SAN FRANCISCO, May 24- Google Inc is in talks to buy Waze, an Israeli mapping start-up that has held discussions with several large technology companies, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
*Pentagon report shows $4.5 bln drop in F-35 cost. WASHINGTON, May 23- The Pentagon on Thursday told Congress it expected a 1 percent drop in the cost of its biggest weapons program, the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jet, while averting the huge cost increases seen on other weapons programs in recent years.
WASHINGTON, May 23- The Pentagon's annual report to Congress shows a decline of $4.5 billion, or just over 1 percent, in the projected development and acquisition cost of the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jet program, sources familiar with the data said on Thursday.
JERUSALEM, May 23- Trading hours on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange will be extended by one hour next month to overlap more with Europe and the United States, in a bid to attract more foreign investors to Israeli stocks and bonds.
*Ireland takes rare aim at multinationals' tax rates. Bruton's call for an international clampdown on aggressive tax planning by large corporates is a rare negative shot at a sector that Ireland has courted for decades and underscores the high stakes for Dublin, which faces pressure to act alone.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-- In just two-and-a-half years Florida Gov. Scott arrived early Tuesday in the South American country of Chile as part of a trade mission with more than 100 people, including top officials from the state's ports and leaders of companies such as Florida Power& Light.
*Israel hopes gas finds will strengthen diplomatic hand. TEL AVIV, May 22- Israel's newfound natural gas reserves will boost its regional clout and could help it improve ties with neighbouring states in need of new energy sources, Energy Minister Silvan Shalom said.
SEOUL/ BEIJING- North Korea sent one of its top military officials as a "special envoy" from its leader Kim Jong- un to Beijing on Wednesday, accompanied by a high-powered delegation in what appeared to be a bid to mend frayed relations with its most important ally.
NEW YORK, LONDON, May 20- Crude oil prices rose on Monday, reversing early losses to trade higher by late morning in New York as the dollar weakened, but ample supplies of crude oil were expected to limit gains.
*MSCI world equities highest since 2008. LONDON, May 20- Brent crude oil slipped towards $104 per barrel on Monday on ample supplies, weaker demand for fuel and a strong dollar, despite strong equity markets. Brent crude futures for July were down 55 cents at $104.09 per barrel by 1040 GMT, after three straight sessions of gains.
*MSCI world equities highest since 2008. LONDON, May 20- Brent crude oil held above $104 per barrel on Monday, supported by strong equity markets and a slightly lower dollar, despite a weaker outlook for fuel demand and ample supplies. Brent crude futures for July were down 30 cents at $104.34 per barrel by 0810 GMT, after three straight sessions of gains.
CHENNAI, India, May 20- Brent crude futures held above $104 per barrel on Monday, supported by positive economic data and strong equity markets, while a moderate outlook for demand and ample supplies dragged on prices. "The oil market is getting into what I think will prove to be the top end of the range," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney.
CHENNAI, India, May 20- Brent crude futures held below $105 per barrel on Monday supported by positive economic data and strong equity markets, while a moderate outlook for demand and ample supplies dragged on prices.
PERTH, May 20- U.S. crude futures were steady in early Asian trading on Monday, holding above $96 a barrel after rallying last week on positive economic data in top oil consumer the United States. *U.S. oil rose 9 cents to $96.11 a barrel by 0047 GMT.
PARIS, May 19- France is in talks with the United States and Israel to buy intelligence-gathering drones to build up a modern fleet, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday. There are currently two countries in the world that build drones, the United States and Israel, " Le Drian said on TV channel iTele.
WASHINGTON, May 17- A U.S. House of Representatives panel on Friday opens the first in a series of investigative hearings in Congress on the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups for extra tax scrutiny, as the political storm over the scandal shifts to Capitol Hill.
VADUZ, May 16- Liechtenstein is reluctantly prepared to discuss exchanging data on bank clients in response to a new European Union push for more transparency from the secretive principality and other tax havens, its prime minister said.
*Cyprus gas could provide 40 pct of new EU needs. BRUSSELS/ NICOSIA, May 16- Cyprus could use its reserves of gas to meet up to 40 percent of Europe's additional gas needs over the next decade, helping to curb the European Union's reliance on Russia, the head of the island's national gas firm said.
*Unions oppose private piers at Ashdod, Haifa. *Israel's smallest port privatised in February. TEL AVIV, May 16- Israel is betting its economic future on high-tech exports but faces a low-tech bottleneck in state-owned seaports subject to work stoppages and slowdowns because of the enormous strength of their unions.
In testimony to parliament on the F-35, for which Australia is one of the largest international buyers with plans for up to 100, Australia's air force chief Air Marshal Geoff Brown said rivals were years behind the Lightning II's development.