Hamas: The unlikely peacemaker

Former Israeli minister seizes on shift in public opinion toward talks with Palestinian party

China's links to Africa grow, with pledge of $10-billion in preferential loans

In the latest dramatic boost to its African expansion, China is pledging $10-billion (U.S.) in preferential loans to Africa, along with 100 clean-energy projects and lower customs duties on up to 95 per cent of African exports.

Analysis

Palestinian leader Abbas stepping down

Man who had staked his career on reaching a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel will likely serve his people's needs better by leaving the scene

Arab-Kurd tensions threaten to ignite volatile Iraqi province

Ninewa a cauldron of old wrongs and new grievances

PIRACY

Attacks by pirates in the first nine months of this year surpassed global figures for all of 2008, London-based International Maritime Bureau says.

Freed from Iranian jail, Canadian reporter joins wife in England

Days after being freed from an Iranian prison and one week before the birth of his child, Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari successfully left the country and is in Britain, his employer announced yesterday.

The lookahead

Iran nuclear talks set to begin

Shaken by political and economic turmoil, Tehran says it will meet with Western officials

Violence is lessening, but safety 'skin-deep' in Iraq

Strong forces keep dangers in check

THE SHADOWY NEGOTIATOR WHO FREED FOWLER AND GUAY

He's Mali's go-to man for haggling with terrorists and he brokered the deal that set two Canadians free. Yet questions surround the mediator. Now he comes out of the shadows to describe how he talked to the kidnappers, shared a blanket with Fowler and suffered through a sandstorm to get diplomats to safety

A video, a prisoner swap and a whiff of hope

Held captive by Hamas for 3½ years, Staff Sergeant Gilad Shalit appears alive and well; Israel frees 19 Palestinian women

China's birthday present: More resources

As regime marks 60 years, it continues to funnel its massive U.S.-dollar reserves into energy and commodities

From Africa's best to 'failed state'

Kenya, once the envy of its neighbours, has fallen victim to violence and corruption

Nuclear ambitions unite leaders against Iran

Tehran's clandestine plans give U.S. rare chance to organize international support

CANADA TO GUARANTEE LENDING FOR AFRICA

Stephen Harper brought a promise to the G20 summit that Canada will backstop increased development lending for Africa.

Patrick Martin

Obama to meet with Netanyahu and Abbas

U.S. president steps into the quagmire of the Middle East

The tricky business of telling the truth

Taraf, a small Turkish newspaper, is contributing to major changes in the country - but its work comes with a price

Duchess of York's undercover film draws Turkey's ire

Reports say Turkish government has requested Britain's help in extraditing and charging the Duchess

Ottawa spent $800,000 on Abdelrazik case

The Harper government spent more than $800,000 fighting a losing legal battle to keep Canadian citizen Abousfian Abdelrazik from coming home, according Justice Minister Rob Nicholson in a written answer delivered yesterday to the House of Commons.

UN finds evidence of Israel, Hamas war crimes in Gaza

pmartin@globeandmail.com

Whispers of, 'Is she or isn't he?' continue to chase sprinter

Reports say world champion Caster Semenya is a hermaphrodite