Release of Marwan Barghouti is price of freedom for Gilad Schalit

Hamas officials have told The Times that Marwan Barghouti, the Palestinian politician who was jailed in 2004 for murder, is ?at the top? of a list of prisoners that they want released in exchange for the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian President, gets hero's welcome in Venezuela

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President, received a hero?s welcome yesterday as he visited his key Latin American ally on a regional tour designed to shore up support for Tehran in its confrontation with Western powers.

Feral camels terrorise Australian Outback community

An Australian Outback town is under siege from thousands of feral camels that have invaded the area in search of water.

Son of Gloria Arroyo supporter named as prime suspect in Philippines massacre

A third mass grave was uncovered in the Philippines yesterday, bringing the number killed in the country?s worst political massacre to 57.

Roman Polanksi on £2.7m bail as Swiss consider extradition

Roman Polanksi is set to be released on bail after two months behind bars in Switzerland, while he awaits a decision on whether he will be extradited to the US.

No apology for Germany?s own Nazi victims

Making amends for the sins of previous generations is now ubiquitous. Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, apologised ten days ago for the abuse of children who were sent to Australia between 1930 and 1967. Tony Blair made an equally profound gesture in 2006, in recognition of Britain?s role in the African slave trade, and it is 39 years since Willy Brandt, the Chancellor of West Germany, fell to his knees in Warsaw and declared Germany to be sorry for the Holocaust. Yet, despite all the hand wringing, some victims remain hidden in the shadows.

No apology for Germany?s own Nazi victims

Making amends for the sins of previous generations is now ubiquitous. Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, apologised ten days ago for the abuse of children who were sent to Australia between 1930 and 1967. Tony Blair made an equally profound gesture in 2006, in recognition of Britain?s role in the African slave trade, and it is 39 years since Willy Brandt, the Chancellor of West Germany, fell to his knees in Warsaw and declared Germany to be sorry for the Holocaust. Yet, despite all the hand wringing, some victims remain hidden in the shadows.

Temporary Jewish settlement freeze excludes East Jerusalem

Israel announced a ten-month freeze on building Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank yesterday, a move welcomed by Washington but rejected by the Palestinian leadership because it did not include East Jerusalem. After months of wrangling between Israel and the Obama Administration, which had demanded a total settlement halt, Binyamin Netanyahu made a televised address to announce the temporary moratorium and call for a return to long-stalled peace talks.

I was just a cog, says 'Comrade Duch' , Pol Pot?s deadly torturer

The Khmer Rouge?s former prison chief said yesterday that he felt ?excruciating remorse? for the murders of more than 15,000 Cambodians at his interrogation centre. Prosecutors in his war crimes trial demanded a 40-year prison sentence for the ?unrelenting brutality? that he showed to prisoners.

Fears remain over security in Mumbai

A year on, and the security threat to Mumbai remains high. Confidence in the authorities? ability to prevent another atrocity, however, does not. The five-star hotels have a heavier and more visible security presence. One ? the Taj, which was attacked last year? has an armoured personnel carrier outside it, but elsewhere little looks different.

'They owned you and they made sure you knew it'

John Kelly was just 13 years old when he was committed in 1963 to Daingean Reformatory School in County Offaly, for the crime of having accepted a stolen chocolate bar from his brother.

Look out! The robots are coming to take your job away

For as long as anyone can remember, the Tokyo International Robot Exhibition has been a showcase for Japan at its wackiest: stern industrial machines lurked backstage as waltzing, noodle-making or ping-pong playing humanoids stole the limelight.