News stories by IPS Correspondents, page 28

ABU DHABI, Dic 24 (IPS) - MORE THAN 60 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE NO ACCESS TO SAFE WATER IN THE ARAB WORLD AND NINE ARAB COUNTRIES ARE CONSUMING MORE THAN 100 PERCENT OF THEIR RENEWABLE WATER SUPPLIES, SAYS THE WORLD BANK.

SYDNEY, Dic 24 (IPS) - The Australian government's decision this week to continue exporting wood pulp made from rare native forests threatens to explode into a major political issue in an increasingly green-conscious nation.

LAHORE, Dic 24 (IPS) - MUSLIM LAWS FOR WOMEN ARE ESSENTIALLY MAN- MADE AND CAN BE CHALLENGED, WAS THE VERDICT OF WOMEN FROM 20 MUSLIM COUNTRIES GATHERED HERE LAST WEEK TO DISCUSS THE LAWS UNDER WHICH THEY ARE GOVERNED.

LONDON, Dic 24 (IPS) - A nine million dollar agricultural scheme designed to boost the grain harvests of Tibetan farmers and raise their standards of living, may have the reverse effect by turning independent farmers into landless labourers, say Tibet observers.

MADHUBANI, INDIA, Dic 24 (IPS) - BHULI DEVI OFTEN WENT TO BED HUNGRY AFTER FEEDING HER THREE CHILDREN WITH WHATEVER SHE EARNED FROM A DAY'S GRUELLING WORK IN THE FIELDS OF SOHRAI VILLAGE'S BIGGEST LANDLORD IN THIS IMPOVERISHED NORTHERN INDIAN DISTRICT.

BONN, Dic 24 (IPS) - Germany's largest industrial group Daimler- Benz -- with an expected sales revenue of proud 103 billion marks (67 billion dollars) this year -- has set out to intensify economic relations with the developing world.

JERUSALEM, Dic 24 (IPS) - The world may be watching the tense atmosphere in Gaza and the apparent impasse at the negotiating table regarding Israeli re-deployment in the West Bank -- but for Palestinian businessman Hani Abu Dayyeh, it's business as usual.

DAR ES SALAAM, Dic 24 (IPS) - TANZANIA THIS WEEK ADMITTED THE COUNTRY'S FINANCIAL CRISIS HAD ADVERSELY AFFECTED STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD.

HARARE, Dic 24 (IPS) - THERE ARE GROWING FEARS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA THAT THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN ONLY IMPROVE IF ENOUGH RESOURCES ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AMMAN, Dic 24 (IPS) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that health should be placed at the centre of the development agenda to ensure that the protection and promotion of the quality of life goes hand in hand with economic growth.