News stories by IPS Correspondents, page 72

BANGKOK, Nov 15 (IPS) - Vietnam's bid to become one of Asia's growth engines is being hampered by the rickety state of its bureaucratic institutions.

BANGKOK, Nov 15 (IPS) - Vietnam's bid to become one of Asia's growth engines is being hampered by the rickety state of its bureaucratic institutions.

NEW DELHI, NOV 15, Nov 15 (IPS) - INDIAN POLITICIANS HAVE HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO WOO NOT ONLY NOTORIOUSLY FICKLE VOTERS, BUT ALSO ASTROLOGERS AND HOLY MEN TO ENSURE SUCCESS IN CRUCIAL STATE ASSEMBLY POLLS OVER THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.

NEW DELHI, Nov 15 (IPS) - INDIA'S ECONOMIC PLANNERS COULD NOT HAVE DREAMT UP BETTER SYMBOLISM: THE SUPERSONIC AIRLINER CONCORDE ZOOMING OFF INTO THE WIDE BLUE YONDER WITH A GROUP OF BRITISH AND INDIAN BUSINESSMEN ON BOARD.

BOGOR, INDONESIA, Nov 15 (IPS) - IN WHAT COULD BE THE FIRST GLIMMER OF THE DAWN OF THE PACIFIC CENTURY, LEADERS OF 18 ECONOMIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN AGREED HERE TUESDAY ON FREE TRADE WITHIN THE NEXT 25 YEARS.

HARARE, Nov 15 (IPS) - ZIMBABWE'S FIRST AND ONLY INDEPENDENT DAILY IS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

KATHMANDU, Nov 14 (IPS) - NEPAL'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY REMAINS A FRONT-RUNNER IN MIDTERM PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, BUT THE FACTION-RIDDEN ORGANISATION MAY FIND IT HARD TO GAIN AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.

PARIS, Nov 14 (IPS) - The looting of cultural treasures from African museums and archaeological sites for subsequent sale in Europe and North America is causing "entire civilizations" in Africa to be lost to memory, curators and historians say.

OZD, Hungary, Nov 14 (IPS) - This north-eastern city ranks as one of Hungary's most polluted, and is considered one of the country's most dangerous areas. But for many of the country's minority Gypsies, it at least provides steady employment.

STOCKHOLM, Nov 14 (IPS) - After centuries of being perched on Europe's periphery, Sweden awoke to a new future Monday following a narrow referendum vote in favour of European Union (EU) membership.