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Tuesday, 19 August, 2008

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PM covers a broad spectrum of issues relevant to all sections of Australia's geographically and culturally diverse community. It looks behind political, economic, industrial, business, social, cultural, rural, regional and arts stories. Below is the latest program summary and transcripts are published as soon as they become available. You can listen to today's full program or individual reports in Real Media, Microsoft Windows Media or MP3.

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Updated Tuesday, 19 August, 2008

No evidence yet of Russian withdrawal

Russia is continuing to call the bluff of Georgia and its Western backers, a day after the Russian military was supposed to begin pulling out. There's little or no evidence of withdrawal, and NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels for an emergency summit have few realistic options. Earlier today the Russians appeared to be playing word games about the agreement they signed with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy; they said they'd agreed to a pullback, not a pullout.

Nelson stands firm against alcopop tax

The Federal Opposition leader Brendan Nelson says he has a list of 30 ideas as a result of the summit he held today on binge drinking. They include enforcing existing laws, more money for rehabilitation, and better education for parents. But the summit did nothing to change Dr Nelson's mind on a decision he'd already made; to oppose the Government's increased tax on so-called alcopops.

NSW Govt brushes off calls for independent catchment study

The New South Wales Government is refusing to get an independent water catchment study done on a farming area in the north west of the state. A group of farmers on the Liverpool Plains region near Gunnedah, wants the state government to do the study before it allows mining to proceed. The state government has granted the Chinese company Shenhua Energy, approval to explore for coal. Farmers are preparing to fight the company and government.

China's investment in athletes paying off

China hasn't just spent billions on staging the Olympics, it's been pumping huge sums into sports training too and that investment is paying off. The host nation has almost twice as many gold medals as the usually dominant USA team. Whether it's the investment or the ecstatically partisan local crowds, the extent to which the Chinese are dominating these Games is surprising the rest of the world.

Uncertainty for Pakistan as Musharraf steps down

The resignation of the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraff last night solves everything and nothing. It puts an end to the immediate political crisis, in which the Government parties were threatening to impeach the President. But it leaves those parties with the pressing issue of how and whether they can come together and govern Pakistan. Mark Colvin talks to author and journalist, Ahmed Rashid about the implications of Musharraff's departure.

Perth court to hand down Zentai ruling tomorrow

A Perth Magistrate will rule tomorrow if an 86-year-old man can be extradited to Hungary to face a charge of murdering a Jewish teenager. Charles Zentai is accused of killing an 18-year-old civilian in Budapest during the Second World War. The accused man's family say he's innocent, and they're prepared to go back to the High Court if necessary to appeal tomorrow's decision.

International students claim breach of contract

A group of overseas students claim they were misled by a Melbourne-based English language college when the school changed owners. They say they were denied the right to a full refund of their tuition fees - an entitlement protected under federal law. The school claims it's done nothing wrong but the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority is investigating.

Conference tackles issue of disabled youth in nursing homes

More than 6,000 young Australians, many with acquired brain injuries, are forced to live in nursing homes where there's little chance of rehabilitation. A conference underway in Melbourne is examining why more appropriate facilities haven't been built as yet, and the Federal Government acknowledges action is needed quickly.

NASA technology set to revolutionise mining industry

The remote operation technology that NASA uses for moon missions is now set to revolutionise Australia's mining industry. A mining conference being held in Queensland this week heard that Star Wars-style equipment would make the sector safer and more appealing to Generation Y employees. Laptops would replace the pick and shovel, labourers would be replaced by computer experts, and working at remote locations could become a thing of the past.

Bank stocks fall on back of international credit worries

Business and finance on the markets with Brigid Glanville.