May 2010

Australia's foreign policy receives mixed scoreAudioTranscript

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:29

Australia's Lowy Institute for international policy has released results from its sixth annual national survey of one-thousand adult Australians. Asked to score the federal government's record on a range of foreign policy issues, people who were surveyed gave it failing grades on asylum seekers and whaling, and a pass for relations with China. The poll, conducted in March, found nearly three quarters of Australians agreed China's growth has been good for Australia - but more than two thirds also agreed that China's aim is to dominate Asia.

Japan's socialist party pulls out of coalitionAudio

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:30

Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has suffered another political setback, after the minor socialist party pulled out of the ruling coalition. The withdrawal of the Social Democratic Party is not enough to bring down Mr Hatoyama's government, but it has come at a time when the PM's popularity is plummeting. The SDP accused Prime Minister Hatoyama of breaking an election promise by not moving a US airbase off Okinawa Island. The Japanese leader says he's not going anywhere, despite this setback.

Disease spread prompts fears for regional wheat cropAudio

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:30


Agricultural researchers are warning that two strains of the disease wheat rust have begun to spread and could potentially cause global devastation to the crop. Virulent strains of wheat rust were previously confined to East Africa, but have now been found in South Africa as well. There're serious concerns that Wheat Rust could cause crop failures in the Middle East and South Asia too.

Hopes rise for end to political crisis in NepalAudio

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:31


Nepal's three main parties are holding talks to form a new coalition government after the prime minister indicated he may be ready resign to avert a political crisis. Nepal's parliament has been extended another year, effectively giving more time for politicians to draft a new constitution.

Canberra hopes to quarantine Japan whaling issueAudioTranscript

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:31

Australia's Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, says the government's decision to file an international legal case against Japanese whaling should not be seen as something which will infect bilateral relations generally.

Australia begins legal action against Japan over whalingAudio

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:32

Tensions between Australia and Japan over whaling are set to increase after Australia's decision to file an international legal case against Japan's scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean. New Zealand has left a similar option open, but is yet to decide whether to proceed, saying there's still room for diplomacy.

Australian solar boat sets sail in ShanghaiAudio

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:29


An innovative Australian boat design harnessing solar and wind power is making its mark at the Shanghai Expo. Fixed sails angled to catch the sun use technology developed in Australia in a futuristic hybrid similar to hybrid cars. The company and its offshoots have contracts to build ferries in the United States, Asia and the United Arab Emirates and for US naval vessels.

China defies pressure over North KoreaAudio

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:32

China has resisted pressure to publicly criticise North Korea over the sinking of a South Korean naval ship. Both South Korea and Japan pressed China at a weekend summit, to hold North Korea responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan in March.

Australia's Matildas win Asian CupAudioTranscript

Updated 31/05/2010 11:52:28

Australia's women's soccer team, the Matildas, has won the nation's first major soccer trophy, the Asian Cup. The Matildas beat North Korea 5-4 on penalties after 90 minutes of normal time and 30 minutes of extra time failed to break a one-all deadlock. The team had already qualified for next year's World Cup through their performance in this competition. The win in China was the icing on the cake and revenge for the Matildas who lost an Asian Cup Final in a penalty shootout four years ago.

Eleventh-hour talks in Nepal to avoid political crisisAudioTranscript

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:53

Nepal's political leaders are locked in last-minute talks to avert a crisis, as the deadline approaches for parliament to draft a new constitution. Reports from Kathmandu say the document is far from complete despite today's midnight deadline. The Maoists won general elections in 2008, after waging a ten-year war which led to the abolishment of the Hindu monarchy and the declaration of a republic. However, the Maoists ended up in opposition after only a year, due to political manoeuvrings. Parliament was then tasked with writing a new constitution, with a view to fresh elections this year.

China's Premier in Seoul for talks on North KoreaAudioTranscript

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:53

North Asian diplomats are quietly hoping that China will work behind the scenes to rein in North Korea. China's Premier Wen Jiabao is in the South Korean capital Seoul, for talks with President Lee Myung-Bak, before a three-way summit with Japanese leaders this weekend. The Korea crisis is likely to dominate the summit on the resort island of Jeju.

Efforts under way to track North Korean submarinesAudio

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:53

Tension continues to rise on the Korean peninsula as the North threatens to attack any ships from the South that enter its waters. Seoul has held anti-submarine exercises in response to the March sinking of one of its naval ships, allegedly by a North Korean torpedo. At the same time, efforts are under way to track down four North Korean submarines that have reportedly disappeared from their anchorage.

Indigenous Australian musicians miss out on recognition and moneyAudioTranscript

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:52

In recent years Australians have displayed a growing interest in Indigenous music but new research suggests the sector only gets a tiny fraction of the available rewards and airplay. The Australia Council report shows that attitudes, inadequate training and equipment, and vast distances are stopping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers from reaching wider audiences. And it finds that indigenous musicians often need to achieve overseas success before they get any recognition here

Indonesia declares a two year moratoruim on deforestationAudioTranscript

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:53

Indonesia has announced a landmark two-year moratorium on deforestation, after a massive injection of funds by foreign nations. Fifty-two countries at a conference in Olso agreed to funnel aid money to save forests .... a move that some are calling the first concrete action on climate change since Copenhagen. For his part of the deal, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says his government will stop issuing new concessions for peatlands and natural forests. The decision is part of a deal reached with Norway, which will contribute up to one billion dollars towards forest conservation.

World markets rally on China confidence in European bondsAudio

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:53

There's been a big rally in world markets as China rebuffed reports it was planning to stop buying European government bonds. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged three per cent to close back over 10-thousand while London gained 157 points. The Euro rose against the US dollar. Austerity measures announced by Spain and Italy also released some of the pressure building over Europe's debt crisis. Fears of contagion to the rest of Europe and beyond have seen markets tremble - we've seen equity prices fall and the cost of credit rise. Talk of a 'double dip' recession poses the biggest risk for the rest of the world and Asia won't be immune if that happens.

Australia's Socceroos adjust to altitude in South AfricaAudioTranscript

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:52

Australia's Socceroos have wasted little time in adjusting to local conditions ahead of the beginning of the World Cup in South Africa. The Australians were the first to arrive and they hope they can get a head start on their rivals. That includes acclimatising to the high altitude.

Communities in Thailand still reeling from political violenceAudioTranscript

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:53

In Thailand some communities are still recovering from the political violence that erupted on the streets around them a week ago. At least 55 people died as a result of the anti-government Red Shirt protests. The slum community of Klong Toey was hit hard by the violence, putting further pressure on its already impoverished people.

Concern over potential Asian military flashpointsAudioTranscript

Updated 28/05/2010 12:18:53

Two of Australia's most noted strategic analysts have painted an alarming portrait of military pressures in Asia and the lack of mechanisms to mediate potential flash-points. They've been speaking at the annual forum of Melbourne University's Asialink in Canberra this week, along with Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who's welcomed signs that responses may be emerging, if very slowly, from the Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN. Mr Rudd has welcomed the recent ASEAN decision to consider including the U-S and Russia in it's expanded dialogues.

Introducing Radio Australia's new chief executive

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:51

Radio Australia's has a newly appointed Chief Executive, Michael McCluskey. Dr McCluskey has worked and studied in Asia and the Pacific, and is a specialist on the impact of global media on the region.

Clinton calls for global response to sinking of South Korea shipAudio

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:52

The U-S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on the international community to respond to the sinking of a South Korean warship earlier this year in which 46 sailors were killed during a visit to Seoul. An international investigation last week found the ship was sunk by a North Korean torpedo, a claim denied by Pyongyang. In response, South Korea has cut economic ties with the North and plans to raise the issue with the UN Security Council.

Mongolia's young herders face uncertaintyAudio

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:51

While western nations deal with an ageing population, countries like Mongolia are dealing with growing numbers of young people. The average Mongolian is just shy of 26 years of age. But contrary to their modern cousins in the west, a large number of young Mongolians maintain a nomadic lifestyle herding livestock in the country's vast countryside. And they've been hard hit by the recent winter which has wiped out close to 20-percent of the national herd.

Australian winegrowers eye China marketAudio

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:51

Liquid gold, that's one way to describe a new Australian wine that's being launched in China this week. The grapes used to make the Ararat Gold Shiraz are grown on the old gold bearing ranges in rural Victoria, quite a selling point in a country that sees those colours as symbols of good luck and wealth. China is Australia's fourth largest market for bulk wine exports and in the year to March recorded the largest market increase in bottled shipments, up 71 percent to 20 million litres. In 2008, Australian wine exports to China were worth more than 45-million US dollars.

White House to release new national security strategyAudioTranscript

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:52

The White House is preparing to release President Barack Obama's new national security strategy. The doctrine will clearly state that the US is not at war with Islam. That deviates sharply from the go-it-alone approach of the Bush era that included justification for pre-emptive war and alienated many in the Muslim world.

Fugitive Thai leader Thaksin denies backing Red Shirt protestAudioTranscript

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:52

Thailand's fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has denied involvement in last week's violence in Bangkok and has downplayed the prospect of being arrested by the international police anti-criminal body, Interpol. Mr Thaksin's interview to Australia's ABC television is his first since the anti-government Red Shirt protest in Bangkok was crushed last week, leaving more than 50 people dead. Thailand's criminal court this week issued a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges.

Amnesty says countries put politics ahead of human rightsAudioTranscript

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:52

Amnesty International has accused governments in the region, including Australia, of putting political self-interest ahead of human rights. In a just-released global report, Amnesty says governments are not only dodging human rights responsibilities but also often shield allies from criticism, acting only when it's politically convenient.

Australia's cattle trade with Indonesia under questionTranscript

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:52

Australia's lucrative live cattle exports to Indonesia is under question, after a shipment of more than two-thousand Australian cattle was last weekend declared to have an invalid import permit. Australia denies there was a permit problem but Indonesia's agriculture ministry has warned Australia not to treat Indonesia's customs laws lightly. Australia's main meat and livestock organisation says the action was political and is seeking more certainty from Indonesia to protect what it says is a mutually advantageous trade.

Debate over Australian mining super-tax continuesAudioTranscript

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:52

The Australian government's proposed 40 percent tax on mining profits continues to generate heated debate. The head of mining giant Rio Tinto has told shareholders it poses the number one sovereign risk to Rio anywhere in the world. Lining up on the other side, a group of 20 respected economists has thrown its weight behind the Government's proposal.

Australia accused of complacency in a creative Asia .AudioTranscript

Updated 27/05/2010 10:28:52

Key Australian arts figures say the country is complacent in the face of a flowering of creativity across Asia and risks exclusion not only from the arts, but from understanding the region's wider challenges. It's one of the themes to emerge from a major conference on Australia's Asian future, the annual national forum of Melbourne University's Asialink and Asia Society. Asia scholars, business people and political figures, as well as representatives of the arts community and diplomats from Asian countries have been attending and Australia's Prime Minister and Opposition have also spoken. Concern about Australia's cultural engagement emerged as a key theme

Religious tensions in Indonesia's West JavaAudio

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:05

Religious tensions are growing in Indonesia's West Java province after local authorities shut down a Christian church. The closure followed protests from local Islamic groups. Now, local Christians are forced to congregate on the streets of Bogor. The Indonesian Human Rights Commission has filed an official protest.

North Korea cuts ties with SeoulAudioTranscript

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:05

North Korea has announced it's cutting all ties with South Korea. Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency says the North is also expelling all South Korean workers from a jointly-run factory north of the border. Pyongyang's announcement comes just days after South Korea cut trade links and banned North Korean merchant ships from using its sea lanes in the wake of an international report blaming the North for sinking a South Korean ship in March, killing 46 sailors. But South Korea's ambassador to Australia Woosang Kim says current tensions won't escalate to military action. The Ambassador says he's confident North Korea's main international backer, China, will play its part to calm the crisis.

Philippine police call for tougher gun lawsAudio

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:04

Each year, thousands of Filipinos are killed in gun-related crimes, the majority carried out with unlicensed firearms. With more than a million illegal firearms across the Philippines, authorities admit they are struggling to control gun violence.Police say tougher gun laws are needed and they're now looking at extending an election campaign ban prohibiting the carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons in public.

Tawian company in China under fire for high rate of suicidesAudioTranscript

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:05

More protests in the region, and labour activists in Hong Kong are urging a worldwide boycott of Apple's iPhone, following nine suicides at a southern Chinese factory. The factory produces most of the world's electronic consumer goods, including Apple's I-Phone. Yesterday, another young man threw himself from a building at Foxconn's large factory in Zhengzhen, the second suicide at the site in a week. Protestors have demonstrated outside the company's Hong Kong office as labour activists demand the company and the Chinese government do more to prevent the deaths.

Arrest warrant for Thailand's former leader Thaksin ShinawatraAudio

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:05

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is defiant in the face of an arrest warrant, describing it as politically motivated. A Bangkok court yesterday issued the arrest warrant for the fugitive Mr Thaksin on terrorism charges which could attract the death penalty. Mr Thaksin is accused of inciting last week's wave of anti-government protests in Bangkok, in which over 50 people died.

China's shift in sexual moralsAudioTranscript

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:05

When a Chinese court last week sentenced Ma Yaohai to three and a half years' jail for organising a swingers' party, or a group sex gathering, the decision sparked intense debate about whether China's sex laws are out of touch with the times. Research shows sexual behaviour in China is increasingly departing from traditional monogamous, heterosexual marriages. However, the law and some parts of Chinese society are reluctant to recognise the shift. In China, prostitution, group sex, and same sex marriages are illegal. But more and more Chinese are questioning why the law is intruding in the bedroom.

The growing tensions on the Korean peninsulaAudio

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:05

So is the Korean peninsula a more dangerous place, after Pyongyang's decision to cut all ties with the South?

Japanese crime syndicates infiltrate sumoAudio

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:04

Japanese police are investigating allegations that the country's most notorious crime syndicate has infiltrated one of Japan's most traditional institutions, the sport of sumo. One sumo coach has reportedly confessed to giving special ringside seats to dozens of Yakuza gangsters, seats worth a staggering 18-thousand dollars each. There are also allegations that one of the sport's top wrestlers is being blackmailed by gangsters for more than a million dollars to keep his massive gambling debts a secret.

Warnings of right abuses and conflict ahead of Burma pollAudioTranscript

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:04

Burma's military regime is yet to name a date for general elections but the polls will be the first step to activating the controversial 2008 constitution which entrenches its power. Now, a regional NGO has warned that preparations for the upcoming polls are already having a devastating impact on ethnic minority groups in Burma. The Alternative ASEAN Network for Burma says human rights abuse and armed conflict have escalated, causing over 43-thousand refugees to flee into neighbouring Thailand and China, over the past three months.

Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim calls for inquiry into Australian bank scandaAudio

Updated 26/05/2010 11:45:05

Malaysia's Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is backing calls for an inquiry into allegations of bribery involving the international arm of Australia's Reserve Bank. The Australian Government is under pressure to investigate the bank's arm known as Securency, which provides the polymer base for banknotes. The Securency arm is alleged to have supplied prostitutes and paid up to 45-million dollars in bribes in a bid to convince central banking officials in Asia and Africa to replace their paper notes. One of those named is Malaysia's Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmed - the commission agent hired in Kuala Lumpur to help win the polymer note deal. ABC Television's Four Corners programme alleges that Abdul Kayam was paid as much as 4 million dollars in commissions by Securency.

The battle for Cambodian farm landAudioTranscript

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:11

Cambodia has reportedly been promised one hundred million US dollars from the United States to help fight hunger and develop agriculture among small-scale farmers. The money will be given directly to the Cambodian government, even though it's regarded as one of the most corrupt in Asia. While donor countries throw lots of money at the issue of food security, the challenge faced by many small-scale farmers in Cambodia is the forced take-over of their land by those with government or military connections. One of the biggest cases currently being fought out is in Kampong Speu province.

Australia expels Israeli diplomat over fake passport scandalAudioTranscript

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:12

Israel has responded to Australia's decision to expel an Israeli diplomat over a faked passport scandal. An investigation has led the Australian Government to believe Israel is responsible for forging four Australian passports implicated in the slaying of a Hamas operative in Dubai. Australia's Foreign Minister announced the expulsion in Parliament, saying Israel's conduct was "not the actions of a friend". Israel is playing down the diplomatic tussle, saying its relationship with Australia will only grow stronger.

US to conduct South Korean navy drillsAudio

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:12

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has banned the North's merchant ships from South Korean waters and is also seeking UN support for harsh retaliatory measures against Pyongyang. President Lee also warned there would be an immediate military response to any future aggression by North Korea. His Defence minister Kim Tae-Young also confirmed joint maritime exercises with the US, including anti-submarine manouevres.

Moves to impeach Thai prime minister over Bangkok crisisAudioTranscript

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:12

Thailand's opposition leaders are moving to impeach prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for his handling of the turmoil in Bangkok. Eighty-eight people died in two months of protests, led by the anti-government demonstrators called the Red Shirts. The motion to impeach Prime Minister Abhisit is being led by the Pheu Thai party allied to ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. The party alleges Mr Abhisit abused his power by using military force against protestors. And Thailand's criminal court will today decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges - charges which carry the death penalty.

Post tsunami rebuilding in AcehAudioTranscript

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:12

In the Indonesian province of Aceh, where the post-tsunami rebuilding effort is almost complete. Hundreds of thousands of homes in Aceh were destroyed in the 2004 tsunami, which killed 170-thousand people. Six years later, there are just 140 more houses left to build. The provincial capital, Banda Aceh has new roads, new hospitals, new schools - much of it paid for by the international community, which donated six billion dollars. But there are also concerns that the speed of rebuilding has seen the mismanagement of donor funds, corruption and profiteering.

China and US talks focus on economyAudioTranscript

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:12

Current talks in Beijing between China and the US have focussed largely on economic and trade matters. It's only the second round of the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue agreed to between President Barack Obama and Hu Jintao. taking place against a backdrop of an ongoing spat over China's exchange rate. The talks have been expanded under President Obama from their economic origins to include wider geo-political issues, but the economy remains a key sticking point in the relationship.

More pressure on Australia's aid programAudioTranscript

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:12

The Australian government is under new pressure to do more about waste in the country's foreign aid program, with a big focus on the use of highly paid consultants and private companies. Newspaper headlines about big salaries for advisors and dubious programmes are fuelling calls for a public inquiry into the aid program. Canberra is also releasing a damning report on Australia's aid for Papua New Guinea, which says about a quarter of all aid to PNG has little lasting benefit. Foreign minister Stephen Smith says Australia's aid program is not all bad and insisting his government is working responsibly to solve problems.

South Korea slaps sanctions on PyongyangAudioTranscript

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:12

The United States has confirmed anti-submarine and other naval exercises with South Korea, after a report blamed North Korea for the sinking of a southern warship. The US confirmation came as Seoul sought to escalate pressure on North Korea, including tighter sanctions. An international investigation concluded last week that North Korea had torpedoed the Cheonan, killing 46 sailors on board. North Korea has issued an emphatic denial.

India's olive branch to PakistanAudioTranscript

Updated 25/05/2010 11:27:12

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reiterated he wants to improve relations with Pakistan. Bilateral ties have been brittle since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which were carried out by Pakistani gunmen. Prime Minister Singh says the time has now come to bridge what he calls "the trust gap" between India and Pakistan. Manmohan Singh's announcement was made at a rare news conference in New Delhi, his first since his government was re-elected last year.

Four detained in Pakistan over New York bomb plotAudioTranscript

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:36

Authorities in Pakistan have detained at least four people, suspected of links with the failed bomb plot in New York city earlier this month. Pakistani news agencies quote unnamed officials as saying several suspects have been arrested because of alleged links to Pakistan-born US citizen Faisal Shahzad, who was arrested two days after the car bomb failed to go off in Times Square.

Australian asthma study says mortality rates risingAudioTranscript

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:35

There's an increase in the number of people over 45 dying from asthma in Australia. Research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the mortality rate has risen in recent years. People with asthma say it highlights the importance of having the disorder diagnosed early.

New book highlights vulnerabilities of foreign students in AustraliaAudioTranscript

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:35

Australia's international student industry is worth billions of dollars and provides crucial revenue for the country's universities and colleges. The international student population is also seen as a major contributor to the local economy in keeping the rental market bouyant and consuming local products. But foreign students also among the most vulnerable. Some have become victims of robberies and assaults because they're seen as easy targets. Others are exploited for cheap labour because laws only permit them to work twenty hours a week, forcing many to earn under-the-table wages. Now their issues are being brought to light in a newly published book called International Student Security.

North Korea eyes the World CupAudio

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:35

With the kick-off of the football World Cup less than three weeks away, the 32 teams in the hunt are in full training for the sport's ultimate test. One of the least favoured, and least known, is North Korea who are in a tough group which includes soccer giants Brazil and Portugal. It's just the second world cup for the all-reds from North Korea, after they famously reached the final eight in the 1966 competition in England along the way upsetting the maestros from Italy. Some of their best players for this world cup will come from Japan, where they play in the J-League.

Thai Government hunting Red Shirt leaders still at largeAudioTranscript

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:36

Businesses and government offices are reopening in Bangkok this morning after a week of disruption by anti-government Red Shirt protests. However, the situation is far from normal, with a curfew extended for two nights in Bangkok.The Thai government has now promised an independent investigation into the deaths of 50 people killed during the Bangkok protests and subsequent military crackdown. But how committed is the government to reconciliation, when it's locked in a struggle against forces wanting the return of ousted prime minister and billionaire Thakain Shinarwatra?

Musharraff accused of bluffing over Pakistan political comebackAudio

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:36

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's claim that he plans to return to stand for political office, has met with a mixed response. General Musharraf, who ruled for almost ten years, has lived abroad since being ousted in 2008 but told CNN last week, he intended to return to Pakistan. But lawyers in Pakistan don't believe he's serious, saying Musharraf would face charges of high treason, if he returns.

The pitfalls of a football career in Cambodia.AudioTranscript

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:35

The sudden death of a Nigerian soccer player during a game in Phnom Penh earlier this month has raised questions about foreign players who migrate to Cambodia in the hope of securing a football contract. Mostly Nigerian, they arrive with expectations of big money and the chance to be drafted into the more prestigious leagues in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. But for many, what they find is disappointment and hardship.

New evidence of criminal labour rackets in AustraliaAudio

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:35

The Australian Government says there's emerging evidence of sophisticated criminal labour rackets operating in the country. The warning comes after more than 12-hundred illegal workers were found in raids during the past nine months. The workers from China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand were working mostly in restaurants or on farms. Immigration minister Chris Evans says the rackets have spread their operations to the building industry.The Rudd government is also waiting on recommendations to tighten laws applying to employers who hire illegal workers and labour hire firms who pedal them.

Canberra accused over drop in Indonesian language studiesAudioTranscript

Updated 24/05/2010 10:34:35

Leading Indonesia scholars in Australia say the Rudd government has made no attempt to address a dramatic and continuing decline in Indonesian language studies in the country's universities. And they say there's been only a token gesture at the level of schools. Current research aimed at developing a strategic plan for advancing Indonesian in Australian universities confirms that enrolments have falled 24 per cent since the early two-thousands. And yet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign minister Stephen Smith have both publicly spoken of the need for Australia to do much better in Indonesian language teaching.

New Indonesian finance minister namedAudio

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:37

The appointment in Indonesia of a new Finance Minister has been widely welcomed with just a few reservations. President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono has named Agus Martowardojo to take over the post left vacant by the sudden resignation two weeks ago of Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Commentators say the new minister has a tough act to follow.

Cambodia remembers Khmer Rouge victimsAudioTranscript

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:37

This time every year, a ceremony is held at the notorious Killing Fields on the outskirts of Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh to remember the victims of the Khmer Rouge.

North Korea to investigate ship sinking evidenceAudioTranscript

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:37

Pyongyang has denied responsibility for the attack, but has announced it will be sending a high level military delegation to the South to verify the material evidence.

ONLINE EXTRA Australia's foreign minister on South Korea sinkingAudio

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:37

North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy interviews Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on North Korea's sinking of a South Korea naval vessel, and the options for an international response.

High tension on Korea peninsulaAudioTranscript

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:38

There's renewed tension on the Korean peninsula. North Korea has threatened all-out war if there are moves to punish Pyongyang for torpedoing a South Korean warship in March. Australia has praised South Korea's handling of the investigation into the sinking and its restraint. Australia is also among those warning that military retaliation could have grave consequences for the entire region..

Clean up begins in Bangkok after protests crushedAudioTranscript

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:38

Authorities in Bangkok say they have restored order to most of Thai capital, as a clean-up operation begins in the area where anti-government demonstrators had set up camp. The government has announced that a night-time curfew will continue until the weekend, as it works to stamp out pockets of resistance among the Red Shirt movement. And the death toll from the mid week fighting has risen to at least 15.

Thai diplomat calls for reconciliationAudioTranscript

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:38

World leaders have expressed their concern and dismay at the events in Bangkok this week. The U-S Senate is preparing to pass a resolution calling on Thailand to begin a process of national reconciliation. It's a move supported by the European Union. But with many of the Red Shirt leaders now in custody, human rights groups are voicing their concern about the government's treatment of those detained, saying there are fears they will be mistreated.

The toll from Mongolia's harsh winterAudioTranscript

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:37

The nomadic lifestyle of Mongolia's 800-thousand plus livestock herders is under threat .. as the country counts the cost of a bitter and destructive winter. About 20-percent of the total national herd has died from hunger, or simply frozen, all up an estimated 8-and-a-half million animals have been lost since March. Many animals are still weak, and might not make it through the coming summer. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the devastating losses, climate change as well as overgrazing. And as the United Nations begins efforts to rebuild lives and livelihoods some are questioning the viability of the way of life that has defined the country for so long.

Australian airport crackdown on pornography angers lobbyistsAudio

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:37

A new requirement that travellers to Australia declare any pornography they're carrying is being condemned by lobbyists for internet freedom and the sex industry.
They say the new customs power won't stop the importation of child porn and other offensive material. And will instead lead to ordinary people being subjected to humiliating searches at airports.

Media targeted by both sides in ThailandAudio

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:37

Unrest in Bangkok has again seen journalists, both local and foreign suffering casualties. Since the trouble began three months ago, two journalists have been killed and half a dozen wounded.

Chinese nationals falsely lured to Northern MarianasAudio

Updated 21/05/2010 11:28:37

Chinese nationals are being lured to America's Pacific territory of the Northern Marianas or CNMI with the promise of a U-S visa. But after paying thousands of dollars to middle-men to get to Saipan, their hope of securing a visa is quickly quashed. The probelm was highlighted this week when the case of a young Chinese woman was heard before a federal immigration court in Saipan. The woman was one of 25 people arrested earlier this year trying to sneak into Guam illegally from the CNMI after they failed to get their promised visa.

Buildings burn in Bangkok after Red Shirts surrenderAudio

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:30

Almost a third of Thailand is under curfew as authorities try to consolidate their clamp-down on the anti-government Red Shirt protests. In Bangkok protesters have been blamed for lighting more than 20 fires across the city. It comes after the military yesterday stormed their fortified camp in Bangkok's business district, forcing the Red Shirts to surrender. At least six people were killed in the military operation, including a foreign journalist. The Thai Government says the use of force was justified because the soldiers had faced armed resistance before.

Indonesia appoints new finance ministerAudio

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:29

Indonesia has appointed Agus Martowardojo as its new finance minister following the recent appointment of Sri Mulyani Indrawati to the World Bank in Washington. A professional economist, Sri Mulyani is leaving Indonesia after earning a range of powerful enemies over her reform agenda, as well as her alleged involvement in a controversial bank bailout case.

Former CIA operative assesses Bangkok securityAudio

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:29

Thailand's Government forces are now warning they'll open fire on anyone attempting to loot or commit arson in the capital Bangkok. Emergency services say 27 fires have been lit in Bangkok since troops overran the Red Shirts protest area yesterday. The government is defending its use of force, saying the protesters were warned to pack up and go home before the troops went in.

North Korea accused of sinking South Korean warshipAudio

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:29

South Korea will today officially release its findings into the sinking of one its warships earlier this year and the finger of blame is expected to pointed squarely at Pyongyang. The 12-hundred tonne warship Cheonan split in two during a routine patrol mission in the Yellow sea in March, killing 46 sailors. North Korea has denied sinking the ship but Seoul says it has compelling evidence that Pyongyang was responsible.

Europe's financial woes now affecting stock markets in AsiaAudioTranscript

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:29

A dramatic move by German regulators to curb financial speculation has sent shockwaves well beyond Europe's shores. Traders will be banned from naked short selling - that is selling stocks and bonds they don't own, in effect speculating on companies or countries going broke. Germany says the measures are necessary to prevent betting on Euro zone countries from destabilising the entire system. But the sudden move has sent confidence plummeting and Asian stock markets wobbling. Financial regulation is now a hot topic.

Calls for Australia to take regional lead in Thai crisisAudioTranscript

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:30

The violence in Thailand has led Canberra to issue a warning to Australians not to travel to Bangkok and reconsider the need to travel to other parts of Thailand.
And as the crisis escalates, Australia's Foreign minister Stephen Smith has repeatedly called for restraint on all sides and for the situation to be resolved peacefully, through the political processes. Mr Smith's predecessor in the Howard government was Alexander Downer. He says Australia should also be rallying the U-S and possibly Indonesia to work on a circuit breaker for the crisis.

Thaksin lawyer calls for third party intervention in ThailandAudioTranscript

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:30

The Canadian human rights lawyer appointed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra says he fears for the safety of the detained Red Shirt leaders and is calling for third party involvement in effort to resolve the crisis.

India police arrest activists on false Maoist connectionsAudioTranscript

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:29

Human rights activists, civil rights organisations and fact-finding committees in India are protesting against the alleged labelling of their organisations and movements as fronts for the Maoist rebels. Several union leaders have been arrested for exposing and criticising government actions. Some allege they were being targeted to intimidate them so that there could be no dissenting voices against the government's war on terror.

Beer giants ignoring risks to female promoters in CambodiaAudioTranscript

Updated 20/05/2010 12:06:29

The word's largest brewers have been criticised for paying low wages to the women who promote their beers across Cambodia. Researchers from a Canadian university say the women work in a dangerous and toxic environment, but the brewers maintain they're fulfilling their obligations.

Rights groups warn Thailand is on a "slippery slope of abuses"AudioTranscript

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:20

The latest flashpoint comes after the government rejected the latest offer by the Red Shirts for talks mediated by senior members of the Senate.The government says the Red Shirts must leave their Bangkok camp before any talks can take place. Five days of street clashes between troops and protesters in the city centre have left 37 people dead and scores injured. The government is now accusing hard-liners within the red camp of using women and children as shields. The red-shirts meanwhile accuse government troops of firing indiscriminately on them and setting up live fire zones.

Working with journalists suffering from traumaAudioTranscript

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:19

Last month the Philippines was named as the top third country in the world where violence against the media regularly goes unpunished. In its annual impunity index, the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists catapulted the Philippines from its previous position of sixth place to number three. The drop in rating came after the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, where 58 people were killed, 32 of them journalists.

Foriegn businesses consider pulling out of ThailandAudio

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:20

Foreign businesses are considering pulling out of Thailand as the economic damage to the country from the political crisis mounts.

Thai army moves in on Red Shirt protestorsAudio

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:20

Tensions are increasing as the Thai army is massing soldiers and armoured personnel carriers around the anti government Red Shirt protest area in Bangkok. Red shirt leaders are now warning their supporters to be prepared to fight.

Thai troops and armoured carriers advance near Bangkok protestAudio

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:19

We cross back to Bangkok and the Red Shirt protest site, where the Thai army has been massing soldiers and armoured personnel cariers.

Asia's moviemakers vye for gold in CannesAudioTranscript

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:19

The Cannes Film Festival is underway on the French Riviera with 18 international films vying for the prestigious Palm D'or award. Among the nominees are five Asian films from Japan, South Korea, China and Thailand...part of an ever-growing contingent of regional productions at the event.

Nestle dumps companies linked to the destruction of rainforestsAudio

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:19

The world's biggest food company, Nestle has announced it will no longer buy from companies that destroy rainforests in Indonesia. The move by the Swiss company follows mounting pressure from enviromental groups about how Nestle was sourcing the oil.

Thailand, Cambodia remain locked in land disputeAudio

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:19

While the standoff continues in central Bangkok, Thailand remains locked in another simmering faceoff - with neighbouring Cambodia. The main flashpoint has been at the ruins of the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple itself is not in question, it's widely considered to be Cambodian but the land around it is disputed. Radio Australia's Liam Cochrane travels to the Thai-Cambodian border for a first hand look at the ongoing land dispute between both countries.

Australia invites Chinese input on mining taxAudioTranscript

Updated 19/05/2010 11:29:19

The Australian Government has invited China into negotiations over the final shape of its controversial new super-profits tax on Australian mining. Trade minister Simon Crean made the offer in Beijing after high level Chinese officials raised concerns that the tax might push commodity prices even higher. Existing tension with China over near-record-high iron ore prices last month saw China accuse the big suppliers of running a price monopoly and threaten a two month boycott.
And China has reportedly put some investment in Australia on hold amid uncertainty over the new tax.

Economists warn China's growth unsustainableAudioTranscript

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:57

There is a worrying sign for Australia and other nations which rely on China's breakneck economic growth. Some economists are now predicting that the pace cannot be sustained and that, at some point, the fall-out is inevitable. That is unless China can pull off some major shifts in its economy.

Australia's international education sector under strainAudioTranscript

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:57

There are concerns that Australia's international education market could be ruined by changes to the Government's skilled migration program.
A new list has been released of occupations required for migrants seeking to come to the country without business support. It stops people coming to Australia for lower skill, short courses and then gaining permanent residency based on that training. But education providers say international students are now switching to other countries for their education.

Thai government considers Red Shirts truceAudioTranscript

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:58

The Thai government says it's received a ceasefire offer from the Red Shirt anti-government protestors. It came after the Red Shirts ignored a government deadline to leave their fortified camp in central Bangkok. But the government says there'll be no truce until protesters leave their city camp and stop attacking soldiers. Thirty seven people have been killed in street fighting between the army and demonstrators since last Thursday, including a former Thai general turned Red Shirts leader who died of his wounds yesterday. The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights is now urging both sides to end their conflict through negotiation, warning it could spiral out of control.

Fears Europe's debt woes may spread to AsiaAudio

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:57

Fears that Europe's debt problems will spread to Asia are on the rise. The most immediate signs have been on share and money markets throughout the region, where confidence that Greece and others are under control are diminishing. Shares and commodity prices all followed the large falls of the European currency, the Euro. Australia's share market had its biggest fall in a year Monday, with some of the mining companies especially hard hit.

Japan's famed Wagyu beef industry in crisisAudioTranscript

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:57

Japan has suspended exports of its world-famous Wagyu beef after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the country's south which has led to the cull of 85-thousand cattle and pigs. The outbreak has now spread to more than a hundred farms, and it's forced the slaughter of breeding stock. The Japanese Government is promising more than a billion dollars in assistance to try to contain the outbreak and save the Wagyu name.

Hopes of fresh peace talks in southern PhilippinesAudio

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:57

There are fresh hopes for a long term solution to the decades long rebellion in the southern Philippines. The country's largest Muslim rebel group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front says it's ready to sit down for fresh peace talks with president-elect Benigno NoyNoy Aquino. More than 120-thousand people have been killed and some two million displaced in the rebels battle for minority rule in the south.

Calls for new probe into end of Sri Lankan civil warAudioTranscript

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:57

On the eve of the first anniversary of the formal end to Sri Lanka's long running and bloody civil war, an international human rights group is calling on the United Nations to investigate fresh charges that tens of thousands of civilians were killed in the final months of the conflict. In a new report, the International Crisis Group says it has evidence that both the Sri Lankan military and the Tamil Tiger rebels deliberately shot civilians. The ICG report also says hundreds of thousands of others were deprived of adequate food and medical care. Colombo has repeatedly rejected charges of civilian deaths as grossly exaggerated and denies its military committed war crimes.

Tourists set to avoid Thailand in favour of VietnamAudio

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:57

The political turmoil in Bangkok is likely to cause a long-term drop in the country's vital tourist trade, according to a leading regional tourism market analyst. There are warnings that tourists from Australia and other parts of Asia are more likely to avoid Thailand in future because they'll associate the country with street fighting and chaos and Vietnam is the one country that looks like doing well out of this situation.

William Dalrymple's love affair with IndiaAudioTranscript

Updated 18/05/2010 12:00:57

For a quarter of a century British-born author William Dalrymple has observed, engaged with and written about India. Traditionally Indians haven't been keen on seeing and hearing hard truths. But William Dalrymple's work is making audiences across the country sit up and take it on the chin.William Dalrymple will be a guest author at this week's Sydney Writer's Festival.

Bangkok braces for more violenceAudioTranscript

Updated 17/05/2010 12:28:00

Thai authorities have ruled out UN-backed mediation as the violent dispute with anti government protesters continues to claim more lives. At least 33 people have been killed and more than 230 injured in three days of clashes as troops try to clear the Red Shirt encampment. The government is sticking to its view that there can be no more talks until the long running rally in Bangkok's city centre is dissolved.

Warnings of rampant match fixing at World CupAudio

Updated 17/05/2010 12:27:59

On the eve of the World Cup in South Africa, the international football body FIFA has been accused of failing to address the endemic problem of match fixing.
Declan Hill exposed the extent of global match fixing networks in his book "The Fix: Soccer & Organized Crime'". He says match fixers have been at every single major soccer tournament for the last 20 years and this year is no different. And he points the finger of blame at FIFA which he says has failed to clean up the problem.

India's toilet problem, still trying to clean up the messAudioTranscript

Updated 17/05/2010 12:27:59

India today is often seen as a rapidly modernising country, but there is one area where it still falls far short access to proper toilets for millions of people. A recent United Nations report says India tops the list of countries where people still defecate in the open and puts the number at 640 million.

American author fights Indonesian book banAudio

Updated 17/05/2010 12:27:59

Indonesians are today marking National Book Day which celebrates literacy and free access to information. Yet despite great strides in freedom of expression since the end of the Suharto era, books still get banned. One author to suffer the wrath of officialdom is American historian John Roosa. His book "Pretext for Mass Murder: The September 30th Movement and Soeharto's Coup d'Etat" was one of five books banned by the Attorney General's Office late last year, using old Sukarno-era legislation. That decision is now the subject of an appeal to the Constitutional Court.

How Australian aid money helps farmers in Philippines southAudioTranscript

Updated 17/05/2010 12:27:59

In the second of a two part series on food security, we take a look at the experience of the small upland farmer in the troubled Philippine island of Mindanao. Tom Fayle travelled to the region to investigate how Australian aid money has been helping produce a transformation of the landscape.

Low turnout mars Hong Kong democracy referendumAudioTranscript

Updated 17/05/2010 12:28:00

By-elections were held in Hong Kong over the weekend after five legislators quit in January to force a de facto referendum on reform. The lawmakers had hoped that their re-election would send a strong message to Beijing to speed up progress towards full democracy. But all pro-Beijing political parties boycotted the process.

Required occupations listed for Australian migrantsAudioTranscript

Updated 17/05/2010 12:27:59

In a further tightening of Australia's immigration policy, the government is releasing a new list of occupations required for migrants seeking to come to the country without the support of business. The list has been produced by the statutory research body, Skills Australia. It puts an end to people coming to Australia for short courses in subjects like cooking or hairdressing and then gaining permanent residency based on that training. The move follows the recent freezing of Australia's overall migrant intake.

Bangkok live fire zones under international criticismAudioTranscript

Updated 17/05/2010 12:28:00

Australia has temporarily closed its embassy in Bangkok after live fire areas were declared in various parts of the city. Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says the army will keep going until the rally is cleared. But the government's declaration of live fire zones in central Bangkok is being heavily criticised internationally.

Drought throws cold water on Yunnan festivalAudioTranscript

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:25

The worst drought in 100 years in southwest China is causing misery for millions. In southwest Yunnan province, the Buddhist Dai minority are feeling the effects on a spiritual level. The area's annual water festival, the most important on the religious calendar, has had to be scaled back this year. Monks are urging locals to return to their traditional spiritual values to combat the causes of the drought.

Former Indonesian police chief challenges arrestAudioTranscript

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:25

Indonesia's former high ranking police officer turned-corruption whistleblower Susno Duadji was detained earlier this week and accused of corruption. But now his lawyers have filed a lawsuit challenging the legal basis for his arrest.

Australian Defence force big winners in budgetAudioTranscript

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:26

Australia's Defence minister John Faulkner has delivered on his mission to provide better protection for Australian troops in Afghanistan. In the Australian budget released this week, there's just over a billion Australian dollars in new money for force protection and a billion extra for operations, while defence has returned a billion in savings under a stringent reform program. But a former Australian army chief is questioning whether defence should get all the 27 billion dollars it gets in the first place, arguing it may be better used for police, aid programs and the foreign service.

American band Dengue Fever rocks Phnom PenhAudio

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:26

As part of the US celebration of diplomatic ties with Cambodia, the US Embassy sponsored a concert in the capital Phnom Penh this week by American band Dengue Fever. The LA-based outfit plays music influenced by the psychedelic rock 'n' roll popular in the 60's.

Security tense in BangkokAudio

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:26

Security has been increased in the Thai capital following overnight violence which left one person dead and seven others injured. The US and British embassies have shut their doors and transport to the area has been suspended as more details emerge of the shooting of the renegade army general.

Chinese chef adds a pinch of spiritualism in the kitchenAudio

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:25

Adding a pinch of spiritualism to cooking as a vital ingredient will add years to your life and possibly even the next one. That's if you taste one of the culinary creations of world renowned Chinese chef, Tam Kwok Fung - who uses the principles of Taoism in his kitchen. Tam is Executive Chef at 'City of Dreams' in Macau where he oversees two signature Chinese restaurants. He's cooked for world leaders and royalty and is in Australia showcasing his unique cooking style at one of Melbourne's riverside Cantonese restaurants.

US and Cambodia mark 60 years of bilateral tiesAudioTranscript

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:26

The United States and Cambodia are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties this year. But it hasn't been six decades of smooth sailing. In the 1960's and 70's America's secret bombing of Cambodia was disastrously destabilising for the Kingdom. Then came the brutal years of the Khmer Rouge and diplomatic relations with the US weren't re-established until 1991. The last few years, however, have seen a deepening of ties between the two nations, with military aid resuming, humanitarian aid flowing, and oil and mineral investments looming.

Australian mining companies angry over government profit taxAudio

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:26

There's a political fight brewing over the Australian Government's proposed forty percent tax on mining profits. In his official reply to the federal budget, Opposition leader Tony Abbott said he'll fight the tax in the coming election. And he has the support of mining companies operating in Australia with Rio Tinto the latest company to condemn the tax, saying it's reviewing all new capital projects in Australia.

Beijing brands Hong Kong by election illegalAudioTranscript

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:26

A by-election being held in Hong Kong this weekend has been branded illegal by Beijing. Activists have dubbed it a referendum on democracy in a direct challenge to the authority of the central government. But it's divided the democracy movement in Hong Kong and risks doing long term damage to the multi-party alliance that has gained momentum in recent years.

Red Shirt leader shot on Bangkok streetAudioTranscript

Updated 14/05/2010 14:46:26

It's been a night of gunfire and grenade attacks where Thai government forces are moving in to isolate long running anti-government protests. At least one person has been killed and a number have been injured in running battles with soldiers. Renegade red shirt leader Seh Daeng has also been shot in the head during an interview with foreign journalists.

North Korean claims to have conducted nuclear fusion reactionAudioTranscript

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:11

North Korea's Government is claiming it has successfully carried out a nuclear fusion reaction. Nuclear fusion is considered the holy grail of energy, producing safe and almost limitless power from hydrogen atoms with zero emissions and almost zero waste. The claim seems unlikely. If true, it means North Korea has achieved with Soviet-era technology what a multi-billion dollar, multi-national experiment currently underway in the south of France has so far failed to do. The International Thermo-nuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER, expects to start its fusion reaction in 2019.

US vows to continue to press TalibanAudioTranscript

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:11

Regardless of the Afghan leader's US charm offensive, President Obama says American-led forces will continue to press the Taliban and predicts hard fighting in the months ahead.

Titanic artefacts on displayAudio

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:11

The sinking of the Titanic on April 15th, 1912, is a story that continues to resonate with successive generations. The film of the disaster was the world's largest grossing movie in history until Avatar took its place last year. Now the world's imagination is captured by the Titanic Artefact Exhibition, which has drawn crowds of 22 million in the US, the UK and Europe over recent years. Now it's showing at the Melbourne Museum. It includes more than 280 artefacts recovered from the wreck of the Titanic - ranging from pocket watches to toothpaste, crockery, children's toys, hull sections and even paper money.

Philippines business leaders welcome Aquino's electionAudioTranscript

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:11

Benigno Aquino's success has been welcomed by business leaders in the Philippines. As well as campaigning on delivering improved investment conditions, he told the many millions of Filipinos living in poverty he would make their lives better. He went as far as to put those promises in writing.

Afghan talks promise peaceAudioTranscript

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:11

After weeks of strained relations, Barack Obama and Hamid Karzai have made up with the White House rolling out the red carpet for the Afghan leader. Publicly the two leaders acknowledged their differences while emphasising that they share the same broad strategy for the war torn country. But privately much of their talks were focused on President's Karzai's desire to reach out to Taliban leaders, as strategists in both countries contemplate a way to end the war.

Senior Chinese military leader visits AustraliaAudioTranscript

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:12

One of China's most senior military figures, Guo Boxiong, is in Australia, in a continuing process of military and diplomatic courtship. It follows the visit to Australia last October of Peoples Liberation Army chief of general staff, Chen Bingde. At the same time, a report has emerged that Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speculated in a recent business dinner speech that China could implode and that its success can swing on one good or bad decision.

Challenges ahead for Philippines president elect AquinoAudioTranscript

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:11

With victory all but in the bag, the new President-elect of the Philippines Benigno Aquino, is now turning his attention to an even bigger challenge delivering on his campaign promises. One of the biggest issues he'll face is rooting out corruption as well there's rampant unemployment and spiralling Government debt to bring under control. But does he have the strength to lead? At the moment he's better known for his parents than for any of his own achievements.There is little doubt that what propelled him into office was the fact his mother was the former President Cory Aquino, and his father the pro-democracy hero Ninoy Aquino.

Chinese councils experiment with democracy.AudioTranscript

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:11

An experiment in democracy is not the sort of thing you'd normally associate with China yet in the south of the country a group of local councils are staging public meetings which allow community representatives to question the decision making priorities of their leaders. This is the brain child of Chinese reformers who are looking for ways to promote government accountability that will not threaten communist party. The project is a long way from delivering open slather democracy and it's already dividing communist party official but the remarkable thing is that local governments are actually agreeing to let the meetings take place at all.

Drought eases in Australia's northAudio

Updated 13/05/2010 12:26:11

Just over two months ago, heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Australia's north eastern state of Queensland causing hardship and income loss for many farmers and businesses. Some families are still suffering after insurance companies refused to pay for damage to their homes. But emergency grants are helping some business owners get back on their feet.Tourists are now returning to the southwest of the state, where the red landscape has been transformed to a panorama of green.

Philippine election officials say automated machines successAudio

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:38

There appears little room for argument that Mr Aquino is certain to become Philippines president. Still election officials say final results may take a few more days because data from outlying precincts is not being fed into the central tabulation centre, requiring some technical adjustments. But overall analysts say the election commission appears to have pulled off the country's first automated vote with minimal disruption.

Aid gets big boost in Australian federal budgetAudioTranscript

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:39

Australia's Treasurer Wayne Swan has delivered the Rudd government's third federal budget. Along with an increased overall aid budget, there are programs on helping poor countries adapt to climate change .. a key international promise from the Copenhagen Climate Change summit last December. The three initiatives, or "Fast Start" programs, total nearly 200-Million Australian dollars over coming years and low lying Asia Pacific states are most likely to benefit.
Indonesia and East Asia get the largest share of the overall four-point-three billion dollar aid budget. Canberra says it's on track to deliver its pledge that aid will rise to point-five per cent of Australia's Gross National Income by 2015 .. and on an early reading, aid groups are happy.

New Chinese economic data adds pressure to revalue yuanAudioTranscript

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:38

The pressure is increasing on the Chinese Government to appreciate the currency following the release of the latest economic data in Beijing. Accelerating inflation, booming bank lending and surging property prices are strengthening the case for interest rate rises and a stronger yuan. But the data has economists divided about whether the economy has reached the point of overheating, creating a bubble that's set to burst. For Australian exporters though demand for commodities should be strong for the next few years at least.

Benigno Aquino closer to claiming victory in Philippines pollAudioTranscript

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:38

In the Philippines Senator Benigno "Noy Noy" Aquino is set to become the new president. Senator Aquino, the son of the country's most revered democracy heroes, has secured more than 40 percent of the estimated 37 million votes cast in Monday's first automated polls. Early front runner Manny Villar has conceded defeat. His closest rival Joseph Estrada has garnered about 26-percent of votes. Two other high-profile candidates running for posts - former first lady Imelda Marcos and world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao have also won their seats.

Australia's foreign minister on the federal budgetAudioTranscript

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:38

Australia's federal budget is a document that's being applauded as fiscally responsible and one that's given a big boost to the overseas aid budget.

Thailand's anti-Government protestors target deputy Prime MinisterAudioTranscript

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:38

There's been a twist in negotiations aimed at ending Thailand's political crisis. The anti-government protesters are now demanding the Deputy prime minister face criminal charges over last month's deadly clashes that killed 25 people. But at the same time the, Red Shirts have accepted the Prime Ministers offer to dissolve parliament in September can hold elections in November.

New surprise pick for Australian SocceroosAudioTranscript

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:38

Australia is making final preparations for the greatest show on earth, the soccer world cup. Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill are among the prominent names selected in the provisional Socceroos squad for South Africa next month. But another on the list who is not quite so recognisable locally is Tommy Oar.
The 18 year old winger from the Gold Coast is on track to become the youngest player to represent Australia at a World Cup.

The effectiveness of travel advisoriesAudio

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:38

Many countries have issued travel advisories for Bangkok since Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in April. Britain, for example, is advising its citizens to avoid all but essential travel to the Thai capital and some southern provinces. And while a reconciliation plan has been put forward and an election date set, there's still no agreement on ending the anti-government protests. That's why countries like the United States and Australia are still refusing to lift their travel warnings advising against nonessential travel and tourism is suffering as a result.

Forest offsets in danger without emissions trading systemAudioTranscript

Updated 12/05/2010 11:12:38

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates about 15 per cent of global carbon emissions are caused by the cutting down of forests. At last year's Copenhagen climate summit, countries pledged to invest 100 billion dollars by 2020 to reduce global deforestation rates. Australia is a big supporter of the initiative, it has already signed deals to protect forests in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. But most of the money for those deals was going to come from industry buying forest credits through the emissions trading system. With that scheme now on hold, the viability of these forest credits is now uncertain.

Washington urges Burma to ensure fair electionsAudioTranscript

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

America's top Asian affairs diplomat Kurt Campbell has expressed deep disappointment at Burma's preparations for elections expected later this year and wants "immediate steps" to address fears they will lack legitimacy. He was speaking in Rangoon, after meeting with government officials and opposition leaders, including detained Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Nationwide strike in Nepal ends, but hostilities lingerAudioTranscript

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

A nationwide shutdown in Nepal, led by the country's Maoists may have ended, but it hasn't brought an end to the violence. Over the weekend, thousands of Maoist supporters clashed with police during streets protests, leaving dozens from both sides injured. The Maoists are calling for the Prime Minister's resignation ahead of a deadline to draw up the country's new constitution.

Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial resumesAudioTranscript

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

The sodomy trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has resumed after a lengthy delay. Last week, Mr Anwar failed in his final attempt to have the charge dropped, describing it as politically motivated. He claims the allegations have been trumped up in a bid to end his political career and neutralise the threat he poses to the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. His accuser Saiful Bukhari Azian claims Mr Anwar solicited him for sex in 2008. If convicted, Mr Anwar faces up to 20 years jail.

Cambodia accused of reversing sand dredging banAudio

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

Last year the Cambodian Government announced a total ban in the export of sand, saying the environmental impact on Cambodia was too great. Prime Minister Hun Sen said sand dredging was having a detrimental effect on Cambodia's rivers and marine areas. But now a new report by advocacy group Global Witness is accusing Cambodia of reneging on that pledge by secretly exporting sand to Singapore which is heavily reliant on sand imports to increase its land mass. The report says Cambodia is still dredging sand from environmentally sensitive areas despite the 2009 ban. And it says there's no evidence that basic safeguards have been applied, with boats reportedly dredging in protected areas.

How to deal with major disastersAudio

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

It's been nearly three weeks since an oil rig explosion turned the Gulf of Mexico into an environmental disaster zone. And BP is still casting about for a clear plan to shut off the gusher of crude oil that has cost the company 350 million US dollars. The spill is the third major disaster in the Gulf and Caribbean, after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the earthquake in Haiti. One of the world's leading experts in disaster management says the national and international responses to these three disasters has been slow, shallow and lacking the proper people and equipment to do the job. So what's the solution?

End of the Line documentary highlights overfishing in AsiaAudioTranscript

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

A new documentary is being released in Australia after enjoying considerable success in Europe and North America. It's called 'The End of the Line' and it predicts a dire scenario for the world's seafood industry, particularly in Asia's so-called 'coral triangle.' The film's principle, and most disturbing assertion, is that the fish species we now exploit worldwide will all have collapsed by mid century due to overfishing and Government incompetence.

The dangers in trafficking Cambodian menAudioTranscript

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

Tens of thousands of Cambodians cross into neighbouring countries each year in search of work. But agreeing to work abroad illegally can be dangerous not least for men who are generally not seen as being at much risk.

Benigno Aquino heading for win in Philippines pollAudio

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

More than half the votes have been counted in the Philippines presidential election and results so far indicate Benigno Aquino the third is heading for a landslide win. Senator Aquino, the son of the country's most revered democracy heroes, has secured more than 40 percent of the votes counted, establishing a huge lead over former president Joseph Estrada on less than 26 percent. Yesterday's vote took place amid sporadic violence and computer glitches that affected the country's controversial new automated vote counting system. About 75 percent of the 50 million eligible voters turned up at polling stations.

Aquino camp confident of victory in Philippines pollAudioTranscript

Updated 11/05/2010 12:19:07

Benigno Aquino III is heading for a landslide win in the presidential poll. His campaign team is confident of victory.

New ILO report paints worsening picture of child labourAudio

Updated 10/05/2010 10:31:54

The International Labour Organisation says there're still over 200-million children worldwide who're working, instead of going to school. And of that, a staggering 115-milliion children are subject to child labour in its worst forms, such as forced domestic work or prostitution.

Polls open in Philippine national electionsAudioTranscript

Updated 10/05/2010 10:31:55

More than 50 million people will today vote in Presidential, Congressional elections and local elections. Benigno Aquino III, son of the popular late President Corazon Aquino, has been leading opinion polls in the past couple of weeks. Former President Joseph Estrada, who was convicted of corruption but then pardoned, is running second, while the third presidential candidate is Manny Villar, one of the richest men in the Philippines.

How Philippine rice farmers are coping with new realityAudioTranscript

Updated 10/05/2010 10:31:54

Food security is an issue that concerns us all. From the green revolution of the 1960s, it was thought the battle to feed the world was won. However, two years ago, that comfortable assumption was shattered as prices for staple foods, especially rice, rose by as much as 100 per cent, provoking riots and widespread misery for the world poorest. Climate change and the global financial crisis have only compounded the problem for millions of people who survive on less than two US dollars a day. In the first of a two part food series from the Philippines, the world's largest rice importer, we explore what's being done there to help farmers cope with the new reality.

Asian honey bees costly to AustraliaAudioTranscript

Updated 10/05/2010 10:31:54

A new report has found an incursion of Asian Honey Bees in Australia could cost millions of dollars if it spreads. The bees were first found in Cairns in Far North Queensland three years ago and so far they've been contained to that region. Now a report by the Australian Government's Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation has put a figure on the price of exterminating the Asian honey bee colonies.

Australian Chinese angry over Gallipoli TV castingAudioTranscript

Updated 10/05/2010 10:31:54

A television casting decision in Australia has upset a group of Chinese-Australians. Billy Sing was a Chinese-Australian soldier known as the "Gallipoli assassin" in World War One. The son of a Chinese man and an English woman, Billy Sing became a hero of the Australian forces, after killing more than 200 enemy troops. His memory is cherished within the Chinese-Australian community but now a new TV drama based on Billy Sing's life has cast the lead character as a caucasian because film producers say they couldn't find a Chinese actor to play him. The Chinese-Australian community has descibed the casting decision as a betrayal of their heritage.

Why India won't sign the NPT treatyAudioTranscript

Updated 10/05/2010 10:31:54

World leaders are meeting in New York until the end of this month, to review the global Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. Some nuclear-armed states, like India and Pakistan, have NOT signed the 1970 agreement. India's decision to refrain from signing has much to do with the founding principles of the Treaty.

Controversy continues in Philippines over automated counting machinesAudio

Updated 10/05/2010 10:31:55

After three months of intense campaigning, polling stations have opened in the Philippines. The Philippine people are electing not just a new President, but also over 17-thousand national and local positions. One of the main concerns is whether the country's new automated counting machines will be up to such a complex task.

Malaysian police under scrutiny after teen shot deadAudioTranscript

Updated 10/05/2010 10:31:55

Police brutality is again under scrutiny in Malaysia, after officers shot a teenager dead last month. That makes one hundred and eighty police killings in the last three years. Malaysia's Home Ministry has set up a high-level panel to investigate the latest shooting - but critics say that's just for show.

Improving Timor's language educationAudioTranscript

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:28

East Timor's two official languages are Tetum and Portuguese, but at least sixteen languages are spoken there. English and Bahasa Indonesia are also recognised as important working languages especially if East Timor is to develop its economy. Improving education and literacy is obviously the key, but East Timor's learning system is failing to keep children at school, especially in the early years. East Timor's former first lady, Australian-born Kirsty Sword-Gusmao, is Co-Chair of the National Education Commission and the Goodwill Ambassador for Education.

Australian Government under pressure to dump new mining taxAudioTranscript

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:28

The Australian Government is facing pressure from the country's miners to dump its plan for a 40 per cent resources rent tax on the industry from 2012. The announcement of the tax last week sent the share prices of some of the biggest miners plunging. One executive says it's nothing short of a bid to nationalise 40 per cent of the highly profitable sector. Some smaller miners say they'll shift their focus to Indonesia instead. The tax plan will appeal to many Australians who've watched mining profits escalate, but in an election year, the miners are not going quietly.

East Timor and Woodside oil dispute drags onAudio

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:28

East Timor is digging in its heels in a dispute with Australian oil company Woodside over its multi-billion dollar plans to process liquefied natural gas on a plant floating in the Timor Sea. Woodside executives are now in East Timor in a high-stakes bid to convince the government to accept its plans. But Dili wants the gas to be liqueified at a processing plant onshore in East Timor. It says that's the most economically viable option and will be of most benefit to East Timor's people.

Asian rights groups condemn Australia on asylum suspensionAudio

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:28

Forty five human rights groups from sixteen mainly Asian countries have banded together to condemn the Australian government's decision to suspend processing asylum applications from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. They say Australia has sent a message to the region that it doesn't respect the binding nature of its international human rights obligations. They add that the suspension is undermining Australia's own policy to promote ratification of the United Nation's Refugee Convention throughout Asia.

North Korean leader's not-so-secret China visitAudio

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:28

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has reportedly hinted that Pyongyang is ready to return to stalled nuclear disarmament talks. Seoul's Yonhap news agency reports that Kim Jong-il made the pledge after talks lasting four hours with his Chinese counterpart, President Hu Jintao. The low-key visit to Beijing is shrouded in secrecy. North Korea is under tough U-N sanctions over its refusal to halt its nuclear programme.

Indian actress wins pre-marital sex comment caseAudioTranscript

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:28

In India, there's been a groundswell of support for Tamil actress Kushboo after the Supreme Court dropped all criminal cases against her after she spoke publicly about the right of women to have pre-marital sex. In 2005, she was was accused of outraging public decency and 22 cases were filed against her. But now she has been vindicated

Burma's opposition party disbandsAudioTranscript

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:29

Burma's pro-democracy party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has officially disbanded. The party failed to meet the midnight registration deadline for elections. It's boycotting the polls because it says the laws under which they will be held are unfair. A splinter group calling itself the NDF or National Democracy Forum now says it will apply to the Election Commission to set up a new party within days. It's a shakeup of Burma's opposition, which has been under extreme pressure for several years.

Mumbai gunman sentenced to deathAudioTranscript

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:29

The only gunman captured alive the 2008 Mumbai attacks has been sentenced to death by an Indian court. Twenty two year old Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab is being sent to the gallows for his role in a 60-hour killing spree that took the lives of 166 people. Judge M.L. Tahaliyani said Kasab could not be rehabilitated and had forfeited the right to live. He gave him death on four counts, waging war against India, murder, conspiracy to commit murder and indulging in terrorist activities.

Therese Rein urges UNICEF gift for Mother's DayAudio

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:28

This weekend it's Mothers' Day in Australia and Therese Rein, the wife of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is urging Australians to forego the usual gifts of flowers and chocolates. Instead, Ms Rein says Australians should buy a maternal health kit developed by the United Nations childrens fund, UNICEF. Therese Rein says the kits will be provided to some of the millions of at-risk pregnant women in developing countries, where one in every eight women die in childbirth.

Bali crackdown on Kuta cowboysAudio

Updated 07/05/2010 10:38:28

They're buff, they're bronzed and they stroll the sands of Bali's Kuta beach. They're known as the Kuta Cowboys; young Balinese men who offer friendship and sometimes more to the hordes of female tourists who visit the Island. Now a documentary about these men has caused uproar in Indonesia and led Balinese authorities to crack down on the supposed gigolos. Tourist authorities say the film is spoiling the island's reputation. Others say the furore reflects a broader anxiety about the impact of pleasure-seeking Westerners on Bali's fragile culture.

Thailand's ousted leader Thaksin hires international lawyerAudioTranscript

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:06

Thailand's anti-government protestors have hinted they could soon end weeks of protests, although they're still demanding a firm date for the dissolution of parliament before tearing down their barricades. The so-called 'Red Shirts', whose two-month campaign has resulted in 27 deaths, agreed this week to join Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's proposed reconciliation process. Red Shirts figurehead and ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who's now in exile, says he supports Prime Miniister Abhisit's proposal. Mr Thaksin was overthrown by a military coup in 2006 and faces a jail term if he returns. He's now hired international law firm, Amsterdam and Peroff to develop legal arguments against the current government.

Australian opposition leader wades into immigration debateAudioTranscript

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:06

Australia's Opposition claims public support for the country's immigration programme is being eroded by the perception that migrant selection has been outsourced to people smugglers. Opposition leader Tony Abbott also claims the situation makes millions of Australians from migrant backgrounds feel less secure in their own country. It's one of four major policy speeches Mr Abbott is delivering in the leadup to a national election this year. And he's angered refugee advocates who say Mr Abbott has been fear-mongering.

Philippine Presidential front runner Benigno Aquino on Monday's pollAudio

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:06

Philippines Presidential front-runner Benigno 'Noy Noy' Aquino is the son of former President Corazon Aquino and "Ninoy" Aquino, whose assassination in 1983, set off a chain of events which led to the ousting of the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. He says electoral fraud is the only thing standing between him and victory in Monday's election.

Indonesia's finance minister appointed to World BankAudioTranscript

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:06

Indonesia's Finance Minister has resigned from her cabinet post to take up a senior role with the World Bank in Washington. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati will be one of three Managing Directors of the Bank, second in rank to the President Robert Zoellick. Sri Indrawati is internationally well regarded for her reform agenda and her role in steering Indonesia through the global economic slowdown. But she's been bogged down by political scandal at home for more than a year, and that's believed to have contributed to her decision to resign.

Japan's backflip on American Okinawa basesAudio

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:06

Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has sunk further into political trouble after his policy U-turn on the presence of US bases on the island of Okinawa. The prime minister visited the island on Tuesday to tell residents the bases would not be relocated. That drew an angry response from the locals, but analysts say he had little choice but to ditch the policy.

Australia urged to take stronger regional human rights roleAudio

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:06

A new Australian parliamentary report is calling on the federal government to take a stronger role in promoting human rights in the Asia-Pacific and it wants Parliament to monitor this. The report from the parliamentary Human Rights sub-committee, says Australia should integrate promoting human rights in its aid, diplomacy, and trade programmes. But does Australia have the political weight, and the credibility, to push this effectively?

Philippines Election Commission races to fix voting machine faultsAudio

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:06

The Philippines Commission on Elections says the nation's presidential and congressional elections will go ahead on Monday as scheduled, despite ongoing concerns over faults with many counting machines. More than 76-thousand memory cards for the automated voting machines have been recalled, after tests showed they failed to read ballots and print accurate results. The Philippines Commissions on Elections is now racing to fix the problem, and plans to ship new cards across the archipelego within two days.

Murder charges reinstated against Philippines massacre suspectsAudio

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:06

The Philippine justice secretary has reinstated murder charges against two high-profile suspects in last year's massacre of 57 people in southern Maguindanao province. Justice secretary Alberto Agra has reversed his own decision, but denies he's caved in to public outrage, citing instead, the emergence of new witnesses. Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan were accused of involvement in massacring members of a rival political clan. Secretary Agra's earlier decision to drop the charges, prompted outcries of political interference, as the Ampatuans were allied to President Gloria Arroyo.

Mumbai gunman prepares for sentencingAudio

Updated 06/05/2010 10:40:05

A court in Mumbai will today sentence Pakistani national Mohammad Ajmal Kasab for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Ten gunmen mounted the attack over a period of three days, killing 166 people and injuring hundreds more. Kasab who was the only surviving gunman pleaded guilty on Monday and asked to be executed. But he later retracted his statement, claiming it had been given under duress. Prosecutors are pressing for the death sentence but his lawyer is arguing for leniency.

Bomb defusing unit critical to Afghan coalition forcesAudioTranscript

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:50

Australian and other coalition forces operating in Afghanistan know their lives depend on keeping their eyes peeled for IED's - the explosive devices that have claimed the lives and limbs of so many soldiers. A small Canadian unit has the task of finding and defusing deadly bombs laid by the Taliban. One of the most dangerous spots is around the southern city of Kandahar. There, the bomb disposal teams are playing a constant game of cat and mouse with the Taliban as it targets civilians and security forces.

China tightens security following attacks in schools and kindergartensAudioTranscript

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:50

Security is being increased in schools and kindergartens across China, following a series of attacks involving children. Five bloody attacks in six weeks have put a spotlight on strains in Chinese society. In the latest attack last week, a hammer-wielding man doused himself with gasoline and set himself alight, after he injured five children and a teacher in Shandong province. The man's widow says he was in despair over government orders to knock down his new home. Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang says it's a "major political task" to ensure security in schools and kindergartens.

Pakistani-American arrested over suspected Times Square bombAudioTranscript

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:50

In the U-S, police prosecutors say the Pakistani-American accused of planting a car bomb in New York's Times Square received bomb-making training in Pakistan. Faisal Shahzad's arrest over the attempted bombing has raised difficult issues for US authorities. They're still determining if the 30-year-old was connected to organized terrorist groups or whether he acted alone.

Newcrest and Lihir merge to become Asia Pacific's biggest gold minerAudioTranscript

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:50

Australia's largest goldminer, Newcrest looks set to takeover Papua New Guinea's Lihir Gold, forming the fourth largest gold miner in the world. The combined company will be valued at about 25 billion dollars with mines in Australia, Papua New Guinea and West Africa. The agreement was reached after Lihir's Board rejected an earlier offer from Newcrest. But it might not be the end of the matter. Other potential bidders have until June to show their hand.

Australian children save tortoisesAudioTranscript

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:49

A group of school children in South Australia have released a batch of long-necked tortoises into the wild after helping to save them from near-death. The creatures were being attacked by a parasite in the waters of the Lower Lakes, south of Adelaide. The freshwater Lakes have become salty because of low flows from upstream in the Murray-Darling river system.

New poll on Australia-India ties shows damgage after student attacksAudio

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:50

A new survey has found 74 per cent of Australians believe the Australia-India relationship has been damaged by the recent spate of attacks on Indian students in Australia. The survey was conducted in March by the Lowy Institute for International Affairs, an independent think tank in Sydney. The Institute's Rory Medcalf launched the findings at an Emerging Leaders Summit in New Delhi, coinciding with a visit by trade minister Simon Crean.

New research warns of Australian deforestation discrepanciesAudio

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:49

New Australian research which warns of big discrepancies in the measurement of deforestation in Australia. Andrew Macintosh from the Australian National University's Centre for Climate Law and Policy says a planned market-based mechanism for global forest carbon credits could unravel, if weaknesses in a key Australian system are not explained. He also says there's been no adequate government explanation But Australia's satellite-based deforestation monitoring system -- acknowledged as the world's best -- could become the backbone of a global system trading forest carbon credits. It already supports trial work in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and has been selected by the Clinton Climate Initiative.

Thai Red Shirts set conditions for reconciliationAudioTranscript

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:50

Thailand's political crisis may be nearing an end. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva is promising November elections if the anti-government protestors who've been clogging the capital for the past two months accept a reconciliation plan. But if Bangkok's long suffering residents thought they were about to get their city back, they'll have to think again. Thailand's Red Shirt protestors are considering the offer but are yet to make any firm commitment to pack up and go home.

The plight of overseas workers in the PhilippinesAudio

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:50

In the Philippines all the leading candidates in Monday's presidential election, including front-runner Benigno Aquino III, have put employment and poverty eradication at the top of their lists of promises. Unemployment and poverty have driven millions of Filipinos overseas. Their collective remittances make up 12 percent of the Philippines' GDP. Successive Philippine governments have been accused of neglecting these struggling citizens abroad. As a consequence, many migrant workers have returned to their homelands.

Mumbai terror verdict no surprise to PakistanAudio

Updated 05/05/2010 10:09:50

A court in Mumbai is set to sentence tomorrow the Pakistani man found guilty of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.Ten gunmen mounted the attack over a period of three days, killing 166 people and injuring hundreds more. Pakistani national, Mohammad Ajmal Kasab is the first to be convicted in connection with the Mumbai attacks and the only surviving gunman. Indian prosecutors are calling for him to be sentenced to death. The Mumbai verdict followed a meeting in Bhutan by the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers, signalling a further thaw in relations.

UN nuclear talks under way in New YorkAudioTranscript

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:06

The nuclear non-proliferation treaty review conference under way in New York has had a rocky start with Western delegations walking out during a fiery speech from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian President called nuclear weapons "disgusting and shameful," and said countries that threaten to use them - like the United States - should be punished. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Iran was making the "same tired, false and sometimes wild accusations".

Question over Pakistani Taliban leader's deathAudio

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:06


Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud was said to have been killed by a US drone attack in January. But his death might have been greatly exaggerated with a recently posted video showing him threatening attacks against US cities.

Australian mining tax hikes impact ChinaAudio

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:06


Australia is being warned that Beijing will not surrender to ever increasing iron ore prices and that Canberra should quickly open a strategic dialogue with China, before it retaliates. Some extra urgency appears to arise from Australia's decision to hit big miners with a 40 per cent tax from mid-2012. It is a decision that might signal even higher prices for China. In a new paper for Canberra-based think-tank, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and China watcher, Richard Leaver, says the issues with China surrounding iron ore are not "business as usual", as Canberra says, but war. The paper says 'mature resource diplomacy' is needed to moderate the conflict.

Taiwan debates influx of Chinese studentsAudio

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:06


A debate in Taiwan on a new bill to let Chinese students study at the island's universities has led to rowdy scenes in the legislature. The controversial bill, if passed, would allow Taiwan's universities to admit Chinese students. It aims to ease a shortage of students in Taiwan caused by the island's dwindling birth rate and a tendency for Taiwanese students to enrol at mainland universities. But the opposition Democratic Progressive Party is warning the ruling Kuomintang that an influx of Chinese students could pose a threat to national security and worsen unemployment.

New Australian body to represent indigenous peoplesAudio

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:06


Australia has a new national body to represent its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and in almost every way it's a break with the past. It's called the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples. It's the first national body since the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was abolished by the government after becoming mired in a series of corruption scandals.

New bacteria killing surgical gloves unveiledAudio

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:06


One of the biggest concerns for anyone undergoing or performing surgery is the risk of the transfer of blood borne disease. Now one company says it has created an extra level of protection for both health care workers and patients. It's developed a surgical glove designed to kill bacteria. The glove will be unveiled today at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific congress in Perth.

Philippines welcomes vertically challenged basketballersAudio

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:05


As every basketball tragic knows, size does matter. The average height of players in the elite American NBA is around two metres. Yao Ming comes in at nearly 2.3 metres! So where does that leave the vertically challenged? Well, that's something a fledgeling amateur league in the Philippines is trying to do something about.

Meeting of South Asian regional bodyAudio

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:06


The main South Asian regional body, known as SAARC, held its 16th meeting last week and leaders faced the uncomfortable reality that the organisation is largely irrelevant, the glass is half empty, as the Indian Prime Minister said. The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, the mountain states of Nepal and Bhutan, and Sri Lanka and the Maldives. This year's meeting was held in tiny Bhutan and Australia was there for the first time as an observer.

India reacts to terror convictionAudio

Updated 04/05/2010 12:05:06


Nearly 18 months ago in India, ten gunmen mounted a coordinated attack on the city of Mumbai. Over a period of three days, 166 people died and more than 300 others were injured. On Monday in Mumbai, a Pakistani national became the first to be convicted in connection with the case, he was the only surviving gunman.

Sunken Indonesian treasure under the hammerAudio

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:03

What's believed to be the largest haul of sunken treasure ever found in Asia will be auctioned off in Indonesia this week. The ancient treasure trove was salvaged from a 1,000-year-old shipwreck and it'll go under the hammer in Jakarta on Wednesday. It could fetch around 80-million US dollars. Just to take part in the government-run auction, bidders will need an up-front deposit of 16-million dollars.

Embassies warn of imminent terror attack in New DelhiAudioTranscript

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:04

Months out from the Commonwealth Games, foreign embassies in New Delhi are warning of an "imminent" terror attack. The US, British, Australian and other western embassies have issued urgent alerts to their nationals to avoid busy parts of the Indian capital. Thousands of police and paramilitary soldiers are now guarding New Delhi's markets and shopping centres in light of new and credible intelligence of a possible attack.

Warnings that China's banking sector is facing a slowdownAudioTranscript

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:04

China's big banks are already the most profitable in global rankings and now they've delivered a quarter of record profits, bolstered by a year-long binge of lending. The banks extended one-point-four trillion US dollars in loans last year, as part of the worldwide rush into stimulus spending to mitigate the global financial crisis. But analysts believe China's banking sector may be in for a slowdown.

Cambodia rejects BHP bribe allegationsAudio

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:04

The Cambodian government has rejected suggestions that money it's been paid by the mining giant BHP was effectively a bribe. BHP has acknowledged it gave two point five million US dollars to a community living near a bauxite exploration project in north-east Cambodia. That payment's being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States. A minister in the Cambodian government reportedly referred to the money from the BHP as "tea money", a slang term for a bribe. But Prime Minister Hun Sen says the money's being used on development projects, including a hydro-electric dam, schools and hospitals.

Australian pavillion shines at Shanghahi ExpoAudio

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:04

This weekend saw the specacular opening of Expo in China's largest city Shanghai. Almost two hundred countries, including Australia, have pavillions and they're trying to win a greater slice of the Chinese market.

Australia overhauls tax systemAudio

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:04

The Australian Government has announced a sweeping review of the country's entire taxation system, with major changes to Australia's tax and superannuation system. The Henry Tax Review proposes to take Billions of dollars more in tax from the booming mining sector, boost national infrastructure and help pay for bigger retirement savings for Australians. A resources rent tax is one of two key measures announced by the government. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has rejected some parts of the review outright - ones that would be political death in Australia. But on top of the first round of reforms, he says there'll be more in the future, as part of a ten year agenda.

Orange monks join Red Thai protestAudioTranscript

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:04

Thailand's iconic Buddhist monks have entered Bangkok's inner city rally zone to offer good luck to anti government protestors. Monks are expected to operate outside of politics, but at least some support what they say is a call for freedom and democracy.

Thai cabinet holds emergency meetingAudioTranscript

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:04

Thailand's government has held an emergency meeting to try and resolve the long running stand off with anti-government protestors. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government now had a plan to resolve the crisis in Bangkok. But he stopped short of revealing what the plan was, saying he needs to make sure it succeeds. The anti-government Red Shirts have been protesting for eight weeks and central Bangkok is still largely shut down. At least 27 people have been killed and nearly a thousand injured since the protests began in mid-March.

UNESCO chief calls for greater press freedom in South East AsiaAudioTranscript

Updated 03/05/2010 09:57:04

Each year, the United Nations body UNESCO marks May the third as World Press Freedom Day. One of its aims is to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression. It's a timely reminder for the governments of South East Asia where journalists are often killed, imprisoned, threatened, harassed and arrested. The massacre of 31 journalists in Maguindano last November shows the violence and impunity that threatens journalists not only in the Philippines but throughout the region. To discuss the challenges ahead, UNESCO is hosting a conference titled, Freedom of Expression The Right to Know in the Australian city of Brisbane.