Interesting fact about WiFi & CSIRO*

I found this so interesting I sat in the car to listen to it, making myself a few minutes late to the office.
CSIRO, back in the day....

The WiFi technology was invented by five CSIRO scientists in the early 1990s and is now used in billions of electronic devices around the world.

Doubt anyone noticed.

*now with no scientific credibility, unfortunately.

Durban a success!

Well, if you were listening to the coverage from the MSM of the mendacity mooted at the conference on climate change, the last, last, last, last, last (ad infinitum) chance for them us to save the world it was a success.

I heard this gem reported on ABC AM today, how did this doomer get the job?

KELLY DENT: We've seen farmers unable to know when to sow their crops because of changing rainfall and changing seasons*. The funding is urgently needed to support poor people to adapt to impacts of climate change that they are experiencing now.

TONY EASTLEY: Oxfam Australia's climate policy adviser Kelly Dent, ending that report by Lexi Metherell.

 Read it all here (but this is the end of it!).

The Federal Opposition was quoted, too. "Durban climate talks a major failure", which is worth reading. Many more people should read it as it tells us that a carbon tax will make everything more expensive for no reason except to redistribute our money, and that the US will not impose a carbon tax so their coffers won't be swollen by this scam.
*NOTE: My italics, just how are seasons changing so that farmers aren't able to figure out when to plant their crops? Bloody hell, woman, have you no experience in farming? It happens every year, however, they do rely on long range weather forecasts and they watch the signs from wildlife and insects. They also know that seasonal weather is also cyclical. A period of drought followed by a period of plenty.

Worth a look - ABC AM Today

Guys, Tim, ya gotta read this:

SABRA LANE:
Tony Abbott, the Prime Minister’s labelled you the biggest wrecker ever to serve in a leadership role. Are you a wrecker?

TONY ABBOTT:
I think we’ve got a Prime Minister who is the great betrayer of the Australian people. She was absolutely crystal clear before the last election, “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead” and if the bills pass the parliament today this will be an act of betrayal and every Labor member of parliament would’ve broken faith with his or her electorate.

and this:

SABRA LANE:
Are you cranky with Sophie Mirabella? She’s been kicked out of parliament for 24 hours with the Government struggling to get the numbers for the vote to enable its Malaysia swap. The Government might well bring this vote on early now.

TONY ABBOTT:
Well, the Government made a clear commitment that the people swap vote would be on Thursday. The Government made a special request to us to debate the covered bonds issue in the parliament today. The Government said that covered bonds needed to be expedited through the parliament so that the banks could start issuing these things so that interest rates could stay as low as possible. Now, the Government said that it was very, very important that this legislation go through the parliament today. They said that they would put the Malaysia people swap legislation to the parliament on Thursday and I would think that if this is a government with any respect for the parliament, that’s the procedure that they would follow.

SABRA LANE:
But it may well bring it on.

TONY ABBOTT:
Well, they would be breaking their word.

More.

Things I heard this week... roundup

Good news for arthritis sufferers.
Stem cells rejuvenating arthritic dogs. Hey, there's hope for me yet!

Australian vets say arthritic dogs are responding well to stem cell therapy. Researchers developing similar treatments for humans say the success of the canine treatments is encouraging. More

Good news for Tassie Devils.
Tarkine Devils to be studied by bushwalkers.

Scientists haven't been able to do a full survey of the last disease free devils living in the remote Tarkine region of Tasmania - but a bushwalking company is about to fill in the blanks. They'll be using remote sensing cameras to take photos of the devils that will be sent back to scientists at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. More 

Good news for those who don't like yellow characters.
Pay stoush imperils Simpsons.

After 23 seasons, the American TV hit series The Simpsons is at risk. Rupert Murdoch's Fox television network has warned that it may cancel the show The Simpsons if a pay dispute with the voices behind the characters of the hit cartoon series cannot be resolved in the next 24 hours. More

Boo-f'kin-hoo.
Australian resident jailed for people smuggling. Why is he an Australian citizen?

A refugee who's been living in Australia for 10 years has been jailed by an Indonesian court after he was detained by the country's anti people smuggling task force. Heidar Ali was arrested by Indonesian police in May travelling to Java's south coast with a known people smuggler and 32 people from the Middle East. More

Boo-f'kn-hoo... again. LOL
WikiLeaks site in limbo without architect.

In the secret world of WikiLeaks there is one secret being held closer than most: the identity of a man known simply as the architect. The architect walked out of the operation last year, taking with him the all important submission system which allows whistleblowers to lodge sensitive information and keep their identities secret. Since then Julian Assange and his WikiLeaks organisation have been unable to accept electronic online submissions. More

No Shit Sherlock - Research
New research on links between diet and birth defects.

A new study from the United States suggests women who consume a good diet before and during pregnancy have significantly less risk of having a baby with several different kinds of birth defects. More

Nuts running the asylum.
Independents pressure Commonwealth to fund state tax cuts.

The conservative states agree stamp duty and other taxes should go and are mounting a concerted push for the Commonwealth to give them a share of income tax and excise if it won't consider increasing the GST. The independents, in particular Tony Windsor, are urging the Federal Government to opt for a modest raise to the GST to rid the nation of more than 100 taxes. More

Perfectly natural - I'm sure the thunderstorm on Monday afternoon and  the ones today would have boosted the ozone level.
First hole forms in Arctic ozone layer.

Holes have been forming in the ozone layer above the Antarctic since the 1980s. But now the first hole has appeared in the ozone layer above the Arctic. Scientists say the sharp plunge in Arctic ozone levels means UV radiation has probably increased in the northern hemisphere. More

Interesting talking point about Tobacco companies and election advertising

The ALP is whinging about the tobacco companies putting up anti-government advertisements... they are whining that the Tobacco companies are being used by the coalition to spruik the coalition cause. They are complaining that this isn't fair... that the coalition shouldn't be supported by the tobacco companies...

I don't hear a peep about the anti-coalition advertisements bombarding us in our loungerooms in almost every advertisement break which are paid for by the unions, and which are directly supported by the ALP.

Read about it here.

Bring a bucket! Julia's talking about KRudd...

JULIA GILLARD: Kevin Rudd is a man of enormous capabilities and obviously he is a man with public policy passions in many areas, of course, he spent a lifetime in foreign affairs. What first got him really active and interested politics was with this fascination with China and our place in the world and he went on as a member of parliament and then prime minister to exhibit other passions.

I mean he wrote an amazing page in this nation's history when he delivered the apology to the stolen generations, so Kevin, enormous capabilities. He's going to be a senior member of the team if we are re-elected and obviously there are a wide variety of roles that he could serve in, I'll talk to him about that if we are re-elected.

But I think what Kevin's saying, what I'm saying is our focus is on that all important choice on election day. For the day after, I'd want to see Kevin serving as a senior member of the team if we're re-elected in an area where he's got enthusiasm and passion.

and

LYNDAL CURTIS: He says he doesn't want to stand idly by at the prospect of Tony Abbott sliding into government by default, what does that say about Labor's chances at this election?

JULIA GILLARD: Well I think once again, Kevin would be seeing the election campaign and he would be saying to the Australian people what I've been saying which is that this is a tough close contest, a photo finish.

The outcome is in the balance and consequently Kevin, even though he is still recovering from surgery is enthusiastic for campaigning for the re-election of the Government because he knows the things that he cares deeply about turn on this election outcome.

The common beliefs that he and I share are about keeping the economy strong and the importance of work. The common beliefs he and I share about education, getting every kid a chance, of course, he's a kid from a state school who went on to great things.

His life was transformed by education. He's got that passion to see every Australian child get a great education and of course, he's a man with a great deal of fluency and competency in our nation's role in the world and a man with real passion for closing the gap for Indigenous Australian's.

All of these things are part of the election campaign and part of why Kevin is enthusiastic for campaigning for the re-election of the Government.

More here if you can stomach it!

Good news from France, standing up!

Worth reproducing in full:

TONY EASTLEY: Israel's security cabinet has begun discussions on ways to ease the blockade in Gaza to allow in more humanitarian aid, without compromising Israel's security.

Israel maintains its blockade is essential to stop the supply of arms to the militant Hamas regime.

While some governments are pushing for an easing of the blockade, the French broadcasting regulator is taking a hardline against Hamas and its Al-Aqsa TV channel, which has millions of viewers in Europe.

Middle East correspondent Anne Barker reports.

(Sound of TV show)

ANNE BARKER: With the sound turned down this kids show on Al-Aqsa Television looks like a new take on Bugs Bunny.

But Assoud the rabbit is far less benign than his carrot chomping colleague.

Last year the show's Islamist producers in Gaza killed him off on the set, as the victim of an Israeli bombing.

The rabbit's dying words were a message to Palestinian children to glorify his death as a martyr.

"Tell the children Assoud has died", he says, "as a hero, a martyr."

ANNE BARKER: Stories like this, with their messages of martyrdom and death are commonplace on Al-Aqsa Television, which is owned by Hamas.

And they're made attractive to children with the use of characters like Assoud or Farfour, a Mickey Mouse lookalike, who also died when Israeli soldiers apparently beat him to death.

In fact, most of the channel's viewers are outside Gaza.

Al-Aqsa Television has an estimated 20 million viewers in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa via satellites in Europe and the Gulf.

But now the French broadcasting regulator, CSA, is banning Al-Aqsa TV in Europe on the grounds it incites hatred.

It comes after a long campaign by one Israeli organisation, Palestinian Media Watch, whose director is Itamar Marcus.

ITAMAR MARCUS: Repeatedly on Al-Aqsa Television you have religious leaders who talk about the genocide of the Jews, you have religious and political leaders who talk about going to war against the west.

And if Muslims around the world continue to hear this message and get incited, you never know what people might act, based on these messages.

ANNE BARKER: Al-Aqsa Television says the CSA ban will cost it 70 per cent of its viewers, but it'll continue broadcasting in Africa and the Middle East.

One station representative, Mohammed Mansour, denies the channel incites hatred and says the ban is designed to silence criticism of Israel.

MOHAMMED MANSOUR: It's not hate actually; it's exposing the criminals, the war criminals of the Zionist regime.

ANNE BARKER: But how can you justify programs that teach children for example that suicide bombings are heroic?

MOHAMMED MANSOUR: Actually we don't glorify the suicide bombings. We are only showing what is the cause of the suicide bombings, they are occupation, they are depression, they are Israeli are demolishing our homes and killing our sons in a very daily basis.

ANNE BARKER: Even without Al-Aqsa Television, Hamas has a raft of other media outlets, including two radio stations, two newspapers, a magazine and an active film industry.

This is Anne Barker in Jerusalem for AM.

Read it here.

RE: The bolded parts... Does he expect us not to believe our eyes and ears?

Snippets I've heard...

Thursday 3/6/10:

Good news - a malaria breakthrough.

Israel, the blockade, and the blockade runners.

Mining tax - treasurer in trouble in Shanghai!

Friday 4/6/10:

Sick, just sick.

Ruddspeak on the super-doooper mining tax. (It's OK, it's very brief!)

Mining tax - mining towns.

Mining tax - fund managers.

Mining tax - unions.

BER - a blue in the senate!

Monday 7/6/10

Mining tax - selling the super-dooper tax.

Ruddspeak - classic dot-point method. (Didn't say much.)
Here's a sample:

KEVIN RUDD: Well, Lyndal the truth is if these polls were reflected on election day, Mr Abbott would become the prime minister. So the challenge for me and for the Government is to work harder into the future. I have got a huge amount of work to do to explain my plans as opposed to Mr Abbott's plans.

Remember what an election is - an election is about alternatives and our plan is clear on the economy, on health, on hospitals. Mr Abbott's is reasonably clear now in terms of WorkChoices, bringing back WorkChoices and cuts to education and cuts to health. An election is all about alternatives but I have a huge amount of work to do and I intend to get on with the job.

blah, blah, blah

Shot activist speaks out. (no link, I don't give a f**k)

Tuesday 8/6/10

Gene patents? Why should there be gene patents? If they're MY genes I should, surely, hold the patent? How much will this increase the cost of research, and as a flow-on, medicines?

Gene patents - the US case.

Mining tax - WA labor expresses concern.

Daylight saving in Qld - Bligh has 2/3 of Qld who want a referendum. Bligh says no. She's toast, and it's not just daylight saving, funnily enough.

UK - British PM warns that the budget will be savagely cut... well, how long has Labour been running the place into the ground?

Rudd's going save the hospitals

Rudd's amazing hospital rescue plan... because the ALP state governments are useless.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Doctor Blewett says he's long argued for a single hospital funding pool and the payment to hospitals on a per patient basis.

NEAL BLEWETT: It removes what is one of the great weaknesses of the system. That is the buck passing between the states and the Commonwealth.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: It's very close, of course, this announcement to the next election, what are the chances that we'll see any tangible changes before we actually go to the polls?

it's gonna cost us... surprise, surprise...

TONY EASTLEY: Crucial to the Prime Minister's health reform is funding and there are reports this morning his scheme involves the states and territories surrendering a slice of their current GST revenue.

Already he's admitted he's gearing up for a fight and he may ''cop a bit of stick'' for his health reform agenda.

He's certainly kept the details close to his chest. The states and territories haven't been briefed and federal Cabinet is meeting in Canberra this morning to sign off on the blueprint.

and Joe Hockey points out...

JOE HOCKEY: Well the first question that needs to be asked today is where is Kevin Rudd getting the money from? He's running deficit budgets, which are putting upward pressure on interest rates.

He's got a huge tax review in the form of Henry coming and obviously he's got to service his debt. So where is this magic pool of money that Kevin Rudd says is a great substitute for the black hole in the health system? Where's it coming from?

Did I hear a figure today of $8B? Joe's right. Where is this coming from? *

All Anna Bligh can say about it is that the money from Queensland should stay in Queensland... it'll be interesting if Queensland needs more money than is raised from Queensland...

*Update
Okay, Rudd's going to strip the states of $50B to fund the hospitals. After the batt and school hall debacles how are the hospitals going to be?

What language is this?

It's hard to understand...

LYNDAL CURTIS: While we are talking about people coming to Australia - 181 asylum seekers arrived off Christmas Island last night. Does their arrival mean the detention centre in Christmas Island is full?

KEVIN RUDD: My advice from officials is that there is still capacity there.

LYNDAL CURTIS: But there wouldn't be much, would there?

KEVIN RUDD: Well, my advice from officials is there is still capacity there. As the Immigration Minister has said on many previous occasions, there are always contingency plans in terms of the use of the purpose built facility in Darwin but at present capacity still remains on Christmas.

LYNDAL CURTIS: Do you have any advice on when Darwin might have to be used?

KEVIN RUDD: No, I don't and at present our advice is that Christmas remains the best place to accommodate people and there is still capacity there. Remember boats have been coming to this country for 25 out of the last 33 years. Let's just be frank about that and each of these challenges you just meet in a very practical way.

He uses a lot of words, and a lot of the same words, but what does he say?

Click on the link to read, and click on the link at the link to listen to the prissy one. If you can stand it.

AM

Point 1.
Mark Willacy
Obviously not based in Australia.

MARK WILLACY: Imagine a world in which a visit by Kevin Rudd to a pickle factory warranted half an hour on the nightly TV news.

Unthinkable in Australia but in North Korea a story about Kim Jong-il touring a pickle plant ran for 30 mind-numbing minutes.

Der. He hasn't seen the news here lately, huh? More.

Point 2.
Camels have significant religious value? To Christians... who knew!

SARA EVERINGHAM: Lyle Kenny supports this week's cull of feral camels.

There are signs all around Docker River of the damage the camels do. Cars are parked near power poles to stop camels bringing them down. Infrastructure for water is broken so the supply is constantly contaminated.

Still, Lyle Kenny says the decision to go ahead with the cull wasn't taken lightly. Residents don't want to see animals go to waste and camels for many in Docker River have a religious significance.

LYLE KENNY: We in this community we are Christian people. The pastor has told us camel the three wise men to follow the star where Jesus was born.

More.

Shouting at the radio... ABC AM - GBR, Budget/Turnbull...

Today's ABC AM programme.

Good thing I'm only half listening to it.

Global Warming gloom and doom, economic refugees invading, Oev banging on about Aus cutting emissions to save the GBR (how the hell do reefs all around the world survive in waters with even higher temps?).

NRL group sex incident, Matty Johns might get the sack. He was harassed at the airport - poor Matty Johns is embarrassed.

Chris Ullmann interviews Turnbull about the budget...

Transcripts should appear later today.

A dear friend sent me a summary of the budget:

Treasurer: This budget is a nation building budget to build this country!

Australian people: *sigh* Finally, Australia becomes a nation... who'da thought.

Deputy Prime Minister: Hear, hear! Um, don't forget to tell them what koind of noition, Woine.

ABC AM 24/4/09

Interesting interview and information on "refugee" waiting in Indonesia.

Should be here soon.

ABC AM today 22/4/09

From the 2020 1,000 bestest-brightest:

Big ideas to get funding. (Transcript)
$50M for development of the bionic eye (um, isn't someone else already working on that overseas? Reinventing the wheel?)

Rudd's army, an Australian Peace Corps.

God help us.

Here's the link, programme should be up soon, transcripts later.

And you must catch up with yesterday's.

Climate's disaster impact set to jump
International aid agency Oxfam predicts a major jump in the number of people affected by natural disasters each year as a result of climate change, especially for those living in poverty.
TRANSCRIPT

Here's the links

Latest Transcripts:
Updated Tuesday, 21 April, 2009

Visa push revives Liberal row
Malcolm Turnbull's push to bring back temporary protection visa arrangements for boat arrivals has stirred up old resentments within his own party. One of the Liberal MPs who led the charge against John Howard's refugee policies says it would be totally unacceptable to return to the old system and he says a considerable number of moderates in the Liberal party feel the same way.
TRANSCRIPT

Indonesia set to deport Afghan asylum seekers
Indonesian immigration officials say they'll deport a group of 70 Afghan asylum seekers who were planning to come to Australia by boat. Members of the Hazara ethnic group claim they're fleeing deadly persecution by the Taliban in both Afghanistan and Pakistan and they'd prefer to die than return.
TRANSCRIPT

Climate's disaster impact set to jump
International aid agency Oxfam predicts a major jump in the number of people affected by natural disasters each year as a result of climate change, especially for those living in poverty.
TRANSCRIPT

Diplomats walk out as Iranian leader addresses anti-racism summit
Dozens of diplomats have stormed out of a UN anti-racism summit during a speech by the firebrand Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who used the platform to criticise Israel. Still, many delegates are determined to see out the conference, saying they should be there to influence the agenda.
TRANSCRIPT

Treasurer refuses to detail depth and length of Australia recession
The Federal Treasurer says the Government's public admission that Australia will suffer a recession is not an attempt to deflect attention from the political debate over asylum seekers.
TRANSCRIPT

Kokoda death renews fitness and danger warnings
A 36-year old Australian woman has collapsed and died while walking the Kokoda Track. Samantha Killen from Victoria died on Friday after collapsing from apparent dehydration and exhaustion. Her death has raised questions about whether trekkers are properly prepared.
TRANSCRIPT

Backburning in Victoria ignites political tension
The Victorian Government is defending the state's backburning program but critics say the burn-off targets missed the high-fire-risk areas and failed to meet the program's own fuel reduction goals.
TRANSCRIPT


Cedric the superdevil, surviving cancer
Scientists thought they'd found a saviour of the Tasmanian devil species when an animal called Cedric appeared to be naturally resistant to a cancer that's killing the devils. It turns out Cedric is only resistant to one strain of the cancer and he got sick, although he's now on the mend.
TRANSCRIPT


Fiji military shreds legal documents
Fijian bloggers say the military is shredding court documents dating back to the 2006 military coup. Fiji remains under emergency rule, with the interim government continuing its strict censorship of the media.
TRANSCRIPT

Banks impose rate rise on fixed home loan rates
With official interest rates now at historic lows, many homeowners familiar with mortgage stress are deciding whether now is the time to lock in to fixed rates. Australia's biggest home lender, the Commonwealth Bank, and Westpac have increased rates on fixed mortgages citing higher funding costs.
TRANSCRIPT

Turnbull skitches AM host, Tony Eastley

And goes for the throat when speaking of the fiery boat incident.

Eastley keeps interrupting him to make points that it's not the ALP/Rudd's fault that more refugees are coming, and that the injured are not in hospital yet and the opposition/Turnbull are politicising the incident.

Turnbull replies that Eastley is the one politicising it.

Should be here about 9am. I might talk about it later.

Oh, and the gem of the radio interviewers was the fool who asked a representative from the hospital I think,(paraphrased) "When you say that there was a fracture to the upper limb, could you tell us exactly which part of the body that is?"

ABC AM 7/4/09

Have a listen to Obamessiah ingratiate himself to muslims. When he bowed for the king I think he was facing the wrong way.

There's some other stuff, too.
I didn't hear it all. Sorry.

ABC AM 6/4/09

Noel Pearson's phonecall to the host expressing his fury at Bligh's protection of the rivers in Queensland, which will stop Aboriginal communities from developing any industries (tourism) on them.

Worth a listen.

ABC AM 3/4/09

Interesting today and yesterday.

Please catch up!

ABC AM 31/3/09

Interesting stuff.

Fibzbigtime, of course.

Interesting new medical procedure to relieve high blood pressure involves cauterising nerves around the renal artery....

More later.

Yesterday's programme was interesting, too:

Latest Transcripts:
Updated Monday, 30 March, 2009

Another bikie shooting in Sydney
Sydney's bikie gang war is continuing with the overnight shooting of a member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle club in south western Sydney. Police are now worried about what might happen next after Peter Zervas was shot several times at the entrance to a secure underground car park at a block of units in Lakemba. The victim is the brother of Anthony Zervas, the man stabbed and beaten to death at Sydney airport just over a week ago.
TRANSCRIPT

Police hunt shooter
Detective Superintendent Mal Lanyon, Commander of the NSW Gangs Squad tells AM they believe bikies are involved in the overnight shooting. He denies the police are understaffed but admits the bikie gangs are well resourced and armed.
TRANSCRIPT

Rudd tells G20 leaders to spend more
In the leadup to the G20 summit in London this week it was hoped there would be a unified approach about how to tackle the global financial crisis. Many of the top industrialised nations, including Australia had been pressing for more economic stimulus measures - but the idea has split the G20.
TRANSCRIPT

Darling defends deficit
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling admits the UK has a substantial fiscal deficit but maintains the money must be spent now to try and get the British economy out of recession. He is calling for coordinated action from the G20 summit.
TRANSCRIPT

Turnbull finds 'yellow peril' accusation contemptible
The political cut and thrust over Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has now turned into a war of words. The Government claims the Federal Opposition leader, Malcolm Turnbull has been stirring up old yellow peril sentiments with his attack on Mr Fitzgibbon; a claim described as contemptible by Mr Turnbull.
TRANSCRIPT

Rudd rivals Hawke as most popular PM
Kevin Rudd is riding high in the polls, rivalling Bob Hawke as most popular prime minister, while for the first time more people disapprove of the job Malcolm Turnbull is doing as Opposition leader than approve. Pollster John Stirton says it's hard to pinpoint why Mr Rudd is so popular, other than to say people trust him and believe he's doing a good job.
TRANSCRIPT

Traumatised soldiers get sub-standard care
An investigation into the Defence Force's mental health services reveals most returned soldiers aren't getting adequate care. The report finds two-thirds of veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are receiving sub-standard treatment.
TRANSCRIPT

Jakarta dam toll to rise
There are grave fears this morning that the final death toll from a collapsed dam in Jakarta could be more than 200, with more than 130 people still registered missing. Our correspondent hears the story of one survivor, who hung onto a tree in the water for 90 minutes waiting to be rescued.
TRANSCRIPT

Latest Transcripts:
Updated Thursday, 26 March, 2009
Secret Defence department investigation into own Minister
It's been reported that the Defence department secretly conducted an investigation on the Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon, using Australia's spy agency the Defence Signals Directorate. It's said to have accessed information from within the Minister's office and gathered information about Mr Fitzgibbon's relationship with a wealthy, Chinese-born woman.
TRANSCRIPT

Jobs losses in job creation sector
The Federal Government's dramatic and controversial recasting of Australia's job network is in its final stages, and it appears that some well known job providers in Australia will have to sack local staff as the companies are passed over in favour of overseas firms. Critics say the new scheme will lead to hundreds of job losses in the sector.
TRANSCRIPT

Prime Minister in Washington
It's been another full day in Washington for the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. Yesterday it was meetings with the US President, Barack Obama and the Secretary of State. Today, more diplomatic dialogue. Lyndal Curtis tells Tony Eastley the latest talks revolved around Australia's involvement in Afghanistan and various efforts at stimulating the global economy.
TRANSCRIPT

EU President not impressed
Yesterday the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the US President Barack Obama were slapping each other on the back over the success of their respective stimulus packages. But not everyone is enamoured. Certainly not the Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek whose country holds the revolving European Union Presidency. He has described Barack Obama's economic recovery plans as a way to hell.
TRANSCRIPT

Claims phosphorous used illegally in Gaza conflict
A new report accuses Israel of war crimes for using white phosphorus in the recent Gaza Conflict. The report from Human Rights Watch says Israel used the shells indiscriminately; causing needless deaths. The Israeli military has rejected the claims and says its own investigations have so far found it acted within international laws.
TRANSCRIPT

Roads reopen in flooded Qld
Roads are now reopening in the flooded areas of north-west Queensland. Many areas have been isolated for two months. AM talks to the man who has to fix the roads in the Diamantina shire.
TRANSCRIPT

Indians in the outback
A reality television show shot in regional Australia is doing its bit to expose Australia to tens of millions of young Indians. Australian taxpayer dollars were used to help with the production, and it's hoped it will encourage young Indian backpackers and students to see Australia for themselves.
TRANSCRIPT

FBI swamped by financial fraud cases
In the United States the FBI is finding it's under growing pressure to investigate more financial fraud cases. The FBI says there's been a big jump in the number of corporate fraud investigations. There's also been a leap in the number of mortgage fraud cases.
TRANSCRIPT

Brighter picture for art market
There was strong demand for fine art at auctions held in Sydney and Melbourne last night.
TRANSCRIPT