51.   Hokuriku Bank may withdraw from overseas operations as part of a restructuring program, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported, without citing sources.

52.   Hitachi Maxell Ltd. will assemble batteries for cellular phones at its British subsidiary from next year, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said, without citing sources.

53.   In its current issue, Newsweek magazine cites sources as saying that a California court quietly stripped Lou Brown of his share of the guardianship last summer.

54.   It cited sources close to the case saying that the replacement of Liu was a sign that China wanted the case resolved.

55.   Israeli Radio, citing military sources, said a squad of Palestinians were ambushed by soldiers who believed they were laying a bomb.

56.   Japanese firms are having trouble finding ways to avoid foreign exchange losses arising from currency turmoil in Southeast Asia, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported, without citing sources.

57.   Just hours before tipoff, NBC aired a report citing sources saying Van Gundy could be fired if the team lost to Charlotte that day.

58.   Kawasaki Steel Corp. plans to introduce a low-cost, high-speed router for computer networks this month, the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported, without citing sources.

59.   Japan rejected a proposal by the U.S. government to remove restrictions on flights in Japan, the Nikkei English News wire service reported, without citing sources.