Some have said the director narrowed the list of potential buyers too soon, didn't dig deeply enough into alternatives to taking Dell private, and failed to lock up support from another investor, Southeastern Asset Management Inc.

WSJ: Dell Director Becomes Middleman in Buyout Battle

That meant that several important countries were prepared to give the foreign-policy post to a British candidate, if that might lock in British support for much more ambitious developments in diplomacy and foreign policy.

ECONOMIST: The EU presidency

Centre Anthony Allen rounded prop Iestyn Thomas in midfield and found lock George Skivington in support.

BBC: Scarlets 18-32 Leicester Tigers

The bad news: It provided funding for only one year, and Zhu had to rush to lock in more financial support almost as soon as he arrived in California.

FORBES: Rice Fields Yield Internet Riches

Leinster suffered a blow 10 minutes before half-time when lock Leo Cullen received a yellow card for taking out a support player as Scott Morgan gathered a lineout ball but Dragons were unable to make their numerical advantage count.

BBC: Leinster 27-6 Dragons

As the European Commission pointed out this week in a private paper revealed by the FT, if the new rescue package did trigger a "selective default" and lock Greek banks out of ECB funding, Greece would then need additional official support, to shore up their banks.

BBC: More time to argue about Greece

But this view is one that receives little support among international conservation groups and the opposing sides are lining up to lock horns in Santiago.

BBC: African elephants, Ifaw

Apple should not be worried by this at all. iOS 5 has a huge amount of support and goodwill, and they still have the immense app and media lock in afforded by the iTunes music store.

FORBES: Microsoft Pulls Apple Closer To The Windows Phone Ecosystem

Support for gifs is also included, as well as birthday reminders in Google Now and a new lock screen widget.

ENGADGET: Google+ update offers seasonal cheer through 18 new features: improves mobile apps, hangouts and events (updated)