Of course, they say that misery loves company, and Whitman is surrounded by familiar faces with whom she can share the doldrums.

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After four years of misery, Weill left the credit-card company and began to forge a comeback that would eventually be far more grand and imposing.

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Not only is he beset by political difficulties at home, including the controversial trial of his sacked finance minister, Anwar Ibrahim, but Dr Mahathir also faces the wrath of foreign investors and is anxious to attract some company before the misery arrives.

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