21.   Meanwhile, three new reports offered scant hope that the economy is improving.

22.   Negotiators voiced scant hope of major progress Monday as Palestinian, Israeli, U.S. and British leaders opened talks aimed at reviving the Mideast peace process.

23.   There was scant hope of effective action, however.

24.   Their comments suggest scant hope for reviving a cease-fire accord that has crumbled in the face of a fierce Russian offensive launched after the presidential election earlier this month.

25.   There is scant hope of Pompeii getting that kind of money, although some relief is in sight.

26.   U.S. officials had pinned scant hopes on his mission.

27.   However Italian officials said there was scant hope of finding any more survivors.

28.   Analysts believe the remaining candidates have scant hope of a second-place finish.

29.   Swiss sniffer dogs and their specialist trainers continued the search for trapped survivors on Friday, but there seemed scant hope of finding any.