In retrospect, though, cracks in the Soviet Union were (it is argued) becoming evident as early as the late 1960s, although it would not break up until 1991.

ECONOMIST: Galina Brezhneva

Westwood and Kaymer began Europe's challenge and finished the day one up, although they had been three up before the rain-break.

BBC: Ryder Cup 2010: US edge rain-affected first day

Although electrospun bovine serum albumin does not actually break up into droplets, the resulting threads have been so short and irregular as to be useless.

ECONOMIST: Monitor

It is a common refrain from bankers that the euro area no longer functions as a single financial market, although that has the paradoxical advantage of making a break-up less destructive.

ECONOMIST: Europe in limbo

In the closing minutes, Edinburgh got their second converted try from a good break by Cairns and, although it is Glasgow who move up to third in the Magners League, Edinburgh won back the 1872 Cup.

BBC: Glasgow 25-20 Edinburgh

Although Pandit and other executives are expected to also fend off calls for a break-up on Friday when the company offers a four-hour presentation to investors and analysts, the asset sale could be viewed as de-facto response to those critics.

FORBES: Magazine Article

And although the ECB has not solved the euro crisis, it has made a traumatic break-up less likely.

ECONOMIST: America��s economy