Fourth, if Messrs Netanyahu and Barak reckon that they need America's military might to complete what they start, there may be no better combination to ensure that than a politically weak president whose Republican opponents have made unquestioning support for Israel a wedge issue a year before a presidential election.

ECONOMIST: Israel squares up to Iran

The new machines not only let players lose money the traditional way, praying for the right combination of bars, but engage them in a live-action family feud complete with a smarmy digital host.

FORBES: High Stakes

They like the combination's potential synergies, such as AMD's ability to offer a complete chip platform, similar to Intel's end-to-end products.

FORBES: AMD Makes Its Move

The combination is subject to customary regulatory and other approvals, including merger control clearances, and is expected to complete in the second half of 2013.

ENGADGET: Penguin and Random House merge, promise a brave new e-book future