In the past few weeks, Shell's communications team has been busy trying to spin its way out of a series of recent crises, but it can't change the facts.

CNN: Shell Oil's multibillion dollar Arctic hoax

While Mr Abbas's people were busy trying to spin their way out of the Goldstone imbroglio, Hamas gleefully celebrated the release of the 20 women prisoners it had secured in exchange for a videotape of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier seized by Hamas over three years ago.

ECONOMIST: The Palestinians and the Goldstone report: Stranded between America and the street | The