On air highlights

Australia's most prestigious literary prize, the Miles Franklin, has been awarded to Michelle de Kretser for her novel "Questions of Travel", a story about two characters exploring the notion of belonging.

Consider this - a network of giant balloons in the stratosphere, beaming the internet to the most far-flung places on earth.

The leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group are preparing for the opening of their annual gathering in New Caledonia.

Thursday June 20th is World Refugee Day. In Australia it falls in the middle of Refugee Week, which is a celebration of the contribution refugees make to the community. It is also an opportunity to raise important issues related to refugees and migration.

Today the leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group will convene in New Caledonia for their annual gathering.

Australia's Secret Intelligence Service is advertising for recruits and will take online applications. But what is it like to work and live as a secret agent?

Echoes of the Cold War have underscored the mood at the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland.

European MPs have jointly condemned the violence against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims, and called on the government to do more to protect them.

It's six months since the disappearance of prominent Lao civil society leader, Sombath Somphone.

Fiji is on the agenda at a meeting of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva.

It's been a rough week on global markets for the world's developing economies, as better returns and improved stability lure investors back to the US.

Nauru's second woman MP since independence, Charmaine Scotty says ensuring a stable government and advocating women's rights are her priority.

The Beloved, the debut novel by Queensland writer Annah Faulkner is one of two books set in Papua New Guinea that have been shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, Australia's oldest and most prestigious literary prize.

Preparations are underway for what is likely to prove the most divisive summit of the Melanesian Spearhead Group in New Caledonia next week.

Greece's national broadcaster, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, has become the latest casualty of austerity cuts.

Australia is increasing emergency drought assistance to the Marshall Islands, in the face of a dire food and water shortage.

Fiji's main opposition political parties want the coup in stalled military government to confirm or deny claims of million dollar plus salaries for the interim prime minister and interim attorney general.

South Korea says the first high level talks for years with North Korea have been called off.

One of the greatest challenges facing Pacific Island nations is rubbish disposal.

Japan plans to set up a body to strengthen its intelligence on foreign policy and national security.

The nuclear test veterans association in French Polynesia says new President Gaston Flosse has sacked the head of the organisation concerned with the aftermath of the French nuclear weapons tests.

Malaysian police have detained more than 900 Myanmar nationals in a security sweep after at least two people were killed last week in clashes, reportedly linked to Burmese sectarian violence.

One of Queensland's major private hospitals is trying to contact almost four thousand staff, and former patients, who may have been exposed to the deadly legionnella bacteria.

Fiji lacks the resources to try to save two critically endangered bird species, the Fiji Petrel and the Red-throated Lorikeet.

Australia and India will increase their military cooperation, including running a joint naval exercise in 2015.

Chinese authorities are concerned that more drugs are entering their country via the Myanmar border.

The Vanuatu Parliament could pass a law to create special seats for women as early as August this year.

Protesters have against clashed with Turkish riot police as anti-government demonstrations in Turkey stretched into a fifth day.

Thirty judges from the courts of sixteen Asia Pacific nations have met in Thailand to discuss the law and the judiciary in the UN's HIV-AIDS response.

Fiji's Labour Party leader has criticised the country's newest party over critical comments about him and Labour.

A landmark treaty aimed at regulating the global arms trade has opened for signature at the United Nations in New York.

The Government in Singapore has introduced new rules, meaning popular news websites have to apply for a license if they want to keep operating.

Protestors today gathered at Cambodia's Ministry of Justice in Phnom Penh, to support a group of six people on a hunger strike, demanding the release of a jailed land rights activist.

Papua New Guineans working in Australia are getting caught up in the controversy over foreigners using skilled work visas, known as 457 visas.

A three day conference addressing witchcraft and sorcery killings in Melanesia gets underway at the Australian National University in Canberra on Wednesday.

A disease that has killed thousands of coconut trees in Papua New Guinea's Madang Province is reported to have spread to other food crops including bananas and taro.

Most people have never heard of it, but off the tip of Cape York lies the world's largest green turtle rookery.

Papua New Guinea's intention of re-introducing the use of the death penalty has been roundly condemned by human rights and aid groups.

A number of women of Asian background here in Australia have been duped into handing over thousands of dollars in cash and jewellery.

Cervical cancer is the biggest killer of women in Vanuatu.

Malaysia's opposition says it will persist with public rallies against electoral fraud in the May 5th polls, despite a government crackdown on dissent using the Sedition Act.

Australian Rules Football is again being battered by claims of racism, after Collingwood President Eddie McGuire made an awkward gaffe on his radio show this morning.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still fighting to get recognition in Australia's constitution.

In Nauru, the constitutional crisis finally came to a head in a surprising move last night with President Sprent Dabwido declaring a State of Emergency.

A key section of East Timor's weather records has been returned after more than a decade in safe keeping and restoration in Australia.

Local authorities in Myanmar's Rakhine state have reaffirmed a long standing ban on the minority muslim Rohingyas having more than two children.