61.   Kawasaki Steel -- which is to merge operations with NKK Corp. -- and Kobe Steel are considering joint research and development into welding materials for steel pipes and plates.

62.   Medium-sized Japanese general contractor Mitsui Construction Co. Ltd. said Tuesday it had begun talks with Sumitomo Construction Co. Ltd. on merging their operations.

63.   NEC, Packard Bell merge personal computer operations -

64.   Nippon Paper denied it planned to merge some operations of its Tohoku Paper Industries Co. Ltd. unit with Japan Paper.

65.   Nippon Paper said in a statement it was looking at merging some operations but at the moment had nothing concrete to announce.

66.   Norwegian drilling company Transocean has received a written proposal from Texas-based Sonat Offshore Drilling to merge their operations, Transocean said Friday.

67.   Plans to merge the operations of Rodamco North America and Westfield America Trust, with Westfield assuming full control, were fiercely resisted by the Rodamco board.

68.   The EU Commission gave crisis approval for paper tissue and toilet paper giants Kimberly-Clark and Scott Paper to merge their operations outside the Union on Tuesday.

69.   The government has already starting merging all operations of such industries as cement, electricity production and coal into conglomerates.

70.   The pair aim to merge operations in October to boost business amid a worldwide slump in demand for flights.