41.   U.S. and allied aircraft pounded Yugoslavia with missiles and bombs Wednesday after months of diplomacy failed to end a year of fighting between Yugoslav forces and ethnic Albanian separatists.

42.   Traditionally, the market posts strong gains in the last weeks of December as traders square off their books before ending the year.

43.   What a way to end the year.

44.   In barely two years Hanoi has managed to end its years of diplomatic isolation, a move which strengthens its bargaining hand.

45.   Asiasec Equities analyst Jacob Nocom said the market will likely end the year on higher ground Thursday, the last trading day of the year.

46.   Two children kidnapped by their father and taken to Egypt five years ago returned to France Friday, ending years of legal wrangling by their French mother.

47.   Unlike most other companies in Japan, which end their year in March, Bridgestone books a calendar year.

48.   Opinion polls show that, due in large part to Mandela, most South Africans are ending the year significantly more optimistic than they began it.

49.   The agreement to form the federation ended a year of bloody conflict between the two ethnic groups.

50.   The confirmation ended a year of speculation about who would fill the permanent post of central bank chairman.