Global Times quotes South Korean media on secret orders reportedly given by North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un to bringforwardthedate of a third nuclear test.
Optimists will point out that 500bn euros of bailout money should be available for use reasonably quickly to prop up the likes of Italy and Spain, as a result of the leaders' decisions to expedite expansion of the European Financial Stability Facility and bringforwardthe launch date of the European Stability Mechanism.
The ruling military - the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) - headed by Field Marshal Tantawi, has been under pressure to bringforwardthe election date to May.
Indeed, he may well think he has silenced his critics and can afford to bringforward to a date this year the general election that must be held by April 2000.