The politics of Christmas in Blair home
`With Best Wishes For Christmas And The New Year. From Tony, Cherie and Family.' Crickmay, who has photographed the Blairs before and is best known for his pictures of the Queen Mother and the royal family, was entranced by Cherie.

WTO asks Delhi, Washington to settle import-restrictions issue
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has asked India and the US to work out a mutually acceptable timeframe for dismantling of New Delhi's quantitative restrictions on imports, WTO sources said.

Aetna to buy Prudential unit for $1 billion
Aetna Inc. said it agreed to buy Prudential Insurance Co. of America's health care business for $1 billion in a deal that will make it the country's largest provider of health and dental benefits.

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  Thai Airways crash toll nears 100
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  World Vignettes
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  Saarc, European Union pact on co-operation makes little progress
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  EU warns US against action in banana row
  Singapore derivatives woo foreign players
  Nikko to form venture with Salomon Smith
  Malaysia to keep ringgit pegged at 3.8/dollar
  LG Indusutrial Systems merges two units as seeks foreign buy