Some EU officials privately blamed the looming US presidential election for the host nation's failure to give ground.

BBC: Trade talks failure prompts rethink

There is a bicycle effect in trade: failure to go forward creates a risk that the existing system topples to the ground.

ECONOMIST: World trade

Nasa ground controllers have re-established contact with the International Space Station less than three hours after a computer failure briefly interrupted communication.

BBC: Nasa back in contact with the International Space Station