1.   Drought and extreme heat have gripped the region in recent weeks.

2.   It may have been enough to tempt some people into complacency, but it was not nearly enough to ease the drought that has gripped the region for weeks.

3.   The worst may not be over for the market as long as currency concerns continue to grip the region, analysts said.

4.   Their efforts were said to be hampered by the presence of landmines, which had been planted during the war that has gripped the region in recent years.

5.   At the meeting, Chuan and Goh discussed on how to cope with the turmoil gripping the region and discussed ways in reducing its dependency on the US dollar.

6.   But upstaging trade talks were the financial concerns gripping the region.

7.   During the height of winter as subfreezing temperatures gripped the region, dozens died daily in this camp and in a string of refugee camps in Afghanistan itself.

8.   Harsh winter weather has gripped the region in recent weeks.

9.   Sony said it expected sales to decline further in Asia, Russia, Latin America and Eastern Europe due to the economic crisis gripping those regions.

10.   The leaders assert they have done the right things since the financial crisis gripped the region.