41.   One of the few remaining specimens of a bird considered on the verge of extinction died Tuesday, dimming hopes the species can survive.

42.   Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori departed Sunday for a summit with President Bush amid political turmoil in Japan that has dimmed hopes of a substantial meeting.

43.   Scattered new clashes in Chechnya and tough talk by both warring sides have dimmed hopes for peace anytime soon in the breakaway Russian region.

44.   That dims hopes of deficit cuts in the core nations of the single currency project.

45.   Talks between Gazprom and NTV on the fate of the network crumbled Friday, dimming hopes for a compromise.

46.   Tensions aroused by the latest violence have dimmed hopes that diplomacy can head off a return to full-scale war in the separatist Serbian province.

47.   The clashes around Tetovo were the worst in months and dimmed hopes that peace talks that collapsed last month could be revived.

48.   The clashes, the worst in months, broke a fragile cease-fire and dimmed hopes that peace talks which collapsed last week could be revived.

49.   The grenade attack two weeks ago dimmed hopes for a peaceful, honest election campaign next year and led to calls for a U.N.-organized poll.

50.   The latest violence has dimmed hopes that diplomacy can head off a return to full-scale war in Kosovo.