Measurements of BR(b ->tau-antinu(tau) X) and BR(b -->tau- antinu(tau}D*+- X) and upper limits on BR(B - -->tau- antinu(tau)) and BR(b --> s nu antinu)

Inclusive branching ratios involving b transitions are measured in approximately four million hadronic Z decays collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP. The fully-inclusive branching ratio BR(b X) and the semi-inclusive branching ratio BR(b X) are measured to be and , in agreement with the standard model predictions. Upper limits on the branching fractions BR(B and BR(b are set to and at the 90% C.L. These results allow a 90% C.L. lower limit of 0.40 GeV/ to be set on the ratio, in the framework of type-II two-Higgs-doublet models.