The main obstacle may not be emissions cuts, which will not change much, but the closely linked issues of the shape of a deal and how much money it involves.

ECONOMIST: The Copenhagen climate talks

But the model fell foul of two closely linked disruptions and one implacable trend.

ECONOMIST: Asian welfare states: New cradles to graves | The

Karel Schwarzenberg is a titled prince, 75 years of age but wildly popularly amongst young, urban voters - and closely linked to the country's first president, the late Vaclav Havel, he adds.

BBC: Czech election: two candidates in second round run-off

Compared with El Salvador, not only is Ecuador's economy less closely linked to that of the United States but its inflation rate is higher, its labour market more rigid, and its economy still unreformed.

ECONOMIST: Dollarisation in Latin America

He also pointed out that Nigeria does not have many commuter railways, so people have little choice but to use motorcycle and minibus taxis, whose prices are closely linked to the price of petrol.

BBC: Nigeria fury as fuel prices double after subsidy ends

How closely Liverpool and Boston may be linked remains to be seen but the common ownership may cause certain rivalries to become even more entrenched.

BBC: When baseball meets football: Boston and Liverpool

So I can tell you that there is no indication that these incidents are linked or part of any larger coordinated effort, but ISAF is closely examining the incidents and has taken steps to improve the vetting process.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Investors also reduced their exposure to other economies deemed likely to follow the Brazilian example, but increased their allocation of money to other markets that, like Brazil, are closely linked to Chinese growth.

ECONOMIST: Free exchange