11.   But cigarette companies have repeatedly denied that they misled the federal government about their knowledge of the health hazards of smoking or that they manipulated nicotine levels.

12.   But in a statement issued early Friday, Brosnahan said there had been no discussions with the government about plea negotiations.

13.   But one of his challenges was trying to convince the British government about business opportunities here.

14.   But several lawmakers who have read it described the Phoenix memorandum as the most significant document to emerge in congressional inquiries into possible warnings to the government about hijackings.

15.   But the meeting threw a revealing light on the sharp political divergence between the United States and most Western European governments about the status of employment in industrialized societies.

16.   But Yao requires a different sort of homework, starting with discussions with the Chinese government about the limitations it is likely to place on him.

17.   Cable television companies today lost a long legal battle with the federal government about whether they must include local broadcast stations in their channel lineup.

18.   Cable television companies today lost a long legal battle with the federal government about whether they must include local broadcast stations in their channel lineups.

19.   Challenge said last year it had discussions with the Western Australian state government about buying the state-owned BankWest.

20.   Chirac said he complained to the Italian government about the devaluation of the lira which he said was reducing French exports to Italy.