GM's Polish Opel division plans to trim work force by 18 percent
WARSAW, Poland (AP) The Polish arm of General Motors Corp., which produces Opel cars for the local market, intends to eliminate 350 jobs, or about 18 percent of its work force, next year, a company spokesman said Tuesday.

Bridgestone slashes sales, pretax profit forecasts on problems at U.S. unit
TOKYO (AP) Bridgestone Corp. of Japan raised its earnings estimate for the year but slashed its sales and pretax profit forecasts because of growing losses at its U.S. tiremaking business, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.

Danaher Motion to Supply New Brushless Servo Motors to Segway Company
ROCKFORD, Ill., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) announced today that its Danaher Motion platform, through its Pacific Scientific business, has a key supplier role with the Segway Company, providing brushless servo motors for the SegwayTM Human Transporter (HT), a self-balancing, electric-powered transportation device introduced today.

London share prices up at midday
LONDON (AP) Share prices on the London Stock Exchange were higher at midday Tuesday.

Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel forming alliance to reduce costs
TOKYO (AP) Nippon Steel Corp. and Kobe Steel said Tuesday they will form a business alliance to cut costs and cope better with fluctuating demand and tough competition.

Japanese government sees little economic growth for two to three years
TOKYO (AP) Japan's economy will likely stagnate for the next two or three years at a potential growth rate of about 1 percent, with recovery expected only after proposed reforms kick in, a government report said Tuesday.

EU unemployment holds steady in October
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) Unemployment across the 15 European Union countries held steady at 7.7 percent in October despite the economic downturn, the EU's statistical agency reported Tuesday.

Leading Democrat doubts Senate will consider White House effort to raise debt limit this year
WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate probably won't consider raising the government's borrowing limit in the waning weeks of this year's session, despite the Bush administration's wishes, a top Democrat says.

Stalled stimulus bill talks to begin after Democrats, GOP reach accord on procedure
WASHINGTON (AP) Serious negotiations are expected to begin on an economic stimulus bill now that Republicans and Democrats have settled a feud over procedure that had delayed the talks for a week.

Health group targets pregnant smokers in new ad campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) It is estimated that at least 13 percent of pregnant women smoke, but health advocates hope a new ad campaign will help them kick the habit.