Lewis Hamilton faces charges over street 'wheelspin'

The British racing driver Lewis Hamilton is to face charges in an Australian court after being caught doing a wheelspin on a street in Melbourne.

Israeli press rounds on Binyamin Netanyahu

The Israeli press unleashed yet another barrage of scorn on the Israeli Prime Minister today after he returned from his emergency trip to patch up ties with Washington, a mission almost unanimously deemed here to have failed.

Pope Benedict XVI 'knew child abuser allowed back to work'

The Roman Catholic Church?s account of Pope Benedict XVI?s handing of a serial paedophile was called into question today when new documents emerged suggesting that his office was kept informed of the offender?s rapid return to working with children.

Cardinal Seán Brady urged to withdraw evidence in abuse court case

The leader of Ireland?s Catholics, Cardinal Seán Brady, has been urged to withdraw his defence in a legal battle with one of the alleged victims of a paedophile priest.

Ned Kelly painting sells for record sum

A painting of the infamous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly has become the country's most expensive piece of artwork ever sold at auction.

Binyamin Netanyahu: we will continue to build in Jerusalem

Binyamin Netanyahu insisted today that he will not halt building projects in east Jerusalem, despite calls by the US for him to do so.

Wee Rex found in Australia

While the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex was terrorising the continents of the northern hemisphere, Australia had its very own tyrannosaur ? although it was, admittedly more of a Wee-Rex than its giant cousin.

Wee Rex found in Australia

While the mighty T-Rex was terrorising the continents of the northern hemishere, Australia had its very own tyrannosaur - although it was, admittedly more of a Wee-Rex than its giant cousin.

'King of Heroin' arrested in Mexico

A major figure in Mexico's violent underworld known as the King of Heroin has been arrested in the western state of Michoacan.

Caged kangaroo stunt ?dishonours land of Skippy?

Footage of a kangaroo rocking back and forth in a small cage on a busy street in Los Angeles has outraged Australians, including the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Pope accused of ignoring pleas to stop priest who molested 200 deaf boys

Pope Benedict XVI was drawn deeper yesterday into the clerical sex abuse scandal that has begun to overwhelm the Roman Catholic Church, when he was accused of personally failing to take action against a serial paedophile.

Japanese sense of despair reflected in tidal wave of bleak new manga comics

At the Kinokuniya bookshop in the heart of Tokyo?s shimmering financial district the economic texts and business guru biographies have been shoved aside to make room for a section on poverty and despair. Tailored to reflect the dismal mood of 21st-century Japan, and named after The Lower Depths, the relentlessly bleak play of Maxim Gorky, the display creaks with dozens of works on penury, failure and defeat. All in cartoon form.