Background Briefing

Nuclear is back. Australia, with its abundant ore and 'good guy' status could become a key member of the uranium enricher's club. But what would the neighbours think? And how would the twin threats of weapons proliferation and waste disposal be addressed? Reporter Tom Morton.

Virtual worlds are flourishing as millions of online players move in to set up their virtual lives. There are fortunes to be made, and there are real world consequences. Reporter: Cath Dwyer

Opinion shapers in Washington worry that they are losing the war of ideas with the Jihadists. But are they? Reporter: Stan Correy

Financial markets have responded to climate change by buying and selling greenhouse gases. This is the carbon trade, and business leaders are confident it will lead to solutions for global warming, but governments and politics are getting in their way. Reporter Wendy Carlisle.

When Australia's role in the South Pacific is raised, the terms 'arc of instability' and 'failed states' will commonly follow. As the dominant nation in the region, Australia's national interests are to the fore, as are Australian resources and personnel in providing assistance. But how well does Australia understand its Pacific neighbourhood?

Returning to Kabul, four years after Patch Adams led a clown doctor mission there, Australian clown Jean-Paul Bell and reporter Gerald Tooth are struggling. They return with their own aid to find a nation at once resentful of and utterly dependent on international assistance. Can a drop in the ocean make any difference? Reporter, Gerald Tooth.

The incidence of self harm is rising and there's a search for understanding and solutions. Princess Di admitted to it. As many as 1 in 5 young people are likely to deliberately hurt themselves to release internal tension and pressure. What is it, and how can parents handle it? Reporter, Jane Shields.

Scientists, lawyers, politicians, security forces—everyone's walking a fine line with avian flu, between the rights of the individual and the rights of the wider public. When a pandemic happens each of us will be on our own, as the authorities look at the big picture. Reporter, Ian Townsend.

Worldwide, the airport is no longer somewhere to catch a plane. It is a commercial city growing fast under special conditions. The services and shops are for all those captive billions of passengers and for customers from outside. The new-look airport brings good returns for your super investment - until something happens. Reporter Stan Correy.

They operate in 70 countries, and give medical aid to those who need it most. The Médecins Sans Frontières international president is Australian Dr Rowan Gillies. This week on Background Briefing, he explains why it is important, but difficult, to stay clear of politics, cultural judgements, and too much co-ordination. And why they must sometimes just walk away.