Bin Laden may be planning attack on US, says weekly
Suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden may be planning strikes on Washington or New York to avenge a US missile strike on his Afghan headquarters in August, Time magazine reported on Sunday.

Japan's economy has not bottomed out, says survey
Japanese business confidence worsened in December from the previous quarter, a Bank of Japan (BOJ) survey showed on Monday, giving little backing to upbeat views by some officials who said the economy was close to bottoming out.

Something for nothing: free software on the internet
Fax software for the home PC, an electronic address book, a screen-saver featuring a dancing baby -- and all of these programmes for free? These days, the typical computer user doesn't need cash, just an internet connection to get free software.

  Puerto Ricans reject option of US statehood
  Man executed Taliban-style in Pak tribal area
  Down to Earth
  Newsmakers of Tehran
  Reuters gears up for launch of euro
  Oracle, Sun may team up against Microsoft
  Blockbuster IPO from Viacom may be delayed
  Europe finance firms await euro's rise
  Sterling stand will hingeon Britain's decision
  Australian coal miners oppose Japan price cuts
  Asian rubber unlikely to benefit from Inro intervention
  UK's National Grid to buy New England
  Foreign funds may buy into Thai banks' shares
  MCI WorldCom offers $323m for Australian Internet firm OzEmail
  Key oil partners differ on toning down putput
  GEC sees decision soon after BAe reports
  EU grain trade woes fade as euro nears deadline
  World Briefing
  Asian palm oil await fresh data
  "Nippon Credit takeover a signal to Japan banks"
  Euro, not champagne for London's New Year
  Tokyo stocks fall 2% on poor business outlook