Violence in Sri Lanka is stepping up with reports from the Capital Colombo of fresh fighting between the Sri Lankan Army and the Rebel Group known as the Tamil Tigers. With more suicide bombings and another 50 people killed today, the International Red Cross is warning of an impending humanitarian disaster. Yesterday The Wire reported on calls by the Australian Council for International Development for our own government to step in and assist. But what is really behind the fighting? Tamil groups in Australia say the Tamils are not terrorists, but defending themselves against ethnic cleansing. Catherine Zengerer spoke to Professor John Whitehall, a Queensland Paediatirican who has taken up their cause. Also featured in story: Dr Sam Pari, Tamil Australian Youth Activist.

Unemployment in Australia has soared to a four-year high, with official job figures today revealing a jump in the jobless rate from 4.8 per cent to 5.2 oer cent in February. More alarmingly however, the figures revealed the biggest monthy drop in full-time jobs since 1991. The Wire's Alice Monfries speaks with Curtain University's Professor of Economic Policy Peter Kenyon about the gloomy effects the economic downturn is beginning to have on the country's employment.

Community stores are a long way from anywhere. Like most remote stores – the shelves tend to be bare and the groceries expensive. A parliamentary enquiry has been set up to look into ways of improving the current model of remote community stores. Featured in this story: John Tregenza, Co-ordinator of the Mai Wiru Stores Policy on the APY Lands

It used to be the insults and violence of the schoolyard bully that kids feared – now its more likely to be happening online. Cyber bullying is one of those issues we’re hearing more and more about – not surprising when for most younger people MySpace, chatrooms and Facebook are where a lot of their social life happens. One Adelaide school has developed an awareness kit to help kids deal with cyberbullies. Called Disconnect and launched this morning, the kit was put together by information experts with the help of a group of 14 year olds. Information security consultant Jody Melbourne says internet bullies are a whole new breed.

Imagine being subjected to such abuse at the hands of your husband that you feel you have no way to escape other than to attempt suicide. For many Muslim women in Afghanistan and Pakistan, burning themselves to death- known as self immolation- has become a growing trend in countries where women can’t seek divorce from abusive husbands. Shakira Hussein is a writer and researcher on gender and Islam. Nicole Dikkenberg asked her what drives these women to burn themselves….