This week has witnessed an extraordinary sight - a German chancellor openly taking sides in a French election.

BBC: Europe: Waiting on Athens

The swirling green mound rises up from a sea of mud and rubble - an extraordinary sight not yet properly visible from the ground.

BBC: Above Scotland with an aerial archaeologist

It has even led to the extraordinary sight of major media outlets this week banding together to boycott meetings planned by Eric Holder to discuss Justice's press investigations.

WSJ: Strassel: Is the Obama-Media Alliance Over?

Second the credit crunch had started to hit home and for the first time in more than a hundred years, there had been a run on a British bank with the extraordinary sight of queues of savers lining up outside branches of Northern Rock to extract their cash.

BBC: Political review 2008: Conservatives

But as we memorialize their extraordinary acts in statues and stone, let us not lose sight of the enduring truth that they were citizens first.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

The sight of the German's red car consistently ahead of its rivals delights those who appreciate his extraordinary skills, although it may no longer be attractive for millions of television watchers seeking more obvious thrills.

ECONOMIST: Manfred von Brauchitsch