Heartwarming news from Brussels, where Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, and Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner, are back on first-name terms. The pair fell out spectacularly two years ago when the former was US trade secretary.

At the time Zoellick accused the Briton, who had a reputation as something of a public relations guru, of spinning. While Mandy liked to refer to him as Bob, the erudite American stuck with Mr Mandelson.