BRIEFCASE TEXACO'S PLAYING THE OLD SHELL GAME.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

Texaco will soon be clamming up, as parent Shell Oil Products US announced plans Wednesday to rebrand 75 of its Los Angeles area stations under the Shell banner.

Part of the company's overall brand unification strategy, the move will eventually put most of its 13,000 stations nationwide under one label, and switch Texaco credit card holders to the Shell card.

The switch will finish by year's end.

Mickey Mouse set to be big cell-er

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Mickey Mouse will soon be packing his bags for Taiwan, as the Walt Disney Internet Group announced a partnership with Far EasTone Telecommunications on Wednesday.

The media giant will now provide wireless entertainment content to the telecom's cell-phone users, using familiar faces like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Mulan. Already available in Japan, the content service has snared 2.5 million prepared subscribers.

Company recalls faulty toy chest

WASHINGTON - A Minnesota company is recalling about 3,300 toy chests because the lids could collapse, causing injury to children's necks, fingers and hands.

XL Machine Ltd., of Eden Prairie, has received one report of screws in the lid support hinge of a toy chest coming loose, causing a neck injury, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.

The recalled toy chests, made in China, measure 18.5 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches and were sold under the Playskool brand name. The top lid on the chests depicts the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head characters and the PLAYSKOOL logo, while the bottom of the chest bears the words ``DISTRIBUTED BY: XL MACHINE LTD, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55347.'' The front panel has a Glow Worm character and a dog.

Target stores nationwide sold the chests from October through December 2001.

Consumers can return the toy chests to Target stores for a full refund or store credit, or contact XL Machine at [phone].

Boeing won't move in contract talks

WASHINGTON - Boeing Co. officials emerged from a 5 1/2-hour session with federal mediators Wednesday and said they ``remain committed to their best and final'' offer made to the machinists union last week.

Boeing's three-year contract with the International Association of Machinists expired Monday. A strike date has not been set, though union members had begun voting to authorize one when federal mediators, fearing a strike would hurt the already sluggish economy, urged both sides to come to Washington. The union members' ballots were sealed.

Boeing officials met voluntarily with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, but committed only to explaining the contract proposal, not to reopening talks after three months of negotiations.