Asia is having to deal with two massive natural disasters. First a devastating cyclone in Myanmar, then a powerful earthquake in China. Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith looks at how the two countries have dealt with their respective disasters, and William Hess from Global Insight talks to us about why both relief efforts have been so different.
Oil has risen to yet another record high - just shy of $121 dollars a barrel.
One knock on effect is that some Arab countries are removing state subsidies, which are costing billions of dollars a year.
Jordan removed fuel subsidies in February and, since then, oil prices have shot up by 82 per cent.
Syria too is cutting subsidies, trying to soften the blow with a 25% hike in wages.
And now Egypt has announced a 40 to 50 percent hike in fuel prices - just two days after saying wages would go up by a third.
For a Q&A on rising oil prices: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exere…
The former Rhodesian prime minister has died in South Africa aged 88. Smith suffered a stroke and Zimbabwe - which used to be called Rhodesia -is describing his death as “good riddance.” Al Jazeera’s Jayne Azzopardi looks back at his controversial life.
The Taliban are being blamed for a wave of suicide bombings across Afghanistan in recent months said to be a renewed effort to gain territory and control.
And as Bernard Smith found out there’s no shortage of recruits.
He spoke with a young man who failed in his attempt to blow himself up.
Their crimes range from terrorism to drug smuggling.
And many young criminals in Afghanistan would have expected to serve their sentences in the notorious Pul-e-Charkhi prison, on the outskirts of Kabul.
But in a sign of changing times, a new youth rehabilitation centre has been built, with money from the Italian government.
Bernard Smith has been given exclusive access.