A second, perhaps more important, cause for optimism is the fact that Colombians are more aware than ever that their political institutions are morally bankrupt. In that recognition may lay the political support needed for serious reform to take place.

Yet there is little ground for genuine optimism.

So, if serious reforms are to be implemented, strong and persistent public pressure will be needed.

And humor is a good way, I think, to address serious issues.

Tom made a few serious mistakes.

Those are careful estimates by serious economists.

The tropical countries have several severe disadvantages.

I had some bad breaks.

At the moment, it looks as if there is nothing to fear from China.

But the current situation calls for far more serious measures.

Japan also faces serious demographic challenges.

One of the most serious occurred in 2010.

According to the Madrid Election Board there are no special or serious reasons for the urgent call for mass demonstrations.

Realizing such a plan may require overcoming serious challenges and the commitment of large financial resources over a period of many decades.

Given that one of the largest threats to the species is due to trade, regulation could make a huge difference.

The first time, the image escaped heavy damage because of the militants incompetence.

Loss of biological diversity is one of the most severe such threats.

But there are several serious conceptual flaws in this reasoning.

There is no doubt that he is guilty of serious war crimes.

And yet, there is no getting away from the strictly business explanation.

But if there is no serious effort at fiscal consolidation, serious trouble lies ahead, both for the US and for the world economy.

Rather than rich countries giving more lectures about poor governance, real solutions will require that rich countries give sufficient financial assistance to overcome the deeper barriers.

Noting with serious concern the threat, as a result of this drought, of a serious negative impact on the Somali economy, and in particular on the pastoral economy and social support systems,

Budget limitations pose some of the greatest challenges to the US military s efforts to maintain its technological edge.

In short, Israel should treat the UN vote not as an excuse for renewed confrontation, but as an opportunity for a fresh start to serious negotiations.

Walaupun sering menjadi berita utama, konflik kekerasan semakin berkurang.

In a space of 50 years, the nuclear industry has experienced three serious incidents.

It was because of new and serious challenges to the faith arising from the rapid transformation and secularization of Irish society.

Poor countries suffer from a multitude of growth constraints, and effective reforms address the most binding among them.

WASHINGTON, DC More than any of the previous events in the Arab Spring, Syria s turmoil has presented serious difficulties for Western policymakers.

By contrast, no one whatever a society's characteristics has ever seriously questioned whether cancer is a disease.

Thus, the US urgently needs to begin making four serious changes.

But no serious disarmament negotiations have been pursued since.

Some of the rowdiest action of the night took place south of the park.

The resulting fracture zones in the Balkans and the Middle East, for example are the source of some of today s gravest risks to regional and even world peace.

Nonetheless, the importance of remittances to households in poor countries, especially during periods of external shock, holds two lessons.

These new divisions would become a reason for new fears, even more serious fears than those caused by the novelty or clumsiness of today's postcommunist democracies.

Shrouded in secrecy and legend, the Nobel Prize first became an object for serious scholarly study after 1976, when the Nobel Foundation opened its archives.

(d) That domestic violence is of public concern and requires States to take serious action to protect victims and prevent domestic violence

China s strategy has had more success without provoking serious risks against the weaker Philippines.

Nor can the risk of violent clashes between pro and anti Chávez forces be ruled out.

Security threats are among the most serious setbacks in transitions.

Clearly, there is a deficit of useful information and serious scientific research in this field.

TILBURG, THE NETHERLANDS The current economic crisis highlights the need for major changes at central banks.

This instability also makes it difficult to address other grave problems affecting the global financial system.