News stories by IPS Correspondents, page 56

CAIRO, Nov 25 (IPS) - The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas put on a show of strength in Palestinian-ruled Gaza Friday as inter- Palestinian fighting erupted in Lebanon killing at least four people.

LONDON, Nov 25 (IPS) - Soft commodity markets were quieter towards the end of the end of the Thanksgiving holiday -- which closed exchanges in the United States.

BANGKOK, Nov 25 (IPS) - An agreement by China and Vietnam to start negotiations on the dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and share the potentially enormous wealth of the area has done little to ease security concerns in the region.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (IPS) - Coming from a region where harsh messages are wrapped in soft tones and discussions are preferred over confrontations, Malaysia often comes across as odd man out, taking potshots at richer and more powerful countries.

SYDNEY, Nov 25 (IPS) - Drought-stricken Australia's agricultural sector is getting blows from all corners, deepening the financial and social crisis facing the country's rural communities.

DEHRADUN, INDIA, Nov 25 (IPS) - THE TRUCK SPED AWAY AFTER RUNNING OVER AND KILLING ZAHIR'S GOAT, ITS DRIVER SURE THAT THE IGNORANT CATTLE HERDERS WHO SAW THE ACCIDENT IN THE FORESTS NEAR THIS NORTH INDIAN TOWN, COULD NEVER RECOGNISE HIM AGAIN.

MOSCOW, Nov 25 (IPS) - On the first reading of Russia's draft 1995 budget in parliament Friday, lawmakers have shown a readiness to use their votes as a political weapon and challenge the government by stalling adoption of the fiscal blueprint.

KHARTOUM, Nov 25 (IPS) - SUDAN, UNABLE TO TRANSPORT FOOD TO MORE THAN THREE MILLION PEOPLE STARVING IN THE WAR-RAVAGED SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY, IS SET TO EXPORT SORGHUM TO ITS NEIGHBOURS THIS SEASON.

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 25 (IPS) - SOUTH AFRICA'S FORMERLY SEGREGATED EDUCATION SYSTEM IS SET TO UNDERGO MAJOR RESTRUCTURING TO ADDRESS PAST IMBALANCES AND MAKE LEARNING ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

GLASGOW, Scotland, Nov 25 (IPS) - Anti-nuclear protesters briefly boarded Britain's latest nuclear submarine -- in a bid to prevent it loading enough nuclear weapons to destroy 96 cities worldwide.