This would permit their customers to write cheques and transfer money electronically into and out of their accounts.

ECONOMIST: Bank mergers in Canada

Although Mr Cornwell has lived in America since 1979, when he joined his future wife and gave up a career as a television producer to write because that meant he would not need a work permit, he has retained a very British sense of irony.

ECONOMIST: Writers in profile

Mr Gingrich's team vowed to pursue an "aggressive write-in campaign" - although Virginia does not permit this.

BBC: Newt Gingrich fails to qualify for Virginia poll