Israel

It was hardly surprising that by late last week, President Barack Obama, of the United States, appeared to be playing down the so-called "worst crisis since 1975" in relations between his country and Israel.

An Israeli man who kept a cult-like harem of women and fathered dozens of children with them has been charged in a Tel Aviv court with enslavement, rape, incest and other sexual offences.

The women tattooed his name and portrait on their bodies and gave their children his name - Saviour.