On January 5th, over 5, 000 Ford workers occupied the firm's Sao Paulo factory, because 2, 800 of them are to be sacked.

ECONOMIST: Double parked

On January 5th, a viaduct carrying the motorway that crosses the mountains between the capital and the airport was closed indefinitely.

ECONOMIST: A bit more cut off from the world

And during this year's count, which ends on January 5th, Arkansas birdwatchers have been looking most carefully for the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker.

ECONOMIST: A splendid tradition in its 109th year

Kim Dae Jung, who was elected president last month, said on January 5th that he would introduce laws making it easier for firms to sack workers.

ECONOMIST: Korean glums

Warren Buffett, a celebrated American investor and the holder of a stake of almost 10% in Kraft, fired an unexpected salvo of his own on January 5th.

ECONOMIST: Novartis's bid for Alcon

On January 5th rumours swept Wall Street that derivatives losses had brought Bank of America low, and that the interest-rate cut had been intended to keep this bank alive.

ECONOMIST: The extraordinary edginess of crowds

Adolf Merckle, the founder of a drugs, cement and engineering conglomerate, committed suicide on January 5th after burdening his empire with heavy debts and misguided financial gambles that ultimately cost his family control.

ECONOMIST: European family firms in the recession

Then, on January 5th, leaks claimed that Mr Obama had named Leon Panetta, Bill Clinton's chief of staff, as CIA director, even though Mr Panetta has no direct experience of the intelligence world.

ECONOMIST: The Democrats are hitting a few speed bumps

The shareholders must decide by January 5th.

BBC: Cadbury and Hershey in bid talks

As soon as the chamber convened on January 5th, Tom Udall, a Democrat from New Mexico, put forward a motion to change the rules of the filibuster, whereby 41 of the 100 senators can stymie almost any measure.

ECONOMIST: Bickering and stalemate loom for America��s new Congress