21.   The retailer may not have considered its plans sufficient to drive profit growth, and approached Asda about four months ago, said a person familiar with the talks.

22.   The surgery will take place in the Caribbean because Scott as too ill to travel to the U.S., the person familiar with the situation said.

23.   The Yankees are one of six teams bidding for the Cuban pitcher ROLANDO ARROJO, according to a person familiar with the bidding.

24.   Those disagreements, said one person familiar with the Colorado situation, created some strain between Zimmer and Baylor.

25.   Yamaichi has been seeking a bailout or merger with a foreign bank or brokerage, said a person familiar with the company.

26.   One person familiar with the case said the government did not take his deposition because strict limitations were placed on what questions could be asked.

27.   One person familiar with the matter indicated that federal obstruction-of-justice charges would be filed in Houston as early as Thursday afternoon.

28.   Quoting one person familiar with the draft report, The Washington Post said the Pentagon could not verify some elements of the original AP story.

29.   The collapse of the secret negotiations occurred after the outlines of a deal had been struck, a person familiar with the case said Thursday.