News stories by IPS Correspondents, page 29

STOCKHOLM, Dic 24 (IPS) - Sweden hit out this week at persistent "bureaucracy and inefficiency" in the World Health Organisation (WHO) by halving its annual grant to the Geneva-based association.

BUJUMBURA, Dic 24 (IPS) - AFTER MELCHIOR NDADAYE WAS ELECTED BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT IN JULY 1993, HE APPOINTED THREE WOMEN TO HIS CABINET AND NAMED TWO MORE AS PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS.

PARIS, Dic 24 (IPS) - The year-old state of Eritrea this week received 250 million dollars in pledges of assistance from international donors to help the country recover from 30 years of war.

PAIKGACHA, BANGLADESH, Dic 24 (IPS) - INDISCRIMINATE SHRIMP CULTIVATION IS RUINING ARABLE LAND AND IMPINGING ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF THOUSANDS OF VILLAGERS IN THIS SOUTH WESTERN COASTAL BELT OF BANGLADESH.

LUSAKA, Dic 24 (IPS) - A WAR OF WORDS HAS ERUPTED IN ZAMBIA AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S ONLY FEMALE MINISTER ACCUSED NON- GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS (NGOS) OF HIJACKING OFFICIAL PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN.

MANILA, Dic 24 (IPS) - Asia's emerging Tiger economies are normally thought of as mere recipients of foreign investment, but flush with new cash they are fast becoming investors themselves.

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.

PARIS, Dic 24 (IPS) - Traditions that immigrants from Africa bring with them to France, like the wearing of Muslim chadors (head- scarves) or the practices of polygamy and excision challenge some of this society's deepest convictions and have naturally sparked heated debate here.

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dic 24 (IPS) - Palestinian-Americans, sent back to their 'homeland' by their parents, believe they have a key role to play in the future development of the fledging Palestinian state.

DOLEV, West Bank, Dic 24 (IPS) - The view from the 90 little houses lining the paved streets of this Israeli settlement is gorgeous, with the Mediterranean Sea shimmering beyond the horizon, throwing hues of red and orange across the turquoise waters at sunset.