21.   The number of international applications for patents rose by a quarter last year, the U.N. body which administers the scheme said Friday.

22.   The worst heat was on the island of Sicily, where scirocco winds rose by early afternoon to signal a break in the heat was over.

23.   Gilts rose by a quarter of a point.

24.   Gilts rose by three quarters of a point.

25.   Gilt-edged stock rose by a quarter of a point.

26.   Gilt-edges stock rose by up to a quarter of a point.

27.   Guatieri, who joined the chorus of economists tipping no-change in rates at the Federal Reserve meeting, said he expected rates to start rising by mid-year.

28.   Heavy rainfall has resumed in the Caucasian republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia and water levels are rising by the hour.

29.   Imports of meat and poultry rose by more than fourfold while imports of apples more than tripled, of butter more than doubled and of medicines more than quadrupled.

30.   With both nations now in battle-ready positions, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said tensions were rising by the hour.