1.   An unidentified analyst in the Guardian newspaper said Microsoft and BT are in exploratory talks about a merger or an alliance.

2.   At its annual meeting in Washington last weekend, the players discussed the matter favorably and opened exploratory talks, according to one player representative.

3.   British civil servants and Sinn Fein officials are expected to discuss disarmament later this week in exploratory talks.

4.   Comcast has also held exploratory talks with Walt Disney Co., the executives said.

5.   Exploratory talks have been held to consider a possible merger of Tele-TV and Americast, the two Baby Bell television programming alliances, industry sources said Tuesday.

6.   Gut and Senn held what CS Holding called exploratory talks, apparently without specifying merger terms like the price and the management structure of the successor institution.

7.   In recent weeks, Garden officials also held exploratory talks with Riddick Bowe, the former heavyweight champion.

8.   Ireland will insist that elections be preceded by exploratory talks.

9.   Pressure is bound to mount upon the British government to get exploratory talks moving.

10.   Sinn Fein and British officials are expected to discuss disarmament Monday in the second round of their exploratory talks in Belfast.