News stories by IPS Correspondents, page 26

CARACAS, Dic 27 (IPS) - The Venezuelan economy decreased by 3.3 percent, inflation hit 70.8 percent and the fiscal deficit was 15.2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 1994, the Central Bank announced on Monday.

NEW YORK, Dic 27 (IPS) - The Lincoln Centre, the pre-eminent mainstream jazz institution, has come under criticism from critics as being racist -- biased against white musicians.

GANGTOK, NORTHEASTERN INDIA, Dic 27 (IPS) - Tibetan monks, fleeing the Chinese takeover of their homeland and the Cultural Revolution of the 1950-60's, took with them the very soul of their religion - mystic paintings known as 'thankas'.

MEXICO CITY, Dic 27 (IPS) - The problem common to most movie makers working outside the United states is how to get their films onto local screens when theatre owners, and audiences, seem to prefer the flood of Hollywood productions.

ROME, Dic 27 (IPS) - Antonio di Pietro, one of the leading judges in the "Clean Hands" anti-corruption operation, may become the next Italian Prime Minister, local press reported Tuesday.

HARARE, Dic 27 (IPS) - THE SCENE IS A BAR IN THE ZIMBABWEAN CAPITAL. MALE PATRONS SHOOT POOLS OR SWAP STORIES OVER DRINKS. FROM TIME TO TIME, THEY BUY THE ODD BEER FOR SOME OF THE WOMEN SITTING LISTLESSLY AT TABLES WAITING FOR CLIENTS.

ABIDJAN, Dic 27 (IPS) - WHEN COTE D'IVOIRE'S BIGGEST HOUSING COMPANY ANNOUNCED FOUR MONTHS AGO THAT IT WAS SELLING 20,000 OF ITS HOUSES, ITS TENANTS REJOICED, BELIEVING THEY WOULD SOON BE ABLE TO OWN THE HOMES SOME OF THEM HAD LIVED IN FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

MOSCOW, Dic 26 (IPS) - Russian President Boris Yeltsin Monday indicated a likely conclusion to Russian military intervention in the breakaway republic of Chechnya as moves were initiated to install a new administration backed by Moscow.

PRAGUE, Dic 26 (IPS) - The Czech Republic's new entrepreneurs are learning that elaborate packaging -- often a lot of it -- can mean more sales, but environmentalists are concerned that it is also leading to a bigger pile-up of waste.

LONDON, Dic 26 (IPS) - The ongoing trial in Ethiopia of former officials in the defunct Mengistu regime for crimes against humanity represents an overwhelming victory for human rights and decency, say international campaigners and observers.