For some time, the hate-target of the second camp has been Giulio Tremonti, Forza Italia's acid-tongued finance minister, who shut them out of discussions, made policies they disliked and announced them without consultation.

ECONOMIST: Italian politics

And now there is a criminal probe of Olmert's role in the privatization of Israel's second largest bank when he was finance minister.

NPR: Israeli Army Chief Resigns

Second Minister for Finance Mustapa Mohamed says the country is benefiting from a high rate of savings (42% of GNP), a current-account surplus and decelerating inflation.

CNN: THE LONG, HARD CLIMB BACK UP