(Al Jazeera English: 0900 PT, May 10, 2011) Australia appears to have defied the global financial crisis, enjoying several consecutive years of growth. There is another side to this rosy picture though, as the country's strong currency is hurting a number of industries. Andrew Thomas reports.

(Al Jazeera English: 1056 PST, March 18, 2011) The Japanese fire department has been called in to help control the situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Al Jazeera's Andrew Thomas reports from Osaka.