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:54

A new brand of extra small condoms have gone on sale in Switzerland for boys as young as 12. Called the "Hot Shot", the condoms were produced after government research showed a growing number of 12 to 14 year olds were sexually active. Not surprisingly, the condom has sparked controversy even though its makers say it's not solely targeted at teenagers.

New reports warns of arms sale increaseAudio

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:55

A new Swedish report says arms sales have increased around the world. Swedish think thank, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, says arms sales worldwide have increased by 22 percent. It says arms expenditure has risen dramatically, especially in South East Asia. Countries like Malaysia and Singapore, which have just bought submarines, are some of the countries that get a special mention.

Thailand's anti-government protest turns bloodyAudioTranscript

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:55

Thailand's anti-government protestors known as the Red Shirts have splashed blood at the gates of Government House as a symbol of the death of democracy. The protestors, many of whom support ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra lined up to give blood, as the anti-government rallies entered a fifth day. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected a demand from protesters to quit and call elections. So far the protests have been peaceful.

Indonesia's fatwa against smokingAudioTranscript

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:55

Indonesia suffers some of the heaviest health impacts from smoking in Asia - and now it's become a religious target. The country's second-largest Muslim organisation, Muhammadiyah, has issued a fatwa or ruling, saying that smoking is prohibited under Islamic law. But other religious groups say Muhammadiyah has gone too far.

Australia under pressure on border protectionAudioTranscript

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:55

With a steady number of boats arriving in Australian waters carrying asylum seekers, the Rudd government is facing new pressure in an election year on border protection. In defending his government's approach, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has detailed successes in Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka in disrupting people smuggling. But the opposition senses there are votes in portraying the ruling Labor party as being unable or unwilling to take tougher border control measures.

Calls for Indonesia terror suspects to be captured not killedAudio

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:55

There are calls in Indonesia for the country's anti-terror police force to capture terror suspects alive rather than killing them. Police chief investigator Ito Sumardi says anti-terror police risk fostering radical activities as well as losing community support, through the high-profile killings. It follows last week's shooting of Dulmatin, a senior leader of the Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiyah. Dulmatin, who was accused of masterminding the 2002 Bali bombings, was shot dead by police on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Asian fashion industry thrives despite global recessionAudio

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:54

The global market for fashion is worth in excess well over 500 US billion dollars, and growing at an annual rate of ten-percent. The rise of China and India as a consumer market also helped the industry weather the worldwide recession although some runway shows in Paris and New York scaled down their usual extravagance. It's L'Oreal Fashion Week in Melbourne and fashion students will be anticipating a lecture at Melbourne's RMIT University, by Dai Fujiwara, creative director of the high-end Japanese fashion house, Issey Miyake.

North Korea under pressure with sucession issuesAudio

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:54

The International Crisis Group has warned that international sanctions combined with economic problems and a growing food shortage could lead to an eventual regime collapse in North Korea. In a report released this week it says the North Korean government is also under extreme pressure as it faces approaching sucession issues.

Can Thailand's Red Shirts topple the governmentAudioTranscript

Updated 17/03/2010 12:09:55

Thailand's Red Shirts or the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship may have received wide international media coverage of yesterday's dramatic gesture at government house. But though it might have been good political theatre, but the numbers at the protests have fallen considerably since the weekend. They may be no closer to toppling the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

New report warns billions still without proper sanitationAudio

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:41

More than two and a half billion people live without proper sanitation. That's the finding of a new report on water for drinking and sanitation, issued by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF. The report shows 39 per cent of the world's population still defecate in the open, leading to disease which kills deaths four thousand children every day.

Philippines military and police accused of human rights abusesAudioTranscript

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:41

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered the military and national police to respond to a US State Department report alleging that they committed human rights abuses. Malacanang Palace has given the two forces until April the first, to respond to the report, which alleged that Philippine government agencies carried out extrajudicial killings with impunity. But critics say it's all for show.

Security crisis in Thailand shows no signs of easingAudio

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:42

The security crisis in the Thai capital, Bangkok shows no signs of easing. The largely rural-based Red shirt demonstrators, many of whom support ousted Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, are vowing to continue their protests for a fifth day. This morning they plan to march on government house and daub blood donated by supporters on the steps of parliament. Yesterday the protestors surrounded a heavily fortified army base where Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was sheltering.

Australia's doctor shortageAudioTranscript

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:40

It's no secret that Australia has a doctor shortage. But imagine if hundreds of medical students were prevented from qualifying as doctors because of a looming shortage of training places. That's the scenario confronting Australia, say the deans of the nation's medical schools. They warn the shortage of doctors in Australia could get worse rather than better over the next couple of years unless there is urgent action from state and federal governments.

Thai unrest could impact on economyAudioTranscript

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:41

If violence erupts between the Thai government and supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, it'll have an impact on Thailand's economy, which has been recovering slowly from recession. Previous periods of unrest have cost Thailand billions in lost revenue from the tourist and export sectors

US marines train for AfghanistanAudioTranscript

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:40

As the United States prepares to mark the seventh anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, much of the public and political attention in America has now turned to Afghanistan. The Afghan war has been going on for even longer. Not all the extra troops ordered to Afghanistan by President Barack Obama have arrived there yet. The US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is warning American troops to brace for more tough fighting. As the offensive in Afghanistan continues, the US Marine Corps is training more new recruits to dispatch to the conflict.

Trade talks could lead to Asia Pacific free trade zoneAudioTranscript

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:41

Australia has told China's government not to get involved in iron ore price negotiations, as demand drives prices up and Chinese steel mills face increases of as much as 90 per cent this year. Australia's Trade minister Simon Crean says China has been recognised as a market economy and should behave like one. But key Chinese steel producers are pressing Beijing to get involved. The trade issue between the two countries comes amid a flurry of free trade activity elsewhere, including the start of negotiations that could eventually make the Asia Pacific region a free trade zone.

Burma's military to privatise state owned companiesAudio

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:41

An expert on Burma's economy says the military government is pushing to privatise state owned companies, including petrol stations, ports and buildings. This could be a sign of some uncertainty among the regime's leaders ahead of the elections later this year.

David Beckham's soccer future in doubtAudio

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:40

David Beckham has been ruled out of World Cup contention after being operated on at a clinic in Finland overnight. He had hoped to become the first English footballer to play in four World Cups but doctors say his international career is now over after rupturing his Achilles tendon during a match on the weekend.

Vietnam releases detained Catholic priestAudio

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:41

The government of Vietnam has released prominent human rights activist, Catholic priest Father Nguyen Van Ly. The US-based rights group, Freedom Now says Father Ly suffered repeated harassment by the Vietnamese government and has spent more than fifteen years in prison since 1977.

Sri Lanka's Tamils drops demand for separate stateAudio

Updated 16/03/2010 11:51:41

In Sri Lanka, the political party closest to the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels has dropped its demand for a separate state. The Tamil National Alliance or TNA was generally seen as a proxy for the now-defeated Tamil Tiger separatists. But 10 months after the rebels' defeat, the TNA is changing its outlook saying it wants power-sharing with a federal structure. The TNA's also called for two Tamil majority provinces to be merged back into one with significant devolution of powers on issues like land and taxes.

Obama's visit to Indonesia and Australia uncertainAudioTranscript

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:29

US president Barack Obama is due to visit Indonesia and Australia beginning later this week but difficult politics in Washington over the President's health care bill are proving an obstacle to his travel.

US meat threatens Australian dominance of SKorean beef marketAudio

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:28

Beef is one of Australia's major agricultural exports and last year the industry exported nearly $AUD7 billion worth of meat.

Australia leadership role in Afghanistan under reviewAudio

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:28

US President Barack Obama is expected to raise the issue of Afghanistan with the Rudd Government when he visits Australia later this month.

Tiwi Bombers make an impact on Australian footballAudio

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:27

The Tiwi Islands north of Darwin have produced some of the biggest stars in the Australian Football League (AFL) such as Michael Long and Maurice Rioli but the Tiwi Islands' own side the Tiwi Bombers has never won the Northern Territory's Football competition.

Row, row, row your boat, solo to New ZealandAudio

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:28

When it comes to the Tasman Sea that divides Australia and New Zealand, the Quincey family enjoys a special place in history.

Red Shirts give Thai Gov't high noon ultimatumAudio

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:29

An estimated 100,000 people gathered in Bangkok on Sunday to protest against the Thai government.

Tibetan refugees in Nepal face threatsAudio

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:28

Last week marked the second year anniversary of large-scale Tibetan protests against Beijing's control - the largest protests in half a century.

Canberra hosts nation's most painful conferenceAudioTranscript

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:27

It may come as a surprising statistic to some of us, but one in five Australians will suffer from chronic pain at some point in their lives.

Pacific Rim nations consider trade dealAudio

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:28

Officials from eight Pacific Rim countries meet in Australia this week for negotiations which could potentially reshape regional trade relationships.

The 5-day talks, which begin in Melbourne today, bring together senior diplomatic officials from Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States. The discussions are expected to set the framework for negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership or TPP which could in the future include the major economies of China, Japan and South Korea and key southeast Asian nations.

Australian science body defends climate evidenceAudio

Updated 15/03/2010 13:11:28

The head of Australia's scientific research body - the CSIRO - has come out in defence of climate scientists and says there's absolutely no doubt there's a link between humans and climate change.

Pakistan's Taliban militants fighting to surviveAudioTranscript

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:19

Civilians are still paying the price in Pakistan's conflict. This week militants killed six World Vision aid workers and two weeks ago suicide bombers destroyed intelligence offices in the city of Lahore. But while the attacks continue, many commentators say the Pakistan Taliban is in fact fighting to survive. Since the military launched major operations last year, the militants have lost massive territory and several key leaders.

Australia and Indonesia build business tiesAudioTranscript

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:19

Indonesia's president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has left Australia after a three-day visit that has been hailed a big success in re-building the recently-troubled relationship between the two countries. The President spent the final day of his trip meeting with the leaders of Australian companies which are investing in Indonesia's abundant natural resources or wanting access to its potential 240-million consumers. But the most important link in strengthening economic ties between the two countries - a Free Trade Agreement - is no closer to being signed.

Trouble brewing in BangkokAudioTranscript

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:19

Hundreds of thousands of protestors are expected to begin converging on Bangkok for a rally that the Red Shirt supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claim will bring down the government.Tension is high and there were a number of grenade attacks and reports about the theft of weapons from army bases. It's feared that even if the protest is largely peaceful, large sections of Bangkok will be paralysed by the march.

Cambodia warns rights group against meddling in defence mattersAudio

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:19

London-based advocacy group Global Witness has called on countries who provide aid to Cambodia to condemn a government plan for private bussiness to sponsor military units and their families. Global Witness says the move could foster an arrangement whereby businesses will receive military protection in exchange for financial backing. But Cambodia's Ambassador to the UK, Hor Nambora has hit back, warning Global Witness to stop meddling in Cambodia's internal affairs and threatening legal action.

Cambodia rushes anti-corruption law through parliamentAudioTranscript

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:19

Cambodia's parliament has approved a controversial anti-corruption law, more than 15 years after the legislation was first proposed. The country is consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world and the government has repeatedly come under fire from foreign donors and activists over its apparent unwillingness to tackle the problem. All 82 members of parliament, most of whom were from Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party, raised their hands to approve the law. But the law has been by civil society groups and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.

Rights groups condemn Burma's electoral lawsAudioTranscript

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:19

A senior United Nations official has called for Burma's military to be investigated over allegations of human rights crimes and war crimes against civilians. The UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Tomas Quintana made the recommendation to the UN Human Rights Council.The report puts added pressure on Burma's military regime ahead of upcoming national elections. No date has been set but the junta this week announced new electoral laws, which have been denounced by international observers as unfair and undemocratic. The new laws prevent opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's two thousand political prisoners from running.

Rise of abuse within Melbourne's foreign student communityAudioTranscript

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:18

Exploitation and violence towards international students in Australia has received headlines worldwide. But women's rights groups are concerned at a sharp rise of domestic violence and sexual abuse within Melbourne's international student community. They say authorities are not doing enough to fix the hidden problem.

Calls for more cinemas in ChinaAudioTranscript

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:18

The movie business is one of the fatest growing industries in China. Thanks to both local and Hollywood blockbusters, millions of Chinese have been flocking to their local cinema. But millions more also miss out. It's a fact which hasn't gone unnoticed at this year's annual sitting of the National People's Congress in Beijing. Six senior government figures have called for more cinemas to be built across the country, saying the current five thousand screens don't meet the demand.

U-N's climate panel under reviewAudioTranscript

Updated 12/03/2010 10:56:19

A respected international scientific body will review the UN's climate panel, following criticism for errors in a key report on global warming. The UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon says the review will be carried out by the Inter-Academy Council, which brings together the presidents of 15 leading science academies. The IAC will do the review completely independently of the UN. Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon also defended the work of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC.

Australia says relationship with Indonesia enters new phaseAudioTranscript

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:32

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has become one of just a handful of foreign leaders to address Australia's Parliament in its 110-year history. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spoke of "a new phase" in the Australia-Indonesia relationship as both leaders praised bilateral ties, which have been transformed in recent years. The relationship is now seen by both sides as a keystone of regional and global diplomacy. President Yudhoyono also used his speech to parliament, to address the Australian policy concern of people-smuggling. But he's warned that old stereotypes and suspicions on both sides must change, if good relations are to thrive.

India's historic vote for women MPsAudioTranscript

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:31

Women's rights campaigners in India are claiming victory after India's upper house passed legislation guaranteeing that at least one-third of future members of parliament will be women. This win has not come easily nor quickly, as the bill was first proposed more than 14 years ago. Now, opponents of the law say that minority groups will suffer, as a result of the gains made by women.

Africa's lost tribe, the Siddis find their place in IndiaAudio

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:31

Everything about India's Siddi community, their drumming, dancing, singing and appearance speaks of their black African origins. But their villages are so deep in the forests of Karnataka that even in India, little is known about the Siddi culture. What is known is that Siddis are descendants of slaves who escaped Portuguese Goa more than 300 years ago. Kiran Kamal Prasad, an NGO worker based in Bangalore recently organised an evening of dance to boost awareness of India's Siddi community.

Death of Bali bombing mastermind confirmedAudioTranscript

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:32

Indonesian President Yudhoyono has confirmed the death of what he calls "one of Southeast Asia's top terrorists." Indonesian police say DNA tests show the dead man to be Dulmatin, one of the alleged masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings, in which 202 people died. Dulmatin was killed along with two other militants, during a raid in Jakarta. He was reportedly a leading member of Jemaah Islamiah, the militant group with links to Al-Qaeda. Indonesia's security forces have launched a series of raids nationwide after the discovery of an alleged Islamist militant training camp in Aceh province last month.

EU begins negotiations with Asian countriesAudioTranscript

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:31

The European Union has began a fresh round of negotiations with Asian countries, not wanting to be left out of a rapidly evolving regional trade bloc. The US too is fearful of being sidelined, as China and other economies speed-up their integration.

New Australian hospital for adolescent medicineAudio

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:31

Most of us remember that awkward and sometime painful stage in our lives, when we made the transition from being children to adulthood. Adolescence is tough but it can also be complicated by medical problems, as children move between paediatric to adult healthcare. Australia's Sydney University has launched its first Chair of Adolescent Medicine, together with the Children's Hospital at Westmead in New South Wales.

World Vision attacked in PakistanAudioTranscript

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:32

In Pakistan, there are concerns that militant attacks are making it too dangerous for aid organisations to operate in the country. Six aid-workers were killed when militants hit the offices of the humanitarian organisation, World Vision, in Pakistan's North-West Frontier province. It's not the first time an aid group has been targeted and World Vision has suspended its operations in Pakistan. It's feared other groups may follow.

Australia's Foreign Minister reflects on modern IndonesiaAudioTranscript

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:32

Australia's Foreign minister Stephen Smith says ties with Indonesia are now so strong, that the most difficult issues can be discussed without jeopardising the entire relationship. Mr Smith says for the first time, the visit has provided Australians with a reflection of modern democratic Indonesia.

Top Chinese official says climate change is a factAudioTranscript

Updated 11/03/2010 10:58:31

Despite facing a massive pollution problem, China has been relatively quiet in making statements about climate change. But overnight a deputy director of China's most powerful economic minnistry has come out swinging against climate change denial. Senior Chinese government figures have described the view that climate change is not man-made as an "extreme" stance which is out of step with mainstream thought. The comments were made during China's annual sitting of the National People's Congress.

Australia's international education sector under reviewAudioTranscript

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:28

A review of Australia's international education sector has called for tougher national accreditation and improved protection for foreign students. The Australian Government commissioned the review into the multi-billion dollar industry in the wake of attacks against international students and claims that some schools were taking advantage of foreigners. The author of the review, former Liberal parliamentarian Bruce Baird says many students have been misled by some institutions and their education agents. Mr Baird is calling for more rigorous standards for international education providers and a greater emphasis on student welfare and information.

Human rights issues an irritant in Australia-Indonesia tiesAudioTranscript

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:28

Issues such as the application of the death penalty in Indonesia and the unresolved case of the killing of five Australian journalists on the eve of Indonesia's invasion of East Timor in 1975 still remain an irritant in the Australia-Indonesia relationship. But they're they're unlikely to overshadow the celebration of how far ties have come under a democratic Indonesia.

Indonesia and Australia to combat people smugglingAudioTranscript

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:28

Human rights issues have crept into the visit to Australia by Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The president and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd are also looking to formalise an agreement to combat people smuggling. The details of that deal \have already been signed off in talks between Indonesian's Foreign Minister, Marty Natelegawa and his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith. Mr Natelegawa says the deal will address people smuggling comprehensively.

Report uncovers Australian love for artAudio

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:27

Australians are known their love of sport, but a new survey has suggested Australians also appreciate the arts. The survey titled "More than bums on seats: Australian participation in the Arts" found that in the last year, some seven million Australians created art, whether it be playing a musical instrument, writing a poem or even knitting a scarf. Australia's largest ever arts survey interviewed about three thousand people across the country, to get an insight into Australian attitudes towards the arts.

Activists call on Australian PM to discuss Papua problemAudio

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:28

Activists from Papua are calling on the Australian Prime Minister to raise alleged human rights abuses in the region with visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang. They say local communities have not benefitted from the development of Indonesia's Freeport gold and copper mine, but have instead suffered at the hands of the Indonesian military, fighting Papuan separatists.

Playing it fair at Australian dog showsAudioTranscript

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:27

In the cut throat world of dog shows, owners can sometimes seek any advantage to win even though they may be in breach of the rules. Britain's famous Crufts dog show has recently been in the headlines with organisers cracking down on owners who touch up their showdogs with makeup or hairdye. In Australia there's also some debate in breeding circles about playing fair.

China bans Australian author from literary festivalAudio

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:28

The Shanghai Literary Festival is underway with a delegation of Australian authors taking part - with the exception of one prominent novelist. Robert Dessaix is HIV positive and his visa application to attend the festival has been knocked back by the Chinese government on what he believes to be health grounds. Now Australia's leading authors, many who are already in Shanghai, have rallied to the support of Robert Dessaix. More than 90-Australian and international writers have signed a letter protesting against China's decision - a decision which they've described as ignorant and prejudice.

Australian companies urged to stop investing in BurmaAudio

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:28

The Australian Government is being urged to do more to help establish a UN commission of inquiry to investigate human rights and war crimes in Burma. The call comes just one week after the International Tribunal on Crimes against Women in Burma recommended that the UN Security Council refer Burma to the International Criminal Court. The New York based tribunal also called on all countries in the Asia Pacific region not to invest in Burma's oil and gas industry. Now Australia's minority political party the Greens is taking that call a step further. Greens Senator Scott Ludlam is filing a motion to the Senate calling on Australian companies to stop investing in Burma.

Indonesian trade minister in Australia for talks on global free tradeAudioTranscript

Updated 10/03/2010 10:46:28

Trade Minister Mari Pangestu is part of the Indonesian delegation to Australia, comprising some 120 representatives, including 13 ministers, accompanying President Yudhoyono. Trade minister Dr Pangestu has been meeting with her Australian counterpart Simon Crean. Global free trade is a key topic, but so is a planned Indonesia-Australia free trade agreement, after a preliminary study showed it would result in billions of dollars worth of benefits.

Japanese giant buys into Australian grain industryAudio

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

Japanese giant Sumitomo has jumped into the Australian grain industry, buying a half stake in Aussie exporter Emerald. Sumitomo is the latest international player to buy into the multi-billion dollar industry. Chairman of Emerald, Alan Winney says the company wants to increase its share of the harvest next year.

US Assistant Secretary of State begins Asia visitAudioTranscript

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

One of Washington's most senior officials has begun his visit to South East Asia, cementing the Obama administration's renewed focus on the region. US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell will visit Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan in his ten day trip. Secretary Campbell will also deliver an address at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, as well as talks with ASEAN representatives in Jakarta, where President Obama is heading later this month.

Climate change to be key topic at Australia-Indonesia talksAudioTranscript

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:20

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has arrived in Australia for talks over a range of topics, including economic issues, trade, education and regional security. Climate change is also a key area of co-operation. Indonesia and Australia have two partnerships underway, in Kalimantan and now in Sumatra, towards shaping a global mechanism on forests and climate change.

Amnesty calls on Cambodian government to act on rapeAudioTranscript

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

The Cambodian Government has been accused of failing to meet its international obligations to protect women and children from an increasing number of rapes. The human rights group Amnesty International has released a report detailing a rise in rape in Cambodia. Amnesty says police and NGO workers across Cambodia are reporting higher numbers of rape and they believe it is getting worse. Amnesty International says Cambodia has failed to properly punish offenders or give support to victims.

UN report finds huge gender gap in Asia Pacific regionAudio

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

A new United Nations report has found that the Asia Pacific region has one of the world's largest gender gaps. The UN Development Programme report has found that discrimination and neglect are threatening the survival of women in the Asia Pacific region. The UNDP says the region's women suffer from one of the lowest rates of political representation, employment and property ownership in the world. And that nearly half the adult women in South Asia are illiterate, with most expected to live five years less than the world average of 71 years. On a more promising note, women in countries emerging from conflict such as East Timor and Nepal are now negotiating a new vision of society.

US plans to resume training of Indonesia's Kopassus forcesAudioTranscript

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

The United States is considering resuming the training of the Indonesian military's special forces, Kopassus. But several groups have raised concerns over the plan because of Kopassus' suspected violation of human rights in the past.

Palestinian singer Amal Murkus brings unique mix to AdelaideAudio

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

Award winning writer, broadcaster and political activist Amal Murkus, has brought her distinctive mix of pop music, traditional Palestinian folklore and Arabic heritage to Adelaide's international world music festival. She's a Palestinian Christian based in Israel who campaigns for human rights through her music. Her performances weave Palestinian poetry with western instrumentation, while protesting against religious censorship.

Former Sri Lankan General to face charges soonAudio

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

Sri Lanka's former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka is on a hunger strike, after being forbidden to speak to his daughters. General Fonseka has been held at a naval detention centre since his arrest last month - a fortnight after his defeat in presidential elections. Sri Lanka's military spokesman says court martial proceedings expected to begin soon. However, the details relating to the charges will not be available for another 48 hours.

Paper sheds new light on 65 million year old asteroid impactAudio

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

A paper recently published in the 'Science' journal could settle a few arguments about the extinction of the dinosaurs. The article brings to light some new data about a massive asteroid impact that happened 65 million years ago.

Thailand's PM postpones Australian visitAudioTranscript

Updated 09/03/2010 11:25:19

Thailand's Prime Minister has postponed next weekend's visit to Australia due to growing concerns about the security situation in Bangkok. The Prime Minister was due to leave on Sunday, the same day supporters of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra are planning to hold a million man march in Bangkok. The government says it has intelligence that groups are planning to take weapons into Bangkok, and it's expected later today, to introduce tough security laws that critics say are similar to martial law.

Mass grave found in Timor during excavation for hotelAudioTranscript

Updated 08/03/2010 11:49:00

Since East Timor became a sovereign state in 2002, Dili has been actively engaging Jakarta on the diplomatic front, despite its painful history. Now, the construction of a new luxury hotel and golf course has turned up unpleasant reminders of East Timor's past... as excavations have led to the discovery of a mass grave.

Thailand's Red Shirt protestors kick off decisive weekAudio

Updated 08/03/2010 11:46:52

In Thailand supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra are giving authorities a taste of what's to come, by rallying 3,000 people to a demonstration, just outside of the capital Bangkok. The anti-government protestors, dubbed the Red Shirts, have vowed to gather one million people next Sunday, in what's set to be the biggest rally since last April. The Red Shirts have held a string of protests since the military and royalists removed Thaksin from government, installing Democrat Abhisit Vejajiva as Prime Minister in December 2008.

Australian hospitals urged to use more information technologyAudio

Updated 08/03/2010 11:45:31

A visiting US Government advisor says Australian hospitals should make greater use of information technology to improve patients health and safety. The United States is spending fifty billion dollars on rolling out IT in healthcare and Professor David Bates is one of the key backers of the scheme. He's a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and sits on the US Government's Health Information Technology Committee.

Muhammad Yunus on how to create more opportunities for the poorAudioTranscript

Updated 08/03/2010 11:46:25

In 1983, Bangladeshi banker, economist and Fulbright scholar, Muhammad Yunus established the Grameen Bank, fuelled by the belief that credit is a fundamental human right. The bank's objective is to help poor people out of poverty by providing small loans, on suitable terms. Since the 1980s, the Grameen bank has helped millions of people by lending over six billion dollars, in small loans. In 2006, Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Indonesian President begins Australian visitAudio

Updated 08/03/2010 11:47:14

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono begins a 48-hour visit to Australia, tomorrow. And from all reports, that relationship is dominated by negatives .. differences over people smuggling and terrorist attacks in Indonesia, key among them. Few disagree that politically relations are at an all time high. But the big question is how to build on the government-to-government strengths between the two key democracies, who're also two of the region's leading economies.

Top US psychiatrist says sex addicts suffer from hyper sexual disorderAudio

Updated 08/03/2010 11:45:40

Sex addiction's been in the news lately, largely because some celebrities have allegedly come down with it. First there were actors Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen and David Duchovny and most recently, Tiger Woods, who made headlines as a serial wife-cheater, and who said he was getting treatment for it.
Sex is a vital part of being human, but can we have too much of it? And when does it become a sexual disorder?

Top Egyptian cleric calls to ban Islamic ringtones in mobile phonesAudioTranscript

Updated 08/03/2010 11:45:16

Go anywhere in the Arab world and you're certain to hear the call to prayer or a Koranic verse somewhere where a phone is ringing. But now a top Muslim cleric in Egypt has issued a Fatwa to ban the use of Islamic ringtones in mobile phones. Egypt's Grand Mufti says they're inappropriate, misleading and demeaning. But they're all the rage in Egypt and much of the Middle East.

HSBC looks to Asia to sustain growthAudioTranscript

Updated 08/03/2010 11:45:57

HSBC is not only one of the world's biggest banks, it's also among the true titans of business with more 300-thousand employees in 88 countries. So it's often seen as providing a reading of the pulse of the global economy.The markets were disappointed by the bank's profits of nearly 6 billion US dollars last year, but management is looking to Asia to sustain growth, providing looming regulatory tightening doesn't stifle investment.

Washington increases drone missile strikes in AfghanistanAudioTranscript

Updated 08/03/2010 11:46:16

US President Barack Obama may have taken his time to decide on his Afghanistan policy, but he's also now become more of an enthusiast for drone missile strikes than his predecessor. Washington's New America Foundation says the US has increased the number of missile strikes from unmanned drones in the Afghan-Pakistan border region by about 50 per cent since President Obama took office. US analysts say the drone campaign has taken out key Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders but has come at the cost of increasing civilian deaths and can't be relied on to defeat the insurgents.

Malaysian Islamic women's rights group under fireAudioTranscript

Updated 05/03/2010 10:39:31

The case of the part-time Malaysian model who hit the headlines when she was sentenced to be caned for drinking a beer. The sentence is yet to be carried out but Malaysian political and religious authorities have attempted to shroud the high-profile case in secrecy, after a damaging international outcry. They've also cracked down domestically an Islamic women's rights group is now under police investigation for questioning the sentence.

Clearing of land mines continues in Sri Lanka's northAudio

Updated 05/03/2010 10:39:01

The clearing of landmines in Sri Lanka looks set to be an increasing challenge, as parts of the island's north are cleared for resettlement by those displaced by the fighting. The Mine Advisory Group is one of several organisations worldwide that specialises in clearing landmines, as well as destroying unexploded ordinance and stockpiles of weapons. In Asia, MAG works in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.

Mobile plant clinics planned for Asia Pacific regionAudio

Updated 05/03/2010 10:27:42

An international not-for-profit organisation is looking at setting up plant clinics in the Asia-Pacific region to help farmers grow more and lose less. The London-based Centre for Agriculture Bioscience International wants to launch project in Solomon Islands, Vietnam and Indonesia. The plan is to help farmers combat plant pests and diseases with early diagnosis.

Concerns over high numbers of Afghan children migrating to EuropeAudio

Updated 05/03/2010 10:40:14

There's rising concern over the number of children from Afghanistan migrating on their own across Europe. New figures from the UN Refugee Agency show Afghan more children under the age of eighteen, applying for asylum in Europe. That number last year rose by sixty-percent rom 3,800 to more than six-thousand. And that's only part of the picture because many do not apply for asylum.

Number of missing children in Delhi continues to riseAudioTranscript

Updated 05/03/2010 10:40:04

The number of missing children continues to rise in New Delhi. In 2008, an average of 17 children disappeared every day in the Indian capital. Many of these children are never found; others go missing for several years. Local police are now being urged to do more to rein the spiralling numbers. It's still unclear why the children go missing but social activists believe they could be part of a human trafficking racket.

Political fallout of Indonesia's Bank Century bailout continuesAudio

Updated 05/03/2010 10:39:41

Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is facing a tough political choice as he deals with a crisis involving two of the most respected and influential members of his cabinet. President Yudhoyono may be forced to make concessions to his coalition partners over unproven allegations involving the government bailout of a bank in 2008. The crisis has the potential to affect Indonesia's international standing.

The brave men and women of Burma VJ'sAudioTranscript

Updated 05/03/2010 10:39:18

As Burma heads for national elections this year, the absence of a free media will be painfully obvious. However, in recent years, some brave Burmese, secret journalists and ordinary citizens, have shown their determination to get their stories out. The Democratic Voice of Burma network airs video and cell-phone footage smuggled out of Burma. One documentary, Burma V-J, has been nominated for this weekend's Academy Awards.

Cambodia combats illicit trade of stolen artefactsAudio

Updated 05/03/2010 10:38:50

Each year, about two million foreign tourists visit Cambodia with many wanting to see the famed temple of Angkor Wat in the country's northwest. But, in recent years, Cambodia's rich cultural heritage has been plundered, with many temples and ancient sites ransacked for statues. Now the Cambodian Government has released a publication called The Red List which it hopes will help reduce the number of artefacts being stolen and sold on the international market. The list will be distributed to Cambodian border and customs officials, as well as to museums and auction houses overseas, as part of a strategy to combat the illicit trade.

China's military spending dips below ten percentAudio

Updated 05/03/2010 10:40:29

The Chinese economy will be at the top of the agenda at today's opening session of the annual National People's Congress. China's second in command, Premier Wen Jiabao will open the Congress with a marathon speech. Known as the "Government Work Report" Premier Wen will assess the year that's been and outline Beijing's plans for the next 12 months. The government's plans for military funding has already been announced and the big news is the figure has dipped well below 10 percent - for the first time in years.

International court calls for more action to help Burmese womenAudioTranscript

Updated 04/03/2010 10:43:02

An International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women of Burma has just wrapped up proceedings in New York. The tribunal heard testimony from 12-women from Burma who say they suffered rape, torture and other crimes at the hands of the military junta. Organised by the Nobel Women's Initiative and the Women's League of Burma, the tribunal aims to highlight the situation inside Burma.

ANZ subsidiary linked to Cambodian armyAudio

Updated 04/03/2010 10:43:24

A subsidiary of one of Australia's largest banks as denied it's involved in a scheme that creates partnerships between private businesses and Cambodian military units. Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the initiative last week, saying more than 40 partnerships have already been established to provide food, medicine, tools, buildings and transport for troops and their families.

Indonesian Ambassador to Australia says ties at highest levelAudioTranscript

Updated 04/03/2010 10:42:35

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will make his second state visit to Australia next week. Issues for discussion are likely to include the high-level of Australia's terrorism alert for Indonesia and the region-wide question of people-smuggling. But Indonesia's Ambassador to Australia says those issues are not the main reason for the visit, which will also include Indonesia's Foreign and Trade ministers and possibly others. Ambassador Primo Alui Joelianto says the goal is to reinforce ties which he describes as being at the highest level. But the Ambassador also noted that even the best neighbours can have differences.

GDP growth in step with Asian economiesAudioTranscript

Updated 04/03/2010 10:42:49

There's more evidence of the two speed recovery in the global economy, with the latest growth figures from Australia showing that country's economy expanding at the fastest pace in almost two years. GDP grew at nearly one per cent in the final quarter of last year, in step with many Asian economies, which are picking-up speed despite very subdued growth in major trading partners such as the US and Europe.

Dili court jails East Timor assassination plot rebelsAudio

Updated 04/03/2010 10:43:44

After a seven month trial, a court in East Timor has sentenced 24 rebels to up to 16 years prison for the attempted assassinations of the country's president Jose Ramos Horta and prime minister Xanana Gusmao in 2008. Another four defendants were acquitted at the court in the capital, Dili. One of those acquitted was Timorese-born Australian woman Angelita Pires. Ms Pires was the girlfriend of Major Alfredo Reinado, the rebel leader who was fatally shot during the assassination attempt.

Mekong River reaches lowest level in 20 yearsAudio

Updated 04/03/2010 10:42:25

There are warnings that millions of people living along the Mekong River could face even more hardship this year.due to low water levels. The Mekong River Commission says the river has reached its lowest level in 20 years. It's a situation which could have an impact on agriculture and food security in countries including Laos and Thailand.

Cambodia's new laws on acid attacksAudio

Updated 04/03/2010 10:42:25

Cambodia's government is drafting new laws to punish those who carry out devastating acid attacks. Local police say the number of acid attacks is rising, with forty such incidents reported in 2008. Acid attacks are particularly vicious, as victims suffer for life, often bearing horrific scars, as acid can dissolve skin, tissue and sometimes bone. Some victims of acid attacks are being cared for at the Cambodian Acid Survivor's Charity where they get medical care, physiotherapy and counselling.

Cambodia to launch multiple missile testAudioTranscript

Updated 04/03/2010 10:43:14

Cambodia will today conduct a multiple missile test but the move has raised a number of eyebrows. It comes as tensions with neighbouring Thailand continue and in the wake of Prime Minister Hun Sen's recent tour of military units on the shared border. But Hun Sen, his defence spokesman and analysts have played down the rocket launch, saying it's not intended as a show of force.

Fallout over Indonesia's Bank Century bailout inquiryAudio

Updated 03/03/2010 12:51:55

Police in Indonesia fired tear gas at hundreds of angry protestors, as parliament tried to reach concensus over whether two senior government figures should face a criminial investigation, over the rescue of Bank Century. Indonesian MPs jeered as it became clear a parliamentary inquiry had failed to reach agreement on whether Finance minister Sri Mulyani and Vice President Boediono should be investigated. Critics of the 2008 bailout at the height of the global financial crisis, said it benefitted the political elite. Costing US 720-million dollars, the Bank Century bailout was also ten times the original estimate. It was alleged that some of the bank's wealthy clients later donated money to the President's election campaign.

China's famous dancer Jin Xing is the Shanghai BeautyAudioTranscript

Updated 03/03/2010 12:50:11

Described by some dance critics as "one of the world's best dancers," Jin Xing is also China's most famous and successful choreographer. Jin Xing's in Melbourne with her dance company, to perform 'Shanghai Beauty'. Jin Xing's is a remarkable story. Ms Jin was once a man and a colonel in the world's largest military force and her talent and creativity have captured the imagination of China's arts scene.

Top US diplomat in Beijing to mend US-Sino tiesAudio

Updated 03/03/2010 12:51:23

China is standing firm over its dispute with the U-S over Iran's nuclear programme, despite US officials pressing Beijing to support new sanctions on Tehran.
China's latest statement comes as senior US diplomat James Steinberg arrived in Beijing on the highest level visit since a series of bilateral rows. It's hoped the visit by the US Deputy Secretary of State will help put US-sino tensions back on track, with tensions high over US arms sales to Taiwan, a White House visit by the Dalai Lama and internet freedom. It also comes ahead of April's visit to Washington by the Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Australian law expert appointed as ICC special advisorAudio

Updated 03/03/2010 12:50:51

The International Criminal Court has appointed an Australian international law expert as its special advisor on humanitarian law. The ICC's prosecutor says he hopes Melbourne University professor of law, Tim McCormack, will help prepare the court for complex issues facing modern armies in the future.

Chinese writer under house arrest in ChengduAudio

Updated 03/03/2010 12:51:11

Chinese writer Liao Yiwu is under house arrest in the south western city of Chengdu. The Chinese novelist and poet was on his way to a literature festival in Germany when he was removed from his flight by local police. Fifty-year-old Liao Yiwu was held for three hours before being ordered not to leave his house without permission. Chinese authorities have kept a close watch on Liao Yiwu since 1989, after he published a poem criticising the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Now, the PEN American Centre, which campaigns for freedom of expression for writers, has called on Beijing to release Liao Yiwu from house arrest.

Dili assassination verdict expectedAudioTranscript

Updated 03/03/2010 12:51:34

After an eight month battle in East Timor's courts, East Timorese-born Australian woman Angelita Pires will today learn her fate.

Controversy continues over Australia's anti discrimination lawsAudioTranscript

Updated 03/03/2010 12:50:27

In Australia, legal, human rights and social welfare bodies have overwhelmingly rejected government claims that planned new laws will fully restore race discrimination protection for indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The anti-discrimination laws were lifted by the previous government to allow emergency measures to be imposed in indigenous communities that are sometimes wracked by violence and alcohol problems. The current Labor government has continued the so-called 'intervention' but has promised reforms. The issues are sensitive for both sides of politics.

Australia's foreign minister in India for fence mending missionAudio

Updated 03/03/2010 12:51:00

Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith must be getting used to flying to India by now. Since becoming the Foreign Minister, he's visited three times mostly to repair the damage done to Australia's reputation by a series of attacks on Indian students. But there's more on his agenda for his latest trip to New Delhi.
Mr Smith is also in town to check out the city's preparations for the Commonwealth Games and to see if security will be up to scratch.

Aid chief calls for international strategies for disaster reliefAudioTranscript

Updated 03/03/2010 12:50:41

The President of Chile says 14-thousand troops are out in force to stop looting in and around the city of Concepcion, four days after a huge earthquake hit. The death toll is almost 800 and may yet rise, as rescuers comb through the rubble and civilians in affected areas struggle with each new day. The Chile disaster follows January's devastating earthquake in Haiti, which claimed well over 200-thousand lives and affected an estimated three-million people. With two huge disasters within as many months, and a string of natural calamities last year, how are relief agencies coping?

New Asia focus in Australia's national school curriculumAudioTranscript

Updated 02/03/2010 11:35:46

The Australian Government this week launched the first draft of its new national school curriculum. The draft calls for "a back to basics approach" for Australia's schools. It's returning history, grammar and literature to the classroom. lt also places Aboriginal and Asian perspectives into almost every subject, from the first year of primary school to year 10. It's hoped the new syllabus will contribute to an understanding of Australia's indigenous cultures as well as investigate the history of Australia's engagement with Asia.

Chinese police accused of brutality in Henan provinceTranscript

Updated 02/03/2010 11:38:58

Two senior Chinese police officials have resigned and four officers may be charged, after a suspect died allegedly after being tortured in custody. China's state media reports that the case in central Henan province follows a string of incidents of police brutality. The public outcry which followed last year's cases have prompted a government investigation into police conduct at detention centres.

Australian students compete in linguistic gamesAudioTranscript

Updated 02/03/2010 11:36:38

Many are worried about how few Australians speak a second language but some young people are trying to do something about it. Hundreds of Australian students are vying for a spot in the Australian linguistics Olympiad team. The games will be held in Sweden this July.

Alleged passport misuse tests Australia-Israel tiesAudioTranscript

Updated 02/03/2010 11:37:19

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has again told Israel he's not happy with its response on the use of forged Australian passports. The passports were used by alleged Israeli agents accused of a recent assassination in Dubai. Some observers say it's possible that Australia's abstention at last Friday's U-N general assembly vote was a signal from Canberra that it won't be taken for granted by Israel. But a former president of the U-N Association in Australia says Canberra should take a firmer line with Israel on peaceful conflict resolution and full application of treaties and human rights between Israel and the Palestinians.

Australia showcases wares at Shanghai ExpoAudio

Updated 02/03/2010 11:35:33

With only two months before the grand opening of the Shanghai Expo and Australia is gearing up to showcase its wares. Australia's 83 million dollar pavillion is built from Australian oxidised steel and ringed with Pilbara iron ore. It will showcase Australian culture and lifestyle with an eye to boosting trade and business ties even further. Trade between Australia and China has gone from zero to 80 billion dollars a year in the space of 30 years and Austrade says the opportunities to do business with China just keep expanding.

Yoga in the Australian bushAudio

Updated 02/03/2010 11:35:19

Modern life is full of stress especially when you live in the city but you may be surprised to know that people who live in the Australian bush also need relief from the monotony of hard work in the outback. And what better place to clear the mind and relax, than with a group of friends in the great outdoors.

Toyota president appologises to China for faulty carsAudioTranscript

Updated 02/03/2010 11:39:13

After a devastating worldwide recall of eight million vehicles, Japanese car-maker Toyota is desperately trying to regain consumer confidence with a message that its cars are safe. The campaign is being spearheaded by the company president himself. Akio Toyoda has travelled to Beijing to publicly apologise to customers in China where his company is hoping to regain its standing in the World's number one car market.

Controversy over Australian retirement fundAudio

Updated 02/03/2010 11:36:05

Thee are times when people need a helping hand and the case where some Australians are facing extreme financial hardship, like being left bankrupt and homeless, the Australian government steps in and provides a lifeline by making available the person's superannuation which normally wouldn't be able to be tapped for years. Its difficult to qualify for, but as a last-ditch effort it's possible to take up to 10 thousand dollars from your superannuation to hold creditors at bay.
For some families it can be the difference between having a roof over their heads or being homeless. But when people use the lifeline the Government takes out more than 20 percent in taxes.

Calls for China to be stripped of Olympic medalAudioTranscript

Updated 02/03/2010 11:36:48

China may lose one of its medals from the Sydney 2000 Olympics after embarrassing revelations about its women's gymnastics team. The International Gymnastics Federation has found that one Chinese athlete in the bronze-medal-winning team was just 14. That's two years younger than the rules allow. Her individual results from the 2000 Games have been cancelled, and the Federation is urging the International Olympic Committee to strip the Chinese team of its medal.

UN establishes regional relief distribution centreAudio

Updated 01/03/2010 11:15:17

The United Nations World Food Programme has announced plans to establish an Asia-Pacific relief distribution centre in Malaysia. The WFP says the base will enable delivery of aid within 48 hours to disaster areas across the region. In announcing the plans, WFP Asia director, Kenro Oshidari, said the Malaysian base would allow the organistion to provide support to all Asia-Pacific countries regardless of whether the agency had a presence there.

Plans to introduce China to Australian Rules FootballAudio

Updated 01/03/2010 11:15:24

Soccer and Basketball have always been popular sports in China but now the Australian Football League is trying introduce the Chinese to Australian Rules Football. There are a number of hurdles in the way however not only is the game extremely unfamiliar to the Chinese, there's also a shortage of the right shaped fields to play it on. However the AFL is determined to start building a fan base, with a match between two premier Australian teams scheduled for Shanghai later this year. The AFL is also launching an awareness program in Chinese schools.

Indonesian film Laskar Pelangi receives critical acclaimAudio

Updated 01/03/2010 11:15:04

The Indonesian film Laskar Pelangi or 'The Rainbow Soldiers' was a local box-office earner and a huge hit at international film festivals last year. Set in the 1970s, it revolves around a small rural Muslim school, that needs ten students to stay open. The movie follows the ten children who enrolled over a five-year period, told in flashback by one of them, Ikal. It's also about the dedication of a couple of teachers, determined to give the disadvantaged kids some foundation to build on, to face an uncertain future, but also to encourage them to become upstanding citizens.

Local Thai reaction to Thaksin verdictAudioTranscript

Updated 01/03/2010 11:16:06

Security has been tightened in Thailand after two grenades exploded outside branches of the country's biggest bank following last Friday's Supreme Court verdict against ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Unidentified attackers lobbed four grenades at branches of Bangkok Bank, after the Supreme Court seized 1.4 billion dollars of Mr Thaksin's assets. The assets were frozen by the state after the 2006 military coup which ousted the politician-cum-business tycoon. Polls in Thailand show there are fears that political tensions will rise in the weeks ahead. Local Thais give us their verdict on the Supreme Court ruling against Thakin Shinawtra.

Japan downgrades tsunami warning after evacuationAudioTranscript

Updated 01/03/2010 11:16:10

The official death toll from Chile's earthquake has reached 708. with fears it could climb much higher, as more casualties emerge from outlying areas along Chile's long coastline. As many as two million people have been affected by the powerful quake, which measured 8-point-8 on the Richter scale. And countries in the Pacific were on tsunami alert after the Chile quake. Japan has downgraded its tsunami warning, but not before evacuating more than 300-thousand people from its Pacific coast, cancelling train services and calling off a local election.

Canberra refuses to fund cross border aid into BurmaAudioTranscript

Updated 01/03/2010 11:16:02

The Australian Government appears set in its decision not to fund cross-border aid into Burma. Aid and advocacy groups say it's the only way to get vital supplies to the country's ethnic minority states. Burma's military Government doesn't permit international aid to get to the border areas in particular, some of which are under seige by the military. Half a dozen other countries fund cross border aid, but Australia isn't about to join them, with the Government citing sovereignty and security issues.

New report documents abuse of female Karen village chiefs in BurmaAudio

Updated 01/03/2010 11:15:10

A new report by the Karen Women Organisation has found evidence of disturbing new abuses by the Burmese military against the ethnic minority. Executions of village leaders by soldiers has led to many Karen women becoming chiefs of their villages. However, the Burmese military is treating the female chiefs with equal brutality. The report, titled 'Walking Among Sharp Knives' documents incidents of torture and rape of 95 known female Karen chiefs.

New lawsuit against Cambodia's Sam RainsyAudio

Updated 01/03/2010 11:15:42

Cambodia's absent opposition leader Sam Rainsy is in trouble again. The Cambodian government has filed a new lawsuit against him, accusing him of disinformation and falsifying public documents on the border issue with Vietnam. San Rainsy, who lives in exile in France, was sentenced in absentia to two years' jail for having led villagers to uproot border markers on the border with Vietnam last October.

New study shows Australia has monolingual mindsetAudio

Updated 01/03/2010 11:15:29

A new study has found that when it comes to embracing languages other than English, Australia has a long way to go. Two language experts at Sydney's Macquarie University spent the better part of two years studying the experiences of Japanese visitors. Their findings to be published in an international journal on bilingualism reveal what they call a monolingual mindset, .that may hurt the nation in the long run.