"Patrick had been ill for a long time but bore all of his troubles with great fortitude, " she said.

BBC: Patrick Garland and Alexandra Bastedo

The new geopolitical situation partly explains this political shift: the old demons of the Cold War have vanished a long time ago and, similarly, troubles in former Yugoslavian republics are now part of the past.

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Mr. Assange's legal battle has compounded WikiLeaks' troubles at a time when the document-leaking website is facing a number of difficulties, including constrained finances.

WSJ: U.K. Court Backs Assange Extradition

Good news at last, it seems, and not before time: sterling is beginning to lose a bit of its competitive edge against the euro as Europe's troubles pile up.

ECONOMIST: British exports: Trading out of trouble | The

This survey will argue that the time is ripe for a new round of global trade talks not in spite of but because of the current economic troubles.

ECONOMIST: A survey of world trade