Cloherty and other intrepid VCs say that they are learning from their mistakes, but venture investing in Russia still looks like a trek through Siberia without a map.

FORBES: Porcelain and portals

Jenin is a rare place in the Arab world where ordinary people have a good word for Tony Blair, whose visits as envoy for the Quartet (the EU, Russia, the UN and the United States) put the city on the map.

ECONOMIST: Palestinians and the talks

In April this year, under international pressure, Mr Arafat appointed the more moderate Mr Abbas as prime minister and, in June, President George Bush got Mr Sharon and Mr Abbas to shake hands on the road map, a peace plan drawn up by America, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, which envisages an independent Palestinian state by 2005.

ECONOMIST: Road to nowhere | The

She said political settlements will be based on the road map for Middle East peace backed by the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

CNN: Peres quits Labor Party, backs Sharon

The road map was drafted last year by diplomats from America, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

ECONOMIST: Serious about peace