Thus, the "item-improved" instruments retain the stem of the original items, but have "improved" the tense to "present" and the response categories to "five" (together with minor improvements in clarity and phrasing).
PAGE A6 CHINESE PRESIDENT VISITS JAPAN The leaders of China and Japan pledged to make their nations partners instead of rivals as the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, began a goodwill mission to Tokyo aimed at improving the often-tense relations between the Asian powers.
TOKYO — The leaders of China and Japan pledged Wednesday to make their nations partners instead of rivals as the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, began a good-will mission to Tokyo aimed at improving often tense relations between the Asian powers.
And in Israel, he will likely be able to draw on reserves of good will for his many years, as a cardinal, improving once tense relations between Catholics and Jews.
Mr Hussein admitted the briefing had been "tense" and an investigation was under way to try to improve the situation.
Now, the relationship between Britain and Russia has improved too, certainly since the tense period of the Cold War, but there does remain the strong sense that we are still competitors.
Analysis: Condemnation of Israeli assault complicates relations with U.S. The worldwide condemnation of the deadly Israeli assault on the Gaza aid flotilla will complicate the Obama administration's efforts to improve its tense relations with Jerusalem and will probably distract from the push to sanction Iran over its nuclear program.
During his two and a half years running Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) on the northern coast of KwaZulu Natal, Mr Dlamini has done much to improve tense relations with the government and the state-owned rail company that brings coal to the terminal.
President Felipe Calderón of Mexico, who has been working to improve once tense relations with Cuba, said that he might postpone a planned trip there because of a decision by the Cuban government, in the wake of the swine flu outbreak, to ban flights between the countries.
North and South Korea have held their highest level talks in years, exploring ways to improve their tense relations.
