1.   George Pace, the project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., said preparations and final tests for the launching were proceeding smoothly.

2.   The exhibits include passports, flight schedules, telephone bills and security and telephone logs at the hotel in Manila where prosecutors say the preparations were made.

3.   But the Interfax news agency today quoted an unidentified Defense Ministry source as saying preparations for a ground operation have entered their final stage.

4.   But Zhu said flood preparations and water-control projects were still inadequate in many areas.

5.   He said preparations and seismic remodeling had paid off.

6.   Hiring was exceptionally strong at restaurants and bars, and analysts said preparations for the summer Olympics in Atlanta helped boost the total.

7.   Deputy Polish economy minister Andrzej Szarawarski, who will meet with Malaysian defense and economy ministers, said the preparation of the contract conditions will take several months.

8.   Croatian church sources said preparations for a meeting between the pontiff and Croatian clergy and faithful in Marja Bistrica, near Zagreb, began over a month ago.

9.   Takeda said cold preparations and agricultural chemicals also supported the larger profit.