And that in turn may make Spain's bailout yet more expensive.. before it's even begun.

CNN: First relief in Spain...then reflection

Indeed, last week the tentative revival of the peace process was almost extinguished before it had begun: Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, briefly suspended all contacts between his government and Mr Abbas's, following a deadly attack on a border crossing by Palestinian militants.

ECONOMIST: Abbas sends in his men | The

PCCW, Hong Kong's incumbent telecoms company, ended this week before it had even properly begun.

ECONOMIST: Telecoms