Mr Blair hopes agreement will be reached on Russian involvement in decision-making by the planned Prague summit next autumn, when Nato will announce the size of its next wave of expansion.

BBC: Analysis: Nato and Russia draw closer

And when a wave meets an obstacle of about the same size as its wavelength, it is scattered in a process known as diffraction.

ECONOMIST: REPORT: PROTEOMICS: After the genome | The

This development is made possible by a new wave of technology: radio-frequency ID chips the size of pepper grains, broadband wireless and Web-based "dashboards" enabling monitoring and management.

FORBES: Your Product's a Hit

But the second wave, in which Ireland was rescued and fresh doubts were raised about the size of the fund, has forced Mrs Merkel to shift.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne