The U.S. position exposes differences with its Gulf ally Saudi Arabia, which had welcomed Mursi's removal and has lavished financial support to the new government. It also raises the question of where Egypt, the second largest recipient of U.S. aid after Israel, could now turn for more military aid.

"Most studies estimate that [the increase in lifelong earnings] at comfortably over 100,000, and the latest at 168,000 for men and 252,000 for women."

This is Citi in "reflective" mood after the financial crisis, after the bank signed up for the next series of The Choir, the BBC2 workplace singing contest fronted by Gareth Malone, to prove that bankers are in tune with the rest of the nation.

Government plans also include sending a delegation from every state secondary school in the country to visit battlefields.

A government is not just one Minister, not even just the Prime Minister. If as a Secretary of State you cannot persuade your colleagues to back your proposed policies, then there is only one thing to do. However, you cannot impose your views on another. Sometimes you have to go along with things you don't like, or walk out and leave your place to be taken by someone else. It is not an easy judgment and it is not either only Left- or only Right wingers who have to make it.