Before Mr Ecclestone, they cared little for the detailed work of tying up commercial agreements with each of the race tracks covering trackside advertising, gate money, hospitality, television rights and so on.

ECONOMIST: Mr Formula One

The army, which stands behind Mr Abhisit, has a long history of covering its tracks.

ECONOMIST: And finding that, in Thailand, they no longer fit together

Artful burglars in Saudi Arabia have adopted an effective method of covering their tracks when raiding expatriate flats.

ECONOMIST: Arabian punishment: Preserving values | The