Other fears are that the Asian economic recovery will prove less muscular than hoped (the port of Seattle is a major export route to Asia) and that the Department of Justice may carry out its veiled threats to break up Microsoft.

ECONOMIST: Troubled cities 2

The RSPCA has failed in a renewed attempt to challenge the legality of the export of live sheep through the port of Ramsgate in Kent.

BBC: RSPCA fails to halt live sheep exports from Ramsgate

The goods were passed for export at the Port of Dover in Kent because computer systems were down for maintenance on that day.

BBC: Surrey businessman 'illegally exported parts to Iran'