11.   President Sixto Duran Ballen began his last year in office Thursday with declining popularity and amid bribery accusations against his vice president.

12.   Ramos gathered the Cabinet for a day-long performance review amid growing discontent over his administration, as shown by his declining popularity in recent polls.

13.   The main opposition Grand National Party has also begun its primaries, with four candidates, hoping to shore up its declining popularity.

14.   The trade commission suspects the company instructed retailers to maintain high prices on its shoes despite their declining popularity, Kyodo News reported, citing unidentified commission sources.

15.   Wimbledon gave the sport two weeks in the spotlight, exposure it badly needed in a bid to reverse declining popularity, particularly in the United States.

16.   Yeltsin is virtually certain to run again and is already acting like a candidate, despite health problems and his declining popularity.