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NEW YORK – Stocks extended their gains Friday after a court ruling favorable to the tobacco industry boosted cigarette shares while a weaker-than-expected jobs report eased concerns about faster interest-rate hikes. A brokerage upgrade helped the semiconductor sector and soothing comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan (search) alleviated fears …

New England Patriots (16-2) face the Philadelphia Eagles (15-3) in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Philadelphia Eagles: Who are they? Coach: Andy Reid – sixth season with the Eagles. Strong points: Donovan McNabb helped the team roll through the playoffs despite the loss of Terrell Owens to an injury. McNabb went 38-for-59 …

Key political events in Lebanon’s recent history: — 1952: Riad Solh, first prime minister of independent Lebanon (search), assassinated. — 1958: Six-month civil war between Muslims and leftists loyal to Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser on one side and Christian parties backed by the United States and France who supported …