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Problems to be solved? English Queen leading countries without leader (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

equations

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'problems' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'solved? english queen leading countries without leader' is the wordplay.
'solved? english queen leading' becomes 'equ' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'countries' becomes 'nations' ('nation' can be a synonym of 'country').
'without leader' means to remove the first letter.
'nations' with its first letter taken off is 'ations'.
'equ'+'ations'='EQUATIONS'

'to be' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for equations that I've seen before include "Mathematical assertions that two expressions are equal" , "'In maths, assertions that two expressions are equal (9)'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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