February 7, 2003

In this rousing, cheerful sequel "Shanghai Knights," the former Imperial Guard Chon Wang (Jackie Chan) learns that his father has been killed while guarding the royal seal in the Forbidden City. When Chon gets the bad news, he quits his job as a small-town sheriff in the Old West and heads off to find the murderer. He heads to New York to find his fast-talking friend and helpless action sidekick from "Shanghai Noon," Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson). Currently down on his luck, Roy joins Chon as they make for Victorian England, where Chon has learned his papa's assassin is hiding. He also learns his sister, Lin (Fann Wong), is on the bloody trail, too. In genre terms, this time it's impersonal. — Elvis Mitchell

Japan's UFJ Holdings says losses on its portfolio grew to 643.7 billion yen ($5.4 billion); problem loans shrank 4 percent, to 4.82 trillion yen ($40.2 billion), at end of December (S)

European Central Bank says it will not lower interest rates, despite shadow that looming war is casting over Continent's economy and despite euro's recent rise in value against US dollar; bank's president Wim Duisenberg says global outlook is so murky that lowering rates now might not have desired effect on economic activity (M)

Air Lib, France's second-largest airline, loses its operating license and is forced to ground all its planes after Dutch investment company IMCA declines to invest in airline; Transport Min Gilles de Robien says French government will try to find jobs for carrier's 3,200 employees, but leaves company's fate in hands of commercial court, which could place airline in liquidation or receivership; Air Lib owner Jean-Charles Corbet says bankruptcy is not automatic; also says IMCA might yet invest in company; photo (M)

NTT DoCoMo says it might not reach its full-year sales target for its high-speed third-generation phones; expects to sign up 320,000 customers by end of March; president Keiji Tachikawa says delays in rollout of new handsets might have kept consumers away (S)