• We look back at the life of the quixotic and controversial Hugo Chávez.
• The reaction to his death has been low key in China, raising questions about its relationship with Venezuela. China may think that “partnerships of convenience with polarizing, strong-man leaders like Chávez can also quickly and unexpectedly become highly inconvenient”.
• Hash-smoking has returned to popularity in Egypt and it hasn’t been curtailed by Egypt’s conservative government or its harsh drug penalties.
• Credit cards are so popular in Indonesia, people are collecting them. However, the central bank is having to restrict card ownership because of fears of a debt bubble.

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