21.   Akili Smith, picked third by Cincinnati, will start this week despite missing time due to a protracted contract squabble.

22.   Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said he will meet the Dalai Lama privately next week despite stern warnings from China not to do so.

23.   Blue chips led Wall Street higher Wednesday, lifting the Nasdaq composite index to its first positive finish this week despite a continuing slide in technology stocks.

24.   Blue chips led Wall Street higher Wednesday, boosting the Nasdaq composite index to its first positive finish this week despite a continuing slide in technology stocks.

25.   But the northern alliance took over Kabul this week despite U.N. requests that it halt outside the capital.

26.   Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac was expected to play this week despite an elbow injury that knocked him out of the victory over the St. Louis Rams.

27.   Clashes between guerrillas and Indonesian troops have increased in recent weeks despite the U.N. talks.

28.   Controversial billionaire Boris Berezovsky said Tuesday he plans to return to Russia this week despite a warrant issued for his arrest.

29.   Clashes between pro-independence guerrillas and Indonesian troops have increased in recent weeks despite revitalized U.N.-sponsored talks between Indonesia and Portugal.

30.   Fighting has raged on in the tiny Caucasus Mountain republic in recent weeks despite a cease-fire declared to accompany the peace talks.