All true, but it was also the product of bitter experience, good management and careful investment.

BBC: Home-spun wisdom seals Cardiff Blues' European glory

Many obstacles block the way: not just Israel's complicated wants and fears but also, on the Palestinian side, the bitter rift between Fatah and Hamas.

ECONOMIST: Israel and the Arabs

The platform was packed - not only with the fortunate passengers who had their Willy Wonka-esque burgundy and gold tickets, but also with steam enthusiasts who had braved the bitter cold to catch a glimpse of this majestic train.

BBC: Steam train returns to London Underground - 150 years on

But the trials are also seen as part of a long and bitter rivalry between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the main opposition leader, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is allied with the Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami, many of whose leaders face charges before the tribunal.

NPR: Bangladeshis Demand Death For War Crimes Convict

His mother took in washing, but also saw that her son learned piano, where he encountered the bitter songs of the first world war.

ECONOMIST: Charles Causley

The last time the entertainment industry experienced a major strike was in 1988, when a bitter five-month work stoppage not only delayed the television season but also crippled the industry.

FORBES: Reality TV's Big Break

It owns some of beer's best brands, not only Carlsberg but also Tuborg, Pripps, Falcon and, in the U.K., Tetley Bitter and Burton Ale.

FORBES: A Beer That Lost Its Head