Read about living in war-damaged Damascus, tweeting in Oman, and how Mitt Romney's defeat hurt Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

• The Economist: Netanyahu - Bad bets (November 9)

"Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, suffered not one but two vicarious electoral defeats on Tuesday. Twice this week he has had to swallow hard and congratulate candidates he hoped would lose. The winners were equally cordial to him on the phone. If they enjoyed his discomfiture, they concealed it well."

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