Take the council elections of 1990, at the height of the row over the poll tax.

ECONOMIST: Voting

This remark was meant for Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary-general, who visited Canberra at the height of the row, mainly to acknowledge Australia's work in restoring order in East Timor.

ECONOMIST: Australia

At the height of the political row around the organisation, PAC chair Darren Millar had asked, during the Assembly's plenary session, whether Awema had "run its course".

BBC: Following the money - and wincing

The crisis also comes at the height of the banana row between the EU and the United States, which needs the full attention of the commission if it is not to escalate into a wider trade war.

BBC: By Political Correspondent Nick Assinder