More Current Affairs:

Latest Program:

Tuesday, 6 January, 2009

Full program Real Play Real
Full program Windows Play Windows
Full program MP3 Play MP3

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs program. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. 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.

Latest Transcripts:

Updated Tuesday, 6 January, 2009

Gaza's children caught in the crossfire

There's international concern that children are being caught up in the fighting in Gaza with the Queen of Jordan and UNICEF adding their voices to growing calls for a ceasefire. The Israeli Government says it is targeting the militants who continue to fire rockets into Israel, not civilians.

US wants ceasefire with conditions

Speaking for the first time since the Israeli ground invasion in Gaza, the US President George W. Bush has said a ceasefire is a noble ambition but insisted it must have conditions attached to prevent violence recurring. President-elect Obama is being careful not to interfere with the Bush administration's Gaza policy saying there should only be one president at a time when it comes to foreign affairs.

Security, motorcades and meetings welcome Obama to Washington

The President-elect Barack Obama is meeting congressional leaders in Washington to gain support for his plan to revive the flagging US economy. Mr Obama is proposing an economic stimulus plan that could top one trillion dollars.

Howard honoured by Freedom Award

The outgoing US President George W. Bush will present the former prime minister John Howard with a presidential medal of freedom at a White House ceremony next week. John Howard says the award recognises the strong relationship between Australia and the United States.

Super funds shrinking fast

New research is predicting a 57 per cent fall in the number of super funds in Australia over the next five years, from 514 now to about 220 by 2013. The decline is being driven by increasing compliance costs, tougher regulation and falling margins in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Search on for missing Japanese whaler

A search is underway in the far Southern Ocean for a Japanese sailor believed to have fallen from a whaling vessel into freezing waters. The 30 year old oiler was reported missing yesterday after he failed to show up for work in the engine room of one of the fleet's vessels.

Pink Test to benefit all breast cancer charities

While the pink dress-up day at the SCG in honour of Jane McGrath, the late wife of cricketer Glenn McGrath, raised money for the foundation set up by the couple, the CEO of the National Breast Cancer Foundation says other breast cancer charities will benefit from the increase in awareness generated by the day.

Outback towns in Qld still cut off by deluge

Outback towns in Queensland's north west are still cut off - even though floodwaters are starting to recede this morning. Authorities say the recent deluge is just a return to the normal wet season after years of drought. And local graziers and fisherman are relived their sectors have been revived.

Drought stricken farming families head to coast for holiday

A Rotary club on the New South Wales south coast is raising money to pay for families on drought stricken properties to have a holiday by the sea. The club wants to see the program rolled out in other parts of Australia with people from the city looking after the farms while families are away.

Japanese mafia takes a hit from financial crisis

The financial crisis is taking its toll on the real estate and financial holdings of the Japanese mafia so it's branching into new fields of business. One Japanese crime expert says the Yakuza has entered into the business of weddings and funerals.

PNG Governor moves to ban betel nut

In Papua New Guinea the cultural obsession of chewing betel nut is under threat. Everyday thousands of locals chew on the small palm tree nuts and spit out the red juice. But Port Moresby's Governor is now moving to ban betel nut chewing in public places, on health grounds.