But on that fateful Friday, when the North American plate slid over the Pacific plate along a subduction zone running 130km (80 miles) off the Pacific coast of northern Japan, the shock leapt from the first segment to a second and on to a third, extending the fault zone some 400km and increasing its intensity more than 30-fold.

ECONOMIST: The myth and reality of the Japanese earthquake

But it's not all the fault of the euro zone.

WSJ: Euro Crisis Clouds Global Outlook

Nor is it the chancellor's fault if the unintelligent application of the euro zone's crude rules have, for now, reduced any chance of winning round the sceptical (and very constant) two-thirds majority in Britain who oppose euro entry although Mr Balls bullishly claimed a referendum could still be won if the economic tests were met.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

The police said an electrical fault was the likely cause for the fire in the Ashulia industrial zone.

BBC: Bangladesh clothes workers die in factory fire

The Tories may point out that the unexpectedly suicidal economic policy in the euro zone, Britain's main market, is hardly their fault.

ECONOMIST: British politics