In some countries, debt servicing has strained valuable resources that could otherwise be channelled to development.

Nevertheless, the rapid pace of urbanization has strained the capacity of Governments to provide adequate services to urban dwellers and the number of persons living in slums has been rising, amounting to about 900 million today.

Brotherly tempers started to get strained.

This has been officially admitted, so why reopen the ghastly business now, at a time when rescinding the apology would make Japan s already strained relations with China and South Korea many times worse?

We are aware that your heart is strained by what they say.

We are aware that your heart is strained by what they say.

During the reporting period, the political situation in the country remained strained.

Education is the key to giving strained populations hope for a better future.

Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

LONDON Ever since the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community in 1973, after the French withdrew Charles de Gaulle s veto of its membership, Britain s relationship with the European integration process has been strained. The British are reluctant Europeans, for historical and cultural reasons.

The recent violence in Khartoum and Juba undoubtedly strained intercommunal relations in those two cities.

As a result, the existing law is here on strained terms with an established practice.

Far from reinforcing Israel s security, its last two military adventures, in Lebanon and now in Gaza, have caused further self isolation and loss of world sympathy. Nowhere has this phenomenon been stronger than in Turkey, where those military escapades have strained the two countries strategic alliance almost to the breaking point.

President Barack Obama recently journeyed to Moscow in order to reset strained United States Russian ties. The European Union, though not in need of a reset because of strained ties with its eastern neighbors, is involved in a deep strategic reconstruction of those relations.

The Appeals Chamber is bound to be strained as trials are completed by both the ICTR and the ICTY.

Human growth has strained the Earth's resources, but as Johan Rockstrom reminds us, our advances also give us the science to recognize this and change behavior. His research has found nine planetary boundaries that can guide us in protecting our planet's many overlapping ecosystems.

Those efforts have sometimes been strained by a lack of adequate international financing for relief efforts, at other times by adverse weather or Darfur's weak infrastructure, and often by security failures resulting from armed groups' lack of commitment to the ceasefire.

It should be noted by way of context that political relations between the two countries were seriously strained at that time.

Ties between China and Japan, Asia's two largest economies, have been strained of late after a growing number of Chinese coastguard and other government ships sailed near disputed islets in the East China Sea, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

She spoke of the strained relations between the Cayman Islands and the administering Power and of the ever increasing disparity of their interests.

Given the two countries long strained relations, this visit would have been remarkable at any time. But coming as it does only one month after the alarming Russian Georgian confrontation, it may offer real hope that tensions in the volatile Caucasus region can be eased.

Given the two countries long strained relations, this visit would have been remarkable at any time. But coming as it does only one month after the alarming Russian Georgian confrontation, it may offer real hope that tensions in the volatile Caucasus region can be eased.

Comments from Washington considered that the move could irritate China on the occasion that the relations between China and the United States were strained.

At the Phi Phi Hill Resort, I was tucked into the corner furthest away from the television, but I strained to listen for information.

Even where reception systems may be strained by large numbers of illegal arrivals, it remains essential that proper procedures are in place to assess status.

This has been something that has been refused for centuries, despite the evidence.

This has been what has been a difficult sign to some of us.

Today, Côte d'Ivoire, which has been listed among the emerging countries of Africa, has been brought to its knees, but has not yet been felled.

This shrinking of the world has been as sudden as it has been profound.

When he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled.

When he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled.

Although Mr. Hariri carefully avoided this debate, his relations with President Emil Lahoud, who is generally described as the favourite of the Syrian Arab Republic, were strained.

Anil Gupta But what has it been used for? What has it been used for?

There has been no response to the disappearance, and not one person has been held accountable.

Competition among departments for staff has been intense and staff turnover has been at high levels.

After all, China s major trading partners, international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and senior Chinese officials themselves have long recognized the structural vulnerabilities caused by excessive investment and low household consumption. And, for nearly a decade, China has been urged to undertake reforms to redress these economic patterns, which have undermined the welfare of ordinary Chinese and strained the global trading system.

Where has it been?

Flash has been fired

Momentum has been building.

Time has been compressed.

Tom has been wounded.

Tom has been uncooperative.

Someone has been here.

Implementation has been completed.

Economic growth has been between 6 and 7 per cent for three years, the financial and legal framework has been tightened up, the national currency exchange rate has been stabilized, inflation has been brought under control, and peace and security have been restored in most of the national territory.