Inside Story

We ask if booming South economies doing enough to alleviate the suffering of the downtrodden.Hazem Sika is joined by Haru Mutasa, Al Jazeera's correspondent in South Africa; Dolf Te Lintelo, a fellow at the Institute of Development Studies; Sourav Roy, an Asia affairs analyst and columnist at the Huffington Post; and Jon Lomoy, director of Development Cooperation at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The World Bank has released a study reporting that governments in the Middle East and North Africa are not doing enough to provide jobs, opportunities, and drive social economic progress. The Middle East and North Africa is home to some 300 million people, but the World Bank says a quarter of them live on less than two dollars a day- and when it comes to protecting their poorest citizens, most government welfare programmes are inadequate keeping many in poverty, generation after generation.

The political and security situation in the Central Arab Republic is highly volatile, rebel groups in the Central African Republic succeeded overthrowing the government, but there is a confusion and concern now over who is actually running the country. The United Nations says some leaders who are supposed to be forming a transitional government cannot return home, because they fear for their lives. In the meantime, security has all but broken down. And civilians are suffering.

Uhuru Kenyatta has been sworn in as Kenya's president, the fourth since the nation gained independence, exactly 50 years ago. Kenyatta took the oath, using the same Bible as his father, Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president. The US had warned of what it called consequences if Uhuru Kenyatta was voted into office - as it weighed how to deal with a leader indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). But US and European ambassadors did join around a dozen African leaders and government officials from around the world for the inauguration in Nairobi - a sign, perhaps, of Kenya's strategic and economic importance. For his part, Uhuru Kenyatta gave commitments on everything from the economy and employment to education and the environment.

The Iron Lady, with a steely resolve. Britain's first female prime minister, who was famously not for turning, Margaret Thatcher has died, at the age of 87. A towering figure in post-war British and world politics.

A seven storey building has collapsed in India killing dozens of men, women and children. The victims were living in the Mumbai building while construction continued above their heads. Rescue workers were pulling dozens of bodies out of the collapsed structure after the incident on Thursday. The poor construction workers, living with their families, perished in seconds. Indian media has said that builders may have ignored construction regulations. The police say they are seeking the arrest of the builder in charge of construction. This is by no means an isolated incident. Building collapses often occur in India when developers cut corners. Buildings are often built with poor materials and no proper supervision. So, is India growing too far, too fast? Is anyone really sticking up for the poor? And are incidents such as the Mumbai building collapse really acceptable in one of the world's top ten economies in 2013? To discuss this, Inside Story with presenter Ghida Fakhry is joined by guests: Amrish Pandey, a political activist and member of the Indian National Congress youth wing; Sourav Roy, a political analyst, an Asian Affairs Analyst and columnist for the Huffington Post; and Madhav Raman, an architect, urbanist and partner at Anagram Architects.

The value of the virtual currency Bitcoin has hit an all-time high. The financial crisis in Cyprus has driven many people to seek out alternative homes for their money. Some investors in the Mediterrranean island nation stand to lose up to 80 percent of their savings, as part of strict conditions attached to a $13bn bailout. And there are fears other countries could suffer the same fate, this situation shaking consumer confidence in traditional banks, and adding to a surge in trading in these so-called Bitcoins.

Parliament has been dissolved, and the gloves are off in Malaysia as political leaders gear up for a fight over corruption, discrimination and the cost of living. Parliamentary polls will pit the National Front Coalition - in power since 1957 - against a resurgent opposition. The ruling group has already been knocked back, suffering its worst ever results in 2008 elections. And it will not be plain sailing this time either. Three million first time voters - nearly a quarter of those eligible - will have to decide who to give their support to.

It's almost two years since South Sudan split from Sudan to become the world's newest country. Sudan president Omar al Bashir , has announced an amnesty for all political prisoner held in Sudan and has released a number accused of link with southern rebels. It's building on process made in March, when the two countries agreed to end hostilites, and resume the cross-border flow of oil. And as sign of mellowing relations, Bashir is said to be making arrengements for his first visit to South Sudan.

Swiss drug maker Novartis has lost a battle in India's highest court to patent an updated version of its cancer drug Gilvec. The Supreme Court has dismissed the application, saying the new version was only slightly different from the old one. The landmark ruling sets a precedent covering patents on all existing drugs in India. Updating medicines to gain new patents is known as 'evergreening.' Novartis has declared the modification took years of research and makes the drug more effective, and the company has succesfully patented the new version in nearly 40 other countries.

Two years after the ousting of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's new learders are struggling to manage the hopes of 84 million people, and at the same time an economy dependent on aid and favours, and hooked on state subsidies.

It was hailed as an historic step towards regulating the global arms trade. A landmark UN treaty aimed at preventing weapons from ending up in the wrong hands. But after years of negotiations, Iran, Syria and North Korea stopped the treaty in its tracks. As the arms trade treaty conference fails to reach consensus, what is next for the UN's efforts to police the planet?

Scientist says they have isolated part of the human DNA that can identify those most likely to develop breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. It is being described as the single biggest leap forward in understanding the genetics of disease. But how far is medical science infringing on legal, ethical and personal boundaries?

Is the vision that united Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa starting to crumble? To discuss this, Inside Story, with presenter Jane Dutton, is joined by guests: Duncan Clarke, the CEO of Global Pacific and Partners, and the author of Africa's Future: Darkness to Destiny; Aly-Khan Satchu, a former investment banker specialising in emerging market financing; and Michael Cox, a professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics, and author of Power Shifts, Economic Change and the Decline of the West?.

How significant is the representation of the Syrian opposition in the Arab League for the ongoing conflict?