HIGHER-ORDER QCD CORRECTIONS - NEW RESULTS

New analytical results in computing higher order QCD corrections obtai ned since the previous QCD-96 workshop are shortly reviewed. In partic ular, I discuss the tremendous progress achieved in calculating higher order contributions to (i) the total cross section for e(+)e(-) annih ilation into hadrons sigma(had) (with full account of the quark mass e ffects at O(alpha(s)(2))); (ii) the QCD beta-function, various anomalo us dimensions and the matching relations, and (iii) the hadronic decay rate of the Higgs boson.