August 30, 1997

Census Bureau faces problems in neighborhoods like Hill, urban, largely black and poor area of Harrisburg, Pa that let to undercount in 1990 census and in New Cumberland, white, middle and upper class Harrisburg suburb, that led to overcount; seeks to correct for problems by using sampling techniques in 2000 census, move strongly opposed by Republican leaders in Congress; resulting revisions could have high-stakes effect on national political map; graphs; photo (M)

Nationsbank Corp to buy Barnett Banks for $15.5 billion in stock, highest price ever paid for bank; merger will make Nationsbank nation's third-largest banking company; Nationsbank plans to cut $915 million in costs, about 55 percent of Barnett's total expenses; companies set hiring freeze and say many of job cuts will be among Nationsbank workers; tables; map (M)

Asian Stock Tremors Felt As Southeast Asian stock markets slide, American investors are cashing out of Asian mutual funds. But analysts see only a limited impact on the United States market. Page 35.

Bosnian Serb Pres Biljana Plavsic has transformed self from stand-in for ex-Pres Radovan Karadzic, her former mentor and indicted war criminal, to his bitter rival for power; American-led NATO forces are helping her extend her influence in Serbian enclave by taking control of police stations and media centers and fending off angry mobs of Karadzic supporters; Plavsic, once strident Serb nationalist, is in many ways odd choice as NATO partner and questionable hope as peacemaker; scores Karadzic for corruption, not war crimes; photo (M)

Britain invites Sinn Fein, Irish Republican Army's political wing, to take part in formal Northern Ireland peace talks for first time since 1969; Sec Mo Mowlam says she acted, after talks with Prime Min Tony Blair, on belief that cease-fire renewed by IRA is genuine, news conference; Sinn Fein accepts invitation; will formally declare its commitment to peaceful settlement; Irish Republic, talks co-sponsor, lauds invitation; photos (M)